1960-61

INTERNATIONAL TRAINING IN
SEISMOLOGY AND
EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
1961 6
1961-62
62

1962
196
1962-63
9 2 6363

1963-6419
963 64

1964-65

1965-66

1966-67

1967-68

1968-69

1969-70

1970-71

1971-72

1972-73

1973-74

1974-75

1975-76

1976-77

1977-78

1978-79

1979-80

1980-81

1981-82

1982-83

1983-84

1984-85

1985-86

1986-87

1987-88

1988-89

1989-90

International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering
Building Research Institute1990-91

1991-92

1992-93

1993-94
1
19
199
99 99

1994-95

1995-96

1996-97

1997-98

1998-99

1999-2000

Number and Nationalities of Ex-Participants
Achievement of 50 years

Annual Training inSeismology
and Earthquake Engineering
992

Global SeismologicalObservation Course
150

Individual Course
98

China Seismic
Building Course
20

Africa181
Middle East
168

Asia
528

Seminar Course
195
175

Europe105
Latin America
413
Oceania40

FinlandNumber of ex-participants by region

IcelandRomania Macedonia
Yugoslavia
Bulgaria
Azerbaijan
Czech Re.
Moldova
Kazakhstan
Mongolia
Austria
UkraineTurkmenistan
Georgia
Uzbekistan Kyrgyz
Albania
China
Armenia
Algeria
Korea
Greece Turkey
Afganistan
Syria
Nepal
Iraq Iran
MoroccoTunisia
BhutanPakistan
LebanonJordanBangladesh
Egypt Palestine
IsraelMyanmarPhilippines
Senegal Mali
Saudi Arabia
Niger
Vietnam
India
Oman
Yemen
C. Africa
GuineaThailandDjibouti
Sudan
Malaysia
Ethiopia
Ghana Gabon Uganda
Sri Lanka
Papua New Guinea
Kenya
Maldives
Tanzania
D.R.Congo
Malawi
ZambiaIndonesia
Namibia
Madagascar
Mozambique
Zimbabwe
BotswanaSouth Africa:Hypocenters (US Geological Survey from 2000 to 2009, M≧5.0):Number of Ex-Participants(1,435 Participants from 96 countries and region as of end of March 2010)

Tsunami Disaster
Mitigation Course
14

Seismology
Course
486

Total
1,435

Earthquake Engineering
Course492

Number of ex-participants by course

GuatemalaNicaragua
Cuba

MexicoEl Salvador
Costa Rica
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
Samoa
Tonga
Fiji
New Zealand

EcuadorPeru

41 31 - 4 0
21 - 3 0
11 - 2 0
1 -1 0Chile

Dominican Re.
Venezuela
Colombia

BrazilBoliviaParaguay

Argentina

■ Outline of the International Institute of Seismology and
Earthquake Engineering (IISEE) and its development ■In order to contribute to earthquake disaster mitigation, the International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering (IISEE)at the Building Research Institute (BRI), in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has provided training
courses in seismology and earthquake engineering to researchers and engineers from developing countries. Currently there are four kindsof training programs: Annual Training in Seismology and Earthquake Engineering, China Seismic Building Course (one of the Seminar
Courses), a Global Seismological Observation Course, and an Individual Course. These training courses have been highly acclaimed bothwithin Japan and around the world, and to date they have been completed by a total of 1,424 participants from 96 countries.
At the Second World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, held in Tokyo in 1960, it was established that there was a need forearthquake engineering training to be provided to young researchers from developing countries who had studied seismology andearthquake engineering. Consequently, the first international training in seismology and earthquake engineering, which consisted of a
Seismological Course and an Earthquake Engineering Course, was carried out at the University of Tokyo later that year. The results ofthe training were widely praised by the international community, and the Japanese government established the IISEE at the BRI in
cooperation with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in order to maintain these training
courses. The first half of the second term of training was held at Waseda University during 1961, with the IISEE taking over for the latter
half of the training. Since then, the IISEE has continued to revise its curriculum according to requests from developing countries and in
response to the advancement of academics and technology.

