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Though the idea of having a research centre for seismic studies was already prevailingfor quite some time, however it was the Bhuj earthquake of January 26th, 2001 in Indiawhich decided the timing of its materialisation. The incident was alarming for the regionwhich shook the Eastern part of Lower Sindh and Karachi. Thus without causing furtherdelays Earthquake Engineering Study Centre (EESC), Department of Civil Engineeringwas established on April 28, 2001. On the very occasion Cowasjee Foundation, a

philanthropist organisation offered generous support and showed interest in patronisingthe study centre. Hence, it is known after its patron as Cowasjee Earthquake StudyCentre (CESNED). The study centre has opened new venues of knowledge and research.The aims and objectives of the Centre are as follows:

It shall be a non-profit centre, which shall house national and global data pertaining toearthquakes and shall act as a clearing-house for disseminating accumulated knowledgein a prescribed manner.

It shall have expertise in all areas of pre and post disaster mitigation.

It should have the capacity and capability to identify research needs and conduct suchresearch in collaboration with other organizations if needed;

It should respond to emergency needs and should be able to provide guiding principlesfor post-disaster mitigation, to the agencies and authorities.

Research ActivitiesEver since its inception CESNED had been working on the methodologies for mitigationof earthquake. It is striving to be a world-class research centre investigating the physicsof earthquakes through the use of computer simulations.

Research at undergraduate and postgraduate level are underway for which faculty andstudents and being engaged to work on different research projects. One such project isthe Development of Response Spectra for Southern Coastal Region of Sindh, under thesupervision of Prof. Sarosh H. Lodi. The research is currently being pursued towards thedevelopment of response spectra, through stochastic simulation and competentAttenuation Modelling (CAM) Technique. It would be enhanced further towards thedevelopment of a generalized Geographic Information System (GIS) model for SouthernCoastal region of Sindh. The study will pave way towards a seismic hazard evaluationand development design response spectra for the region.

The Centre has presented six papers, so far, at various seminars. The details of these

are as under:

Papers were presented by Prof. Dr. Abdul Samad Khan, Prof. Dr. Sahibzada Farooq AhmadRafeeqi, Prof. Sarosh H Lodi and Mr Zafar Razzak in the Seminar Eartquake 2001 on April 28,2001.

The Centre participated in a five-day international seminar on January 7, 2002 on 'NaturalHazard Monitoring', organized by Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere ResearchCommission (SUPARCO) by sending a team of two members and presenting a paper titled'Earthquake-2001-Consequences and Response.

Again, on August 19, 2002 the Centre participated in a one day seminar organized by

SUPARCO on 'Atmospheric and Ionospheric Physics' through the presentation of a papertitled 'Earthquake Mitigation- An objective approach' by one of its members.

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Moreover, abstract of a paper titled 'Essentials of a Building Code' has been accepted byNational Society for Earthquake Technology - Nepal. The Society is holding a symposium onSeismology, Earthquake Hazard Assessment and Risk Management, which was scheduled on24 to 26 November this year and remained unattended due to the unavailability of funds.

SeminarsIn order to create awareness among students, faculty and other individuals and also toimprove understanding of the earthquake mechanism, seminars and discussions are

held. The Centre started its activities by holding a Seminar titled "Earthquake 2001" onApril 28, 2001. The participants included engineers, geoscientists, architects, planners,public officials, and researchers, practicing professionals, and building code regulators.

CESNED NewsletterThe need of creating awareness of reducing earthquake risk and disseminating

information on earthquake engineering is being fulfilled by publishing a biannual

newsletter. The CESNED Newsletter caters to the needs of students and professionals byproviding up-to-date knowledge of earthquake mitigation aspects, statistics and reportsof the current earthquakes in any part of the world.

Future ActivitiesThe Centre is striving to act as data collection centre, to gather information, reports, andresearch and investigative work on world famous earthquakes in the past. This data willbe helpful in advocating comprehensive and realistic measures for reducing the harmful

effects of earthquakes. The analysis of this data is in an initial stage and will bepresented in a seminar, which is planned in the upcoming year. An internationalconference following the Seminar is also under consideration. CESNED is also working on

the lines of developing collaboration with Earthquake Disaster Preparedness Centre atAIT in conducting training, seminars and workshops on related subjects.

Resource Person

Cowasjee Earthquake Centre,Department of Civil EngineeringPhone: 9261261-68 Ext. 2205 Fax: 9261255Email: cesned@neduet.edu.pk