Research Collaboration Between UK Universities and De La Salle University under the Newton Fund Project

Last September 9, 2016, Dr. Alexis Fillone, along with Dr. Jose Bienvenido Manuel Biona from the Mechanical Engineering Department and Dr. Krista Danielle Yu from the Economics Department, welcomed visiting professors and PhD candidates from University College London and University of Oxford, under the Newton Fund initiative. It is a project intended to strengthen research and innovation partnerships between the United Kingdom and emerging knowledge economies. Part of it is the PhD research exchange program where PhD candidates from the UK conduct their research in Metro Manila focusing on issues related to transport and flooding.

During their stay here in Manila, UCL PhD candidates Mengqiu Cao and Beatriz Lira, assisted by their adviser Dr. Robin Hickman, conducted a travel discourse survey on a mix of students, faculty members, and staff as their respondents, while Nihan Akyelken, Anna Plyushteva, and Dr. Tim Schwanen from the University of Oxford interviewed residents living in the barangays in the Leveriza area. The UCL group’s survey asked on the travel characteristics of people going to the University, as well as their opinions on various transport-related issues. The latter’s interviews focused mostly on the nearby barangays’ vulnerability to transport-related problems like traffic congestion as well as flooding, and the health implications of both.

On the 14^th of September, 2016, the visitors were invited to present at the Transport Sustainability and Resilience Research Forum, held in room 407 of the Yuchengco Bldg. They, along with Engr. Neil Stephen Lopez from the Mechanical Engineering Deparment and Engr. Raymund Paolo Abad from the Civil Engineering Department, gave presentations on their respective researches. The following is a list of presentations given.

1.      Tim Schwanen, “Framing Vulnerability to Flooding in the Transport Sector”

2.      Neil Stephen Lopez, “Transport Desirability Index”

3.      Beatriz Lira, “Capabilities-based Multi-Criteria Assessment”

4.      Menqiu Cao, “Investigating Travel Vulnerability in Greater London: The CUHA Index”

5.      Raymund Paolo Abad, “Effect of Flooding to Transportation, Accessibility, Housing Cost, and Travel Behavior of Students in Metro Manila”

From the top: Dr Tim Schwanen, Neil Lopez, Beatriz Lira, Menqiu Cao, and Raymund Abad

On the same day, the visitors attended a meeting with professors and researchers from Central Philippine University in Iloilo City, University of Pangasinan in Dagupan City, and Saint Louis University in Baguio City. They discussed transport issues in the cities of Iloilo, Baguio, and Dagupan which can be considered in the phase II of possible collaborations similar to the Newton Fund project between De La Salle University and Universities in the UK.

On the 16^th, they were invited to a meeting at the Science and Technology Complex in Binan, Laguna. The terms of the PhD research exchange program were discussed with the PhD candidates from DLSU, Engr. Neil Stephen Lopez, Engr. Raymund Paolo Abad, and Engr. Krister Ian Daniel Roquel from the Civil Engineering Department. Documentary requirements needed before the research exchange as well as the expected outputs afterwards were discussed. The visitors from UK were subsequently given a quick tour of the campus and the nearby city of Tagaytay. Thanks to Mr. Roquel for the write up.

From the left: Mengqiu Cao, Dr. Alexis Fillone, Krister Roquel, Raymund Abad, Anna Plyushteva, Dr. Krista Yu, and Beatriz Lira

From the left: Dr. Manny Biona, Menqiu Cao, Anna Plyushteva, Dr. Tim Schwanen, Beatriz Lira, Dr Krista Yu, Raymund Abad, Neil Lopez, and Krister Roquel

Garciano & Oreta at XU (CDO) for Earthquake Eng'g Lectures

Announcing the XUERC Earthquake Engineering Lectures

CE Department Chair, Dr. Lessandro Garciano and Prof. Andres Oreta delivered lectures on Earthquake Engineering at Xavier University, Cagayan De Oro City on Oct. 1, 2016. They were invited by DLSU MSCE alumnus, Engr. Dexter Lo who is also the founding director of the XU Engineering Resource Center. PhD students from University College London also presented lectures on the same event which was attended by XU civil engineering students and faculty members.