1. Annual Training in Seismology and Earthquake Engineering (from 1960 onwards)
1) Seismology Course: This course aims to provide advanced knowledge and technology
concerning earthquakes and seismic hazards to trainees who are invited from theorganizations responsible for seismic observation and earthquake disaster mitigation in
their respective countries. It is also designed to help trainees utilize this knowledge andtechnology for seismic hazard/risk evaluation and earthquake disaster mitigation
policy-making in their native countries. The IISEE incorporates fast-evolving
seismological knowledge and seismic observation technology into programs without
delay, and is willing to provide not only classroom instruction but also practical training
and study tours, as well as participation in international conferences.
2) Earthquake Engineering Course: This course provides training to participants who
mainly consist of young researchers, engineers and administrative persons fromgovernment agencies and universities in their respective countries. Their training isgeared towards contributing to the reduction of structural damage caused byearthquakes that can result in human suffering in developing countries. The curriculum
comprises basic earthquake engineering studies, covering topics such as structural
analysis and structural dynamics; various earthquake resistant structures for reinforced
concrete construction, and steel structures; the latest technology, such as seismic isolation
and response control technique and seismic limit state design. All of these aresystematically provided through lectures, practical training and study tours, enabling
trainees to solve problems in their native countries.
3) Tsunami Disaster Mitigation Course: The tsunami disaster mitigation coursebegan in 2006. The gigantic tsunami that was generated by a major earthquake off
Sumatran in 2004 wreaked havoc on the coastal regions of the Indian Ocean. To mitigate
such tsunami disasters, it is necessary to take disaster mitigation measures based on thelatest information regarding earthquakes and tsunamis. This course provides advanced
education and technology for dealing with earthquakes and tsunamis, with the aim oftraining specialists who can apply and disseminate their acquired knowledge andtechniques for tsunami disaster mitigation and introduce tsunami hazard evaluationand early-warning systems in their native countries. The initial target countries were
coastal nations around the Indian Ocean, but since 2009 the scope of the course has been
expanded to include countries around the Pacific Ocean.

Visit to the Nojima Fault
Preservation Museum

Fracture experiment
performed for participants

Visit to facilities for tsunami disasterprevention in Tohoku/Sanriku District2. China Seismic Building Course (from 2009 onwards)
On May 12, 2008, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan Province in the People's Republic of China caused extensive
damage, leaving 69,185 dead, 374,171 injured, 18,404 still missing
and 23.143 million households damaged, including the collapse of
6.525 million houses. The BRI launched its China Seismic Building
Course in October 2009 as part of the "Human Resource
Development Project for Aseismic Buildings", carried out by JICA
as a supportive reconstruction measure in response to theearthquake disaster in China. This is a two-month training course,
and around 20 engineers participate in the course every year. Once
their training is complete, engineers return to their respective
countries to implement and disseminate their newly acquired
technology and knowledge. The project aims to educate about 5,000
structural technology specialists over the course of three years.
Short-term training courses focusing on specific themes such asGroup photo taken at the completion

this have been carried out since 1980. These are genericallyof the first lecture of the 2009 term

referred to as "Seminar Course".

3. Global Seismological Observation Course (from 1995 onwards)
The international community is making efforts to put the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT）into effect, and to complete
the International Monitoring System (IMS) for CTBT-compliance verification. Observation technology using seismological techniques
plays an important role in the IMS.
At the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the IISEE launched a global seismological observation training course in 1995 incooperation with the Japan Metrological Agency and JICA as a part of Japan’s contribution to nuclear disarmament. The IISEE has
contributed to the development of human resources who have acquired the skills necessary for detecting nuclear tests through seismic
observation as well as the data analysis techniques required for identifying nuclear tests, and are expected to play important roles in
the CTBT and IMS.

Waveforms of nuclear tests (above) and natural

Lectures and practical training withearthquakes occurring near the testing sites (below)

regard to the use of seismometers

4. Individual Course (from 1968 onwards)
Under the Individual Course, which is designed for students with high scholastic ability and talent, the IISEE provides individual
training programs that match the needs of each participant’s country. In a recent example, two Egyptians who were awarded
scholarships by the Higher Education Ministry of Egypt stayed at the IISEE for three months, during which time they studied site effects
from seismic motion and earthquake swarms under the guidance of IISEE staff'.

