US-AID-MERC project on Earthquake Hazard Assessments for Building Codes.

Minutes of the coordination meeting in Amman on January 26, 2000.

 

The first meeting, after the signing of the contract with the US-AID, between the collaborating institutions NRA, GII and ESSE, was held in Amman on January 26, 2000. The collaborating institutions were represented by:

For NRA – Eng. Darwish and Eng.. Abdel-Qader Amrat

For GII – Dr. Shapira

For En Najah Nat. Univ. (ESSE) – Dr. Dabbeek.

 

All tasks planned for the first year of the project (year 2000) were discussed in details. Nominees for researchers in each of the working groups were identified. An overall  picture of the project and procedures for executing the tasks were presented to the Director general of the NRA, Eng. El Haiarry.

 

Following the discussions it has been agreed that:

1.      The first workshop (“Initiation stage”) is planned for the last week of March 2000. It will be organized by NRA in Amman.

2.      A detailed program will be prepared jointly by Avi and Abdel-Qader and will include, among other topics:

·        Presentations of the work accomplished since the approval of the project by US-AID in October 1999.

·        Presentation of the state-of-the-art  in the USA on earthquake hazard assessments by a USGS representative (probably Dr. Hays).

·        Presentation of the project and the SvE approach by Avi.

·        Organization of the working groups.

3.      Instruments:

·        The accelerometers to be purchased are the ETNA system manufactured by Kinnemetrics (CA, USA).

·        The data acquisition systems for field operations will be based on the SDA system using Laptops rather than desktop computer.

·        NRA will provide specifications about the radio links to be purchased for upgrading its seismic network. A report will be prepared for justifying the choice of radio telemetry. Avi will check again the budget to verify the number of links to be upgraded.

·        The seismic channel calibration kit will be based on a commercial signal generator operating on 12 VDC.

4.      Software & maps:

·        The GII will modify the GII-SDP program for processing seismic data, to meet the needs of the project. “standard” programs such as GEOTOOL and SEISAN will also be used when applicable.

·        The GIS for presenting the results of the project will be based on the ARC_VIEW s/w package (to be purchased).

·        The maps to be used (and prepared) during the project will cover the following geographic areas: from latitude 27    to  latitude 37   and from longitude  32   to longitude 40 E.

·        The s/w to be prepared by GII will probably be completed as planned (June 2000).

5.      Finance:

Avi will estimate the costs associated with the planned activities for the next 6 months and ask for down payment from the MERC program.

 

Reported by: Avi Shapira

02 February 2000