Contrary to what a section of our experts has been claiming here, Japanese scientist Dr Shunji Murai, the present general secretary of the Asian Association of Remote Sensing (AARS) and a former president of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), claimed here today that earthquakes can be predicted.
Dr Murai, who is also Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo was making a presentation on the geospatial technologies and its trends at a two-day workshop. The Assam Remote Sensing Application Centre (ARSAC) of the Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) and the Geoinformatics Center, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok have jointly organized the event.
Dr Murai claimed that the Tokachi earthquake of 8 magnitude and Wencham earthquake of similar magnitude could be predicted applying the geospatial technology. The signals of the Wencham earthquake were available four weeks before it had occurred on May 12, 2008, he said.
Dr Manjul Hazarika, Associate Director of the Geoinformatics Center of the AIT also supported the assertion made by Dr Murai.
Dr Hazarika said that the geo-positional systems (GPS) can detect the movement of two plates accurately. If rapid movements of plates are detected by the GPS systems then there is every likelihood that earthquake will occur within a few days.
The location of such seismic activities can also be specified by such observations if there is a good concentration of GPS towers, Hazarika said.
Dr Murai said in his presentation that the present trends in the geospatial technology are to make the technology more precise, faster in processing, more automated and more practical. He also laid stress on promoting international and regional collaborative ventures.
In his presentation on application of geospatial technologies in disaster management, Dr Hazarika said that while mapping disaster vulnerability, one should have the information on hazard, vulnerability and risk components.
Moreover, information on the types of buildings according to their use, population in the vulnerable area during the day and night hours, age of the structures etc are also required to assess the vulnerability of a place, he said.
Combining the information on the earthquake, such as its magnitude and intensity, and the elements at risk, a comprehensive damage picture for each type of buildings in each type of areas can be obtained. For different intensities, he said, different reports are produced.
He apprised that his team had done an earthquake vulnerability mapping in an Indian city.
Today, presentations were also made, among others, by Dr PP Nageswara Rao, Director, North Eastern Space Application Centre (Current status and future requirements of geospatial technologies in Assam) and Utpal Sarma, Head (in-charge) of the ARSAC (Status of remote sensing and GIS application in ARSAC).
Earlier, the workshop was inaugurated by Niraj Verma, Secretary of the State's, Science and Technology Department. The guests of the function were welcomed by ASTEC director Dr S K Choudhury.
Dr Achim Hellmeier of Germany and Dr Peter Fux of Switzerland are scheduled to make their presentations tomorrow.
Source: www.assamtribune.com