Oreta and Garciano are presently engaged in a collaborative project, "Safer Communities through Safer Schools" or SCOSSO (meaning "shake" in Italian) where seismic assessment of schools at CDO are conducted. The project is with UCL as the lead partner and XU ERC as cooperating institution. Before going to CDO, the SCOSSO team composed of UCL, DLSU and XU ERC members met at Cebu City during the 6th ASIA Conference on Earthquake Engineering  (6ACEE).

Oreta & Garciano with UCL and XU ERC partners at the 6th ASIA Conference on Earthquake Engg, Cebu City last Sept. 23, 2016. (Photo by Dexter Lo)

Certificate of Appreciation to Dr. Oreta at XU

Certificate of Appreciation to Dr. Garciano at XU

The Resource Speakers from DLSU and UCL with the XU Faculty at XU

With the XU ERC volunteers for the SCOSSO Project at XU

DLSU CE Faculty at the 6ACEE - Cebu City

Meeting of the 6ACEE IAC members and ASEP Board

 

CE faculty Prof. Andres Winston Oreta,  Assoc. Prof. Lessandro Estelito Garciano (current CE Dept. chair) and DLSU CIV graduates actively participated in the 6^th ASIA Conference on Earthquake Engineering (6ACEE) held at Marco Polo Hotel, Lahug, Cebu City last Sept. 22-24, 2016. The 6ACEE was organized by the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines. The keynote speech delivered by Sec. Emmanuel De Guzaman of the Climate Change Commission. Dr. Ernesto De Castro (PICE National President delivered an inspirational message.

Keynote speech by Sec. Manny De Guzman

 The conference was attended by more than 320 delegates from Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, India, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. Nine keynote lectures by Dr. Renato Solidum (PHIVOLCS), Dr. K.C. Chang (NCREE, Taiwan), Dr. Rolando Orense (U. Auckland, NZ), Prof. Fumio Yamazaki (Chiba U., Japan), Prof. Dina D'Ayala (UCL, UK), Prof. Pennung Warnitchai (AIT,Thailand), Carlos Villaraza (ASEP), Dr. William Tanzo (Vibrametrics) and Prof. Osamu Murao (Tohoku U., Japan) were delivered. More than 70 technical papers were presented in parallel sessions and in a special session organized by the National Center for Research in Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) of Taiwan. DLSU CE Department is a supporting organization of the 6ACEE.

Dr. Oreta presented a paper about resilient cities

Oreta was the chair of the 6ACEE International Advisory Committee (IAC) and chaired the meeting with the IAC members. Garciano who is also an ASEP director served as a session chair in the parallel sessions. Oreta and Garciano were also members of the 6ACEE Technical Committee.

Dr. Garciano served as chair in a parallel session

Oreta presented his paper co-authored with Garciano and Assoc. Prof. Renan Tanhueco entitled “The Ten Essentials for Making Cities Resilient: The Case of Quezon City.” The paper authored by Garciano on the other hand, entitled “Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Buried Pipelines in Surigao Del Norte” was presented by his co-author Ms. Sheena Better (DLSU BSCE graduate).  Joshua Macaraeg 

(BSMS-CE graduate) presented his paper co-authored with Dr. Jonathan Dungca (GCOE Dean) entitled “Integration of Site Effects to Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis for Estimation of Peak Ground Acceleration.” Meanwhile, part-time faculty, Engr. Adam Abinales delivered a lecture to students and young engineers on "Seismic Retrofitting of Concrete Structures for Environmental Sustainability."

Joshua Macaraeg presented a paper co-authored with Dr. Jonathan Dungca

Oreta and Garciano are also co-authors in one of the keynote papers on “Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment of Priority Cultural Heritage Structures in the Philippines” which was presented by Prof. Dina D’Ayala of University Ciollege London of UK.

Prof. Dina D'Ayala presents a keynote paper

In a meeting chaired by Dr. Oreta with the IAC members and ASEP Board, it was decided that the 7th edition of the ACEE or 7ACEE will be hosted by the Asian Institute of Technology and AIT Solutions with Prof. Naveed Anwar and Prof. Pennung Warnitchai of AIT as the key persons. See you on Novemeber 2018 at Bangkok, Thailand.