Dr. De Leon collaborates with Japanese Survey Group on Typhoon Haiyan

The Joint Survey Team (Dr. De Leon 3rd from left, standing)

 Dr. Mario De Leon, Associate Professor in the HWR Division of the Department joined a Survey Group on 2013 Typhoon Haiyan on Dec. 5-10, 2013. The survey was organized by the Department of International Development Engineering of Tokyo Institute of Technology headed by Dr. Hiroshi Takagi together with Waseda University, University of Tokyo and Toho University in Japan. The purpose of the survey is to conduct actual investigation on the extent of storm surge