Gulf Seismic Forum focuses on earthquake mitigation measures

Organized by Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, the three-day forum brings together the international experts in the fields of seismology and earthquake engineering to capitalize their experience toward improving the state-of-the-art technologies in these fields and providing mitigation measures to reduce the human sufferings and material loss around world and the Arabian Gulf region in particular.
During the three-days forum, participants will hold many sessions and discuss working papers related to seismic networks and data processing, tectonic movements and seismic risk, earthquake risks, seismic engineering and disaster management.
In his opening speech, HE President of Qatar Civil Aviation Authority Abdulla Nasser Turki Al Subaey highlighted the importance of this forum in light of the State of Qatar's keenness to promote the concept of sustainability in the economy, society, environment and people, harness all resources and capabilities to ensure the highest levels of security, safety, welfare and stability for its people, and ensure its continuity from generation to generation.
He pointed to the human losses left by earthquakes during the past century, as the death toll resulting from earthquakes reached more than two million people around the world, in addition to their devastating effects on vital facilities, infrastructure and social, cultural and scientific legacies of countries, adding that this reality enhances the importance of the holding of this forum and the role of the participants in it in presenting their scientific research and finding out all that is new in the field of earthquakes and seismic engineering and providing an opportunity for those working in this field to exchange ideas and opinions in order to achieve future cooperation between the participants to conduct joint research and studies and benefit from them to reduce the catastrophic effects and reduce the material and human losses caused by earthquakes.
Despite its location in the Arabian Peninsula, which is characterized by seismically active edges, the State of Qatar has never reported any major earthquakes, said Director of Qatar Meteorology Department (QMD) of Civil Aviation Authority Abdullah Mohammed Al Mannai.
Al Mannai pointed out that after the great development in the field of earthquakes and information technology and in achievement of the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 in creating sustainable development and enhancing the standard of living for its people, the QMD established the Qatar Seismic Information Network in 2014 to constitute a first step towards establishing the Qatar Seismic Information Center.
Since its opening in November 2014, Qatar Seismic Information Center, he said, seeks to achieve its goals of monitoring, evaluating and managing seismic risks to reduce and mitigate its effects, in addition to signing joint cooperation agreements with the Arab Gulf countries and distinguished research centers in other countries of the world, adding that the hosting of this forum is an important step in this direction.
Al Mannai explained that the current edition of the forum will discuss the topic of earthquakes and seismic engineering, and will focus on the risks of earthquakes and how to reduce them. The forum brings together international experts in the fields of seismology and earthquake engineering to capitalize their experience toward improving the state-of-the-art technologies in these fields,  Al Mannai said.