Garciano at YTU's International Symposium on Disaster Mitigation

Dr. Lessandro Estelito O. Garciano, an associate professor of the Civil Engineering Department, presented a paper at the International Symposium on Disaster Mitigation, Design and Maintenance for Infrastructures in Developing Countries last May 23, 2015 at Yangon Technological University (YTU). His paper was entitled “Adaptation Strategies for low-cost residential houses due to strong typhoons in the Philippines“. Speakers of the symposium included Professors from Kyoto University, University of Tokyo, YTU, Mandalay Technological University and other Japanese companies. Some of the presentations discussed the realities and challenges in disaster mitigation and current engineering problems in Myanmar. These include seismic and wind hazard assessment, flash flood mitigation and geotechnical problems in Mandalay. Aside from gathering experts in disaster mitigation for developing countries, the symposium was also meant to jump start the establishment of the Myanmar Society of Civil Engineers.

The Symposium was organized by Professor Takeshi Koike who is the Academic Advisor of JICA for the enhancement of engineering higher education in YTU. Prof. Koike was also Dr. Garciano’s adviser when he was a PhD student at the Department of Urban and Civil Engineering at Musashi Institute of Technology (now Tokyo City University).  

The visit was also an appropriate time to discuss collaborative research with Prof. Koike and three faculty members of YTU, Dr. Kyaw Kyaw, Dr. Khin Aye Mon and Dr. Zin Mar Lar Tin San. In September this year, Dr. Garciano will be the host professor of these three faculty members. They will visit De La Salle University with the support of the AUN/SEED-Net Short Term Visit Program (SVAS) in ASEAN 2015.

 

- Report submitted by Dr. Lessandro Garciano  8/9/2015