Bucharest, Romania
3-4 October, 2024
Adapted from an article by Prof. Andreea Casata Dutu EU-Conexus
ASSISi in collaboration with Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest (UTCB) and with generous support from EU-CONEXUS, organized the recent “Build Better Before the Earthquake Comes” event. It took place at UTCB on October 3 and 4, 2024. The event brought together international experts and companies focused on the earthquake protection of buildings in Romania.
The event was aimed at raising awareness of seismic risks and promoting the adoption of earthquake-resistant building technologies. It featured presentations and discussions from a range of stakeholders, including engineers, architects, policymakers, and emergency responders. A main focus was on seismic isolation and damping technologies, which can significantly reduce the impact of earthquakes on buildings and infrastructure.
After the welcome messages from Prof. Andreea Casata (Dutu), organizer and ASSISi Director, Dr. Ian Aiken, President of ASSISi, and Colonel Silviu Stoian (Emergency Situations Department), the conference included four sessions:
The first session, “Principles of Seismic Isolation and Damping Technologies,” was presented by Prof. Andreea Casata (Dutu) (Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest –Lecturer and ASSISi Director), Prof. Fatih Sutcu (Istanbul Technical University, Turkey, Assistant Professor and ASSISi Director), Prof. Bahadir Sadan (MEF University and OBS Earthquake Engineering Solutions, Turkey, Assistant Professor and Manager, ASSISi Secretary General), and Dr. Ian Aiken (P.E., Principal, SIE, Inc., Berkeley, California, USA, ASSISi President).
The three guests from outside UTCB who took part in the first session have received support for this event from EU-CONEXUS through the 2024 EU-CONEXUS Call for Invitation for External Experts.
The second session, “Seismic Isolation and Damping Technologies Applications in Romania,” was presented by Prof. Adrian Iordachescu, Prof. Vlad Petrescu (“Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urban Planning, Romania), and Mr. Dan Iancu, (DI&A, Romania, General Manager).
The third session, “Worldwide Manufacturing Companies’ Latest Technologies for Seismic Isolation and Damping Technologies,” was presented by:
- Dr. Peter NAWROTZKI (GERB Vibration Control Systems, Berlin, Germany, Senior Director & Adviser)
- Mr. Uğurcan ÖZÇAMUR (TIS, Turkey, General Manager)
- Mr. Peter HUBER, (MAURER, Germany, Head of Technical Consulting and Business Development on the field of earthquake and vibration devices)
- Dr. Maria Gabriella CASTELLANO (PhD, Civil Engineer, FIP MEC ACADEMY, Italy, Manager)
- Dr. Ady AVIRAM (Earthquake Protection Systems, USA, European Director)
- Dr. Imad MUALLA (DAMPTECH, Norway, Denmark, Chief Technical Officer and Founder)
Key takeaways from the event
The importance of earthquake preparedness: Bucharest is a high-risk earthquake zone, and it’s important to take steps to mitigate the potential damage.
The role of seismic isolation and damping technologies: these technologies can significantly reduce the forces exerted on buildings during an earthquake, making them less likely to collapse.
The need for better construction practices: earthquake-resistant construction techniques should be prioritized to ensure the safety of buildings and their occupants.
Collaboration is key: effective earthquake preparedness requires collaboration between various stakeholders, including engineers, architects, policymakers, and the public.
The “Build Better Before the Earthquake Comes” event served as a valuable platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration. By raising awareness of earthquake risks and promoting innovative technologies, the event can help Bucharest become a more earthquake-resilient city.
Looking ahead
The success of this event highlights the importance of ongoing efforts to improve earthquake preparedness in Bucharest. Further progress will depend on:
- Continued education and awareness campaigns: educating the public about earthquake risks and safety measures is essential.
- Integration of seismic considerations into building codes: building codes should mandate the use of earthquake-resistant construction techniques, starting with important buildings (hospitals, fire stations, etc.) which should remain fully functional after a major earthquake.
- Investment in research and development: continued research and development of new and improved seismic isolation and damping technologies is crucial.
- Public-private partnerships: collaboration between public and private sectors is essential to ensuring the implementation of effective earthquake preparedness measures.
By taking these steps, Bucharest can become a more resilient city that is better prepared to withstand the challenges of future earthquakes.
The ASSISi event in Bucharest was a tremendous success, where the participants had the great opportunity to interact with some of the most important specialists on seismic isolation and #energy_dissipating_systems energy duissipation system from around the world.
The support of all the ASSISi Corporate Members that joined and kindly sponsored the event was crucial to overall success.
Thanks are also extended to all the speakers who participated and shared their valuable knowledge, and to all the attendees who showed genuine interest in the topics and participated in the discussions.
