rimes

Project Description:

The project aims to strengthen early warning and response systems for tsunami and extreme weather events in Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, through building tsunami hazard and risk assessment capacities of relevant government departments, and developing a regional data sharing policy for RIMES Member States and collaborating countries that allows to improve data availability for warning purposes. Key activities include trainings, demonstrations of tool application; and transfer of equipment, software and systems.

Objectives:

1. Build tsunami hazard and risk assessment capacities in Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, building on UNESCO/IOC efforts in the Indian Ocean region and taking advantage of low-cost methodologies developed at RIMES

2. Develop a regional data sharing policy for RIMES Member States and collaborating countries, in order to improve data availability for warning purposes

Activities:

1. Project initiation
2. Training on near-shore field surveys
   
   Survey Report: Philippines
   Survey Report: Sri Lanka
3. Training on survey data processing and DEM generation
   
   Report: Training on Survey data processing- Philippines
   Report: DEM generation-methods and outputs- Philippines
   Report: Training on Survey data processing- Sri Lanka
   Report: DEM generation-methods and outputs- Sri Lanka
4. Training on tsunami risk assessment and evacuation mapping
   
   Report: INSPIRE-ESCAPE Training- Philippines
5. Exercise manual adaptation and evacuation map testing
6. Regional resource sharing policy and mechanism development

Expected Outcomes and Performance Measures:

1. Tsunami risk assessment capacities built within relevant/mandated technical agencies.
   
   » Number trained in near-shore bathymetric, topographic, and exposure surveys
   » Number trained in data preparation and management
   » Number trained in tsunami hazard and risk assessment
   » Number of agencies that received survey methodology, equipment, and materials, and software for data preparation
2. Number of agencies that received INSPIRE system Improved tsunami warning and response capabilities within national tsunami warning centers and disaster management organizations and communities.
   
   » Number trained in interpretation and use of tsunami risk maps
   » Number trained in data preparation and management, and evacuation mapping using ESCAPE
   » Number practiced in tsunami evacuation using ESCAPE outputs and UNESCO/IOC guidelines
   » Number of NDMOS that received ESCAPE system and manual on multi-hazard exercise planning, implementation, and evaluation
3. Regional resource sharing for improved warning information generation and dissemination.
   
   » Regional data sharing policy and mechanism
   » Mechanism for regional online interaction of forecasters during extreme events
   » Number of countries, not covered by the project, that learn from project experiences and identify activities and funding sources for replication

External Connections:

The project builds on UNESCO/IOC’s project on Improving Emergency Response to Ocean-Based Extreme Events through Coastal Mapping Capacity Building in the Indian Ocean (COAST MAP-IO).

Project Partners/Beneficiaries:

• Myanmar
  
  » Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (focal point)
  » National Hydrographic Center
  » Department of Land Survey
  » Relief and Resettlement Department
  » General Administration Department
• Philippines
  
  » Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (focal point)
  » National Mapping and Resource Information Authority
  » National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
• Sri Lanka
  
  » Disaster Management Center (focal point)
  » Department of Meteorology
  » National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency
  » Survey Department
  » Coast Conservation Department
• Thailand
  
  » Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation

Information Resources:

Project Fact-sheet
Poster
e-Newsletter (Issue 1: July 2013)
Photo Gallery