Date:31/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/31/stories/2008103158690200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Training held on quake-resistant building designs

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: While regulations for earthquake-resistant buildings have been in place for over three years, many architects still have minimal exposure to earthquake-resistant design and construction principles, according to S. Kesavalu, head of the department at the MEASI Academy of Architecture. In order to increase awareness and knowledge about how to plan quake-resistant structures for cities, the Academy, in association with Tamil Nadu Government’s Department of Disaster Mitigation and Management organised a one-day training programme for architecture students on Thursday as part of the Urban Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction Project funded by the United Nations Development Programme.

Plans for week-long one

MEASI also plans to host a week-long training programme for practicing architects early next year. Subjects covered on Thursday included the characteristics of earthquake motion and quake-resistant design concepts, software applications for such design, retrofitting, different configurations of structures and their behaviour and ground improvement for liquefaction-resistant, mechanically stabilised earth.