International Platform for Reducing
Earthquake Disasters (IPRED)

The newly established IPRED is a platform for collaborative research, training and educationin the field of seismology and earthquake engineering. The International Institute ofSeismology and Earthquake Engineering (IISEE) acts as the “Centre of Excellence” of thisPlatform. Supported by UNESCO, the IISEE was established in Japan in 1962 as anorganization dedicated to training researchers and engineers in developing countries.

Background
Buildings should protect human beings from natural disasters. When buildings are themselves
damaged by earthquakes, the impact on the lives of the occupants is enormous. Damage tobuildings can also seriously hinder relief and repairing efforts.
In January 2005, the United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) was
held in Kobe, Japan and adopted the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015:
Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters. During one of the conference
sessions, it was discussed that it would be important to improve the safety of buildings andhousing as a basic and vital priority for the world’s disaster reduction efforts, and it wasproposed that the “building disaster reduction network” should be established.
In June 2007, the 1st Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction was held inGeneva, Switzerland. During one of the side events, it was proposed to establish a “Taskforce
Group on Building Code” with regards to its enforcement, implementation and dissemination.

“Natural disasters including earthquake disasters do not recognize geographicalborders. Knowledge about earthquakes must be shared for the benefit of all.”– Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, at the 1st Session of the IPRED in Paris, July 2008

-1-The establishment of the IPRED
Following the kickoff meeting in Japan in June 2007, the 1st Session of the IPRED was held atUNESCO in Paris in July 2008. It was attended by representatives of major earthquake-prone
countries (Chile, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Peru, Romania, and Turkey).
The 1st Session shared the lessons learned from other recent earthquake disasters including theWenchuan Earthquake, and discussed the future IPRED activities. The 2nd Session of theIPRED was held in Istanbul in July 2009 and the membership of El Salvador was approved.

IPRED’s Mission
To identify gaps and priorities through the sharing of scientific knowledge and experience inthe field of seismology and earthquake engineering, and to support the development ofpolitical will and public awareness, for the purpose of ensuring the better preparation against
earthquakes and building a culture of safety for the people in the world.

International Platform for Reducing Earthquake Disaster (IPRED)
in the field of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering (image)

IPRED

Chile: Universiad Catolica de Chile
Egypt: National Research Institute of Astronomyand Geophysics (NRIAG)

UNESCO
Center ofExcellence:
BRI/IISEE inJapanProposals, Social Activities- Joint proposals to participatingcountries

El Salvador: TBD (UCA or UES?)- Joint advice on request fromparticipating countries

Indonesia: Research Institute for Human
Settlements (RIHS)- Joint proposals to internationalorganizations

Kazakhstan: Institute of Seismology- Acceptance and implementation of
joint research for solving national or
local issues

Mexico: National Center for Disaster Prevention(CENAPRED)
Peru: Japan-Peru Center for Earthquake
Engineering and Disaster Mitigation (CISMID)- Cooperation in restoration following
disasters

Romania: National Center for Seismic Risk
Reduction (CNRRS)
Turkey: Istanbul Technical University (ITU)

Research- Plan and implement joint research- Mutual dispatch of researchers- Sharing research achievement- Joint presentation of researchachievements (seminars andsymposiums, etc)
- Sharing information of damages
from earthquakes

Training

Database- Fostering of lecturers for training- Vertical specialization in training- Mutual dispatch of lecturers- Cooperative development andsharing of learning materials andcurriculums- Sharing and publishing training
information- Cooperation in offering trainees-2-- Information on researchers- Information on research institutes- Information on researchachievements- Information on utilization ofresearch achievements- Associated information of eachcountry (Building codes, relatedstandards)

IPRED’s Principal Objectives (extract)To exchange information and propose plans on collaborative research, training, andeducation regarding seismology and earthquake engineering in order to reduce earthquake
disaster, especially on buildings and housing.

To address policy-relevant issues related to the reduction of earthquake disaster risks andimplementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, including making recommendations
on priorities of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR).

To establish a system to dispatch experts to an earthquake stricken country in order tocarry out post-earthquake field investigations and draw lessons for future risk reduction,
by utilizing the worldwide network of the graduates of training courses organized by theIISEE (over 1300 graduates from some 100 countries).

Post-earthquake Field Investigation System (image)- Effective Utilization of Human Resource Network Cooperation

GRIPSNational
Graduate
Institute for
Policy Studies

BRI Building Research InstituteInternational Institute ofCooperation IISEE Seismology and Earthquake
Engineeringof Land,MLIT Ministry
Infrastructure,
Transport andTourism

JICA
MLITJapanInternational
Cooperation
AgencyODA

1300 graduates
100 countries

Close Cooperation

Human Resource Management Network forInternational Cooperation of Earthquake Disaster
Mitigation regarding Buildings and Housing

Foreign Affairs

Formulation of
Cooperative
Framework

UNESCO

BudgetMOFA Ministry ofSupport

International Training Course
on Earthquake and Tsunami
Disaster Mitigation

Graduates

Graduates

Graduates

Central Role
Dispatch
Dispatch
Country of
Graduates

Country of
Graduates

Country of
Graduates

Earthquake
Occurred-3-Graduates

Graduates

Promotion of countermeasuresagainst earthquake disasterCountry ofGraduates

Country ofGraduates

IPRED Action Plan (extract)
Action 1:

Development of database to contribute to field investigations (database related
to anti-seismic performance, etc.)
Action 2: Establishment of a system for post-earthquake field investigations
Action 3: Development of educational materials database (for the e-learning system, etc.)
Action 4: Promotion of international joint research programmes
Action 5: Promotion of international cooperation with universities
Action 6: Promotion of sharing engineering data on structural testing, soil properties,
etc.
Action 7: Promotion of ground motion observation network and the data sharing
Action 8: Training of trainers through the IISEE follow-up trainings, follow-upworkshops, etc.
Action 9: Development of the portal website (http://www.unesco-ipred.org/)
Action 10: Establishment of the “IISEE-UNESCO Lecture Notes Series”(http://iisee.kenken.go.jp/lna/)
Action 11: Development of the microtremor array exploration techniques
Action 12: Dissemination of activities through International/regional events related toseismology or earthquake engineering
Action 13: Planning of international workshops to raise IPRED’s awarenessAction 14: Information dissemination by distribution of printed materials
Action 15: Translation of building codes into other languages(Left) Kickoff meeting in Tokyo, June 2007, (Right) The 2nd session of the IPRED in Istanbul, July 2009

For more information, please contact:
Mr Takashi IMAMURA, Programme Specialist
Section for Disaster Reduction, UNESCO
1, rue Miollis, 75732 Paris cedex 15, FRANCE
Tel: +33 (0)1 45 68 38 92
Fax: +33 (0)1 45 68 58 21
E-mail: t.imamura@unesco.org
http://www.unesco.org/disaster-4-