KUWAIT CITY, Nov 18: The 12th Gulf Seismic Conference was launched on Monday at the Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Center under the auspices of the acting Director General of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) Dr. Faisal Al-Humaidan and it will continue until Nov 20. KISR organized the conference in collaboration with Kuwait Society for Earth Sciences, Kenimetrics Company, Al-Alam Al-Bi’a Company, Al-Jari Holding Group and Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). Participants include a group of experts and researchers from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Arab and foreign countries. The conference aims to review the latest findings of these participants’ scientific research on the region through several main axes as follows: seismic monitoring networks, tectonic activity, earthquake engineering and risk reduction. The conference includes the presentation of 38 scientific papers that address many of the abovementioned topics systematically and scientifically for the benefit of specialists and agencies in different countries. This is in addition to a workshop on the State’s emergency plans and earthquake preparedness; with the participation of the Directorate General of Civil Defense, Kuwait Fire Force (KFF), Municipal Council, Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) and Kinemetrics Company. It focuses on the latest technologies for earthquake monitoring, preparedness and early warning. Moreover, the GCC Emergency Management Center, which is affiliated with the GCC Secretariat General, will present its objectives and activities during the workshop.

In his speech, Al-Humaidan pointed out this conference, which is held every two years in a GCC country, is vital in enhancing the exchange of expertise and information in a bid to present recommendations that achieve the desired goals. “It is also an important platform that brings together experts in seismology and seismic engineering, to benefit from modern research and technology to take the necessary measures to reduce seismic risks, human suffering and material losses resulting from these risks in various parts of the world, especially in the Arabian Gulf region. The regularity of this conference contributes to expanding communication channels and the exchange of seismic data, linking stations, training Gulf professionals, organizing seminars and workshops, and signing of many agreements,” he revealed. He added the Kuwait National Seismic Network at KISR continuously conducts scientific studies and research on earthquakes and their risks. He stressed that the institute is committed to developing its research programs in line with the country’s comprehensive development plans. “Aside from programs at the Environmental and Life Sciences Research Center, KISR also established the Environment and Climate Change Program for the assessment of environmental challenges and to meet the need for a central infrastructure to identify risks and mobilize methods to deal with them to support decision-makers in crisis management, relying on advanced technology and highly efficient human resources with vast experience in risk assessment, as well as information and communications technology.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the organizing committee Farah Hamoud Al-Jari confirmed that this conference is an extension of the previous conferences hosted by other GCC and neighboring countries to strengthen cooperation and exchange of expertise between earthquake monitoring centers and scientific institutions in these countries. She said this paves the way for presenting the results of scientific research on earthquakes to identify their dimensions and mitigate their risks in the region. Al-Jari affirmed as well the importance of having a large amount of data culled from statistical and inductive programs and mathematical models, along with advanced technology for monitoring and communication devices, rapid data handling, and full coordination between the concerned executive bodies in these countries, under the umbrella of effective media to develop communication lines between agencies and segments of society before, during and after the crisis. She added that the integration of seismic databases is the first step toward building decision-making support systems for mitigating earthquake risks.

By Abdulrahman Al-Shammari
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff