SANTO DOMINGO.- Sharing knowledge, experiences and best practices in the field of earthquake-resistant construction and unifying criteria to jointly address the challenges and problems of earthquakes and other natural phenomena that affect the region, is the common objective of 15 countries that will meet in the country from today, Wednesday the 26th, until next Friday the 28th of this month of July 2023.
The Dominican Republic will host the sixth Seismic Model Code conference, which will take place at the Barceló Hotel (Lina) with the focus on addressing seismic safety in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The event will begin at 9 a.m. and will bring together experts in seismology and seismic engineering from 15 countries, as well as leading authorities of the Seismic Model Code for Latin America and the Caribbean, in order to create strategic alliances for strengthening seismic safety in the region.
“This is a great opportunity for our country and the region to unify the criteria for seismic evaluation of buildings and infrastructure, under the Seismic Model Code,” said Leonardo Reyes Madera, director of the National Office of Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (Onesvie), the organizing institution that has the support of other public entities, academies and the construction and seismological sector of the country.
For three days, representatives from countries such as Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Turkey, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic will be discussing the topic.
Furthermore, the event will allow for the standardization and improvement of practices and the optimization of access to knowledge and resources for the development of seismic research in the countries involved, according to a press release from Onasvie.
He adds that they will also seek to promote professional integration, cooperate in the development of regional technical documents, and aspire to international certifications for the Code.
Topics
The presenters will cover topics such as the presentation of the wood chapter of the Seismic Model Code, results of IDB consulting on construction codes, plans and policies of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) for the prevention and mitigation of the effects of earthquakes on road infrastructure in the Dominican Republic, the impact of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria in February 2023, the Mexican seismic model code, among others.
Objective of the Model Code
The Model Seismic Code has been developed to establish construction standards and guidelines that reduce seismic risks and ensure the safety of people and structures in the event of earthquakes. The Model Seismic Code for Latin America and the Caribbean (CMS AL&EC) is a voluntary reference document, developed collaboratively and with broad participation from public regulatory institutions and professional specialists. It takes into account the seismic, economic, and technical realities of all countries in the region, establishing the minimum content and standards considered in existing seismic codes, regulations, and standards.
