Geoscientists Without Borders^®

Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia: "Conceptual design of an earthquake and tsunami resistant building in Sumatra."

Partners: GeoHazards International (nonprofit organization ), four universities, USGS, KOGAMI, the Applied Technology Council, and others both funded and nonfunded.

Summary: Since the tsunami in 2004, some communities in Indonesia launched preparedness and awareness efforts, but much work remains to be done. GeoHazards International and its alliance partners will assess the need for and feasibility of vertical evacuation structures as a key component of tsunami preparedness in coastal communities. A vertical evacuation structure is designed to serve as a temporary refuge for evacuees during a tsunami. Its height exceeds the tsunami inundation level, and its strength and resilience resist the tsunami and earthquake forces. This pilot project would involve geosciences, engineering, political science, and social science aspects to develop a conceptual design for such a structure in Padang Indonesia. The geoscience component will include tsunami modeling and uncertainty in earthquake rupture process. The GWB funding is leveraged to a total project value of US$214 000, with additional money coming from other sources, in particular, Engineers for a Sustainable World.

Point of Contact: Veronica Cedillos - cedillos@geohaz.org, GeoHazards International