■IISEE graduate who go on to play important roles in various fields in their native countries■
Researchers who have been sent to the IISEE by their governments, national research institutes and universities from various
countries contribute to the mitigation of earthquake disasters in their native countries after completing their training. Some IISEE
graduates have become ministers, institution directors, or university rectors, and many actively participate as leaders in the fields ofseismology and earthquake engineering. Following are some examples:Dr. Harsh Gupta of India (1966-67 Seismological Course) held the post of Secretary to the Government of India for the Departmentof Oceanic Development, the Director of the Indian National Geophysical Research Institute, and he was the first Chairman of the
Asian Seismological Society. At the end of 2008, he received a Waldo E. Smith medal from the American Geophysical Union.
Dr. Djoko Santoso of Indonesia (1978-79 Seismological Course) is the current rector of The Bandung Institute of Technology inIndonesia.
Many researchers have come to Japan from the National Research Institute of Astronomy & Geophysics (NRIAG) in Egypt. Dr.
Rashad Kebeasy (1965-66 Seismological Course) is the former President of the NRIAG and was also Head of the International
Data Center in Provisional Technical Secretariat of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). Dr. Salah
Mohamed (1982-83 Seismological Course) is the current President of the NRIAG in Egypt.
The largest number of researchers has come from Peru, with 107 participants to date. Dr. Julio Kuroiwa (1961-62 Earthquake
Engineering Course) is a leader in the field of earthquake engineering in his country. He appeared on television as a commentator
every day during the Peru Pisco earthquake in 2007. Dr. Robert Morales (1970-71 Earthquake Engineering Course) was the rectorof the National University of Engineering in Peru until 2008.
Dr. Federico David Guendel Umana (1975-76 Seismological Course) from Costa Rica is now the Head of the International
Monitoring System (IMS) in the Provisional Technical Secretariat of the CTBTO.

Dr. Gupta at a alumni meeting held during a

Mr. Kuroiwa on television (courtesy by the United

meeting of the Asian Seismological Society

Nations Center for Regional Development)■Development of international cooperation: the UNESCO Project■
In cooperation with UNESCO, the Japanese government offered annual training courses in Seismology and Earthquake
Engineering for a period of nine years from 1963 onwards. UNESCO and the IISEE have been working together constantly sincethat time. Currently the formulation of an international network of research and training for the prevention of earthquake disasters
in the field of buildings and housing, as well as an international backup system to guard against massive earthquakes and tsunamis(International Platforms for Reducing Earthquake Disaster (IPRED) through buildings and housing), is under way in collaboration
with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, UNESCO, and the IISEE in the BRI. Through these activities,
the IISEE has obtained the cooperation of research institutes from eight countries (Chile, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico,
Peru, Romania, and Turkey) that have previous experience of JICA projects relating to earthquake disaster mitigation, as executedby the BRI. Collaborative research is also being conducted together with these partners.
http://iisee.kenken.go.jp/?p=ipred

Dr. Hurukawa, Director of the IISEE, shakes hands with theHead of an Institute in Romania after entering into joint
research with this partner country

UNESCO logo

■Master’s Degree■
Through a partnership with the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies(GRIPS) initiated in October 2005, part of the training course of the Annual
Training in Seismology and Earthquake Engineering has been certified as a
GRIPS lecture course. Today, each trainee can obtain a master’s degree (Masterof Disaster Mitigation) certified by GRIPS and BRI if the required credits are
obtained. In September 2006, all 19 participants became the first graduates
under the new system. With diplomas, participants secure their complete
background as specialists in seismology and earthquake engineering back intheir native countries. The Tsunami Disaster Mitigation Course, introduced inAwarding of the master’s degree by

2006, is also regarded as a master’s degree program.

Dr. Murakami, Chief Executive of BRI■Transmitting information overseas■
The IISEE is accumulating a database of earthquake information and training information, and is making it available to the world via
its website (http://iisee.kenken.go.jp/).
The earthquake disaster prevention technology information network (IISEE Net) releases
to the public information related to the mitigation of building disasters due to earthquakes(http://iisee.kenken.go.jp/net/). IISEE Net accumulates technical information (seismic
design code, seismic network and activities, seismic damage, and microzonation) from 91
countries, mainly consisting of developing nations. IISEE Net is updated based on
information from researchers who were trained at the IISEE. There are also web pages
showing strong motion observation conducted by the BRI, reports of recent earthquakes, acatalog of damaging earthquakes in the world (the “Utsu Catalog”), an IISEE Earthquake
Catalog, and the above-mentioned IPRED. As for information on training courses, English
lecture notes are computerized so that anyone can download them from the website

The IISEE website and the(subscription required). In addition, the information is sent to developing countries in seismic network in Costa Rica
various formats, including special lectures using video conferencing systems, e-learning systems, and synopses (summaries of themaster’s degree reports written by trainees) that can be browsed.
As of the end of December 2009
When theClassification

Field

Capacity

Timeframe(time of year)

training
coursesbegan, andspecialinstructions

International Training
in
Seismology
andEarthquake
Engineering

AnnualTraining inSeismology
andEarthquake
Engineering

SeminarCourseSeismology Course
Earthquake
Engineering Course
Tsunami Disaster
Mitigation Course
China Seismic
Building Course
OthersSeismology
Earthquake
Engineering

TsunamiEarthquake
Engineering

10
10

5
20

Approximately 1

1960year (October to

Master’s

following

degreeSeptember).

available

First 8 months:

since 2005

lectures in a group

2006

Last 3 months:

Master’s

individual specificdegreetraining

available

2 months

2009

Number of
those whohavecompleted

Number of those
who havecompleted thecoursesthe course

486
492
992
14
20
195

Seismology and
Earthquake

10 to 20

1 to 2 months

1980

175

Engineering

Global Seismological Observation
Course2 months
Seismology

10(January to

1995

139

March)
Seismology andIndividual Course

Earthquake
Engineering

Flexible

On a voluntary
basis

1968

98
Total: 1,424 ex-participantsOn the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the IISEE, it is a pleasure for me to send my warmest
congratulations, and express my deep gratitude to its present and past members. I participated in the
1961-62
EE Regular Course, and in 2002-03
the 1975-76 Individual Course.
The IISEE opened up to me2004-05
a broad
2001-02
2003-04

20
000
0-0
0
-0
01

view of multihazard risk reduction, focused on buildings’ seismic safety including site effects. So a numberof projects were developed in Peru, for example: A new course on EE, a new Seismic Code, and theconfined masonry method. The Sustainable Cities Program developed the hazard maps of over 130
Peruvian cities from 1998 to early 2010; all of them with favorable impacts on the country.
Dr. Julio Kuroiwa, Professor Emeritus, National University of Engineering Lima, Peru

20005-06

2006-072007-08

2008-09

2009-10(1961-62 E Course, 1975-76 Individual Course)

Capacity building in developing countries affected by earthquakes has always been the driving force
Semiinar
ar

1980
198
19
1
98
980
80

1981
1983
1985
1987
behind thetraining programs establishedby the IISEE. During all theseyears, participants of the different

training activities have benefited from the best knowledge-transfer available any where in the world,
spanning from Seismology and Earthquake Engineering to Tsunamis and Global SeismologicalObservation. I would like to congratulate the IISEE in reaching this important milestone of 50 years ofexperience in supporting human and social development in many regions of the world.
Dr. Federico David Guendel Umana, Director, International Monitoring System Division,
1989
1991
1992
Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

1988

1994

(1975-76 S Course)

We are living on dynamic crust of the earth. Some areas are located in the earthquake zones. We should
Chinais an
2009
9
1998with these disaster phenomena
2000
live together
through adaptation 2008
and mitigation. The IISEE

1996

international reputable training and learning institution in seismology and earthquake engineering. Besides
learning of science and engineering on earthquakes and related knowledge, in the IISEE we can learninternational environment and also Japanese culture. The IISEE will have 50 years experience as a learning
institution by 2010. I believe that the IISEE will be more mature and contribute to more support for humansustainability using Japanese modern technology on earthquake disaster mitigation.
Glob
bal

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

Dr. Djoko Santoso, Rector, The Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia (1978-79 S Course)

20000International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering
Building ResearchInstitute
2001
2002
2003

2004

1 Tachihara, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0802 Japan
TEL.+81-29-879-0680 FAX.+81-29-864-6777
URL:http//iisee.kenken.go.jp/
e-mail:iisee@kenken.go.jp

2005

2006

2007

2008

IISEE

staff