DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Building Disaster Resilience to Seismic Hazards in Uganda

Project disclaimer

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Description

Uganda is situated between the Eastern and Western branches of the East African Rift system and is prone to moderate level seismicity causing several destructive events in the past. Currently, seismic risk in Uganda is increasing at a fast pace due to high population growth, rapid urbanisation and vulnerable building stock caused by lack of building regulations and expertise for designing and constructing earthquake resistant structures. Therefore, there is an urgent need (i) to characterise seismic hazard (including earthquake induces landslides) using new methods, (ii) to categorise structural systems of residential building stock, (iii) to determine the location and distribution of different building categories realistically at national level, (iv) to assess their expected performances, (v) to determine seismic risk, and (vi) to develop risk reduction and management strategies. However, assessment and management of seismic risks in Uganda is a big challenge due to limited data availability, lack of expertise and insufficient resources. This project brings together a partnership of researchers from the University of Sheffield in the UK, and Makerere and Kyambogo Universities in Uganda, for the first time, to address the challenge faced by Uganda. The assembled research team will work towards the achievement of ambitious objectives of the project in close collaboration to reduce future earthquake related loses and develop more resilient communities in Uganda against seismic events. The project team will actively engage with governmental and non-governmental agencies in Uganda (such as National Bureau of Standards, National Building Review Board, Engineers Registration Board, Institution of Professional Engineers) to understand needs within the country, disseminate project outputs widely and maximise impact. Meetings with key policy makers will be held to examine potential areas for future development of the Seismic Design Code and risk management tools, to discuss barriers to change, and to develop proposals for change. Presentations to local communities will also be carried out to understand their current awareness of seismic risk and mitigation measures and to gather feedback on the accessibility and acceptability of the proposed changes and developed tools. The project will also train next generation of researchers, academics, practitioners, engineers, PhD and MSc students in Uganda by organising free online courses to equip them with necessary knowledge and skills in the fields of seismic design, vulnerability, risk and resilience.

Objectives

The principal aim of the proposed project is to initiate and sustain a new international partnership between the University of Sheffield (UoS) and academic and government institutions in Uganda to improve seismic safety and resilience of communities living in Uganda. The following is the list of the identified work packages (WP) and their main objectives: WP1. Characterisation of Exposure and Seismic Hazard: To perform a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis including secondary hazards (mainly landslides) for Uganda by collecting data on seismicity, geology and tectonic settings, and to develop reliable bespoke residential building and population exposure models for risk calculations by gathering data on building stock and occupancy. WP2. Characterisation of Vulnerability and Multi-Hazard Risk: To develop an integrated multi-hazard seismic risk assessment model for Uganda. This will include seismic vulnerability/fragility curves based on validated Finite Element models of typical building types. WP3. Development of Disaster Management Decision Making Tools: To develop seismic prevention, mitigation and recovery actions for Uganda. This will include upgrading the seismic design guidelines, and development of: i) insurance policy document and iii) sustainable post-disaster relief housing. WP4. Engagement with policy makers and community-level stakeholders: To work with stakeholders at both the government and community levels to explore deficiencies with current policies and regulations, to develop enhanced approaches, and to understand the accessibility/acceptability of proposed policy initiatives in both urban and rural communities. WP5. Management, Knowledge Exchange, Establishment of Long-term Collaboration, Impact, Training, and Dissemination Activities: To initiate and establish long-term strategic partnerships between project partners in the studied fields and to train next generation of engineers and researchers in Uganda.

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Location

The country, countries or regions that benefit from this Programme.

Uganda

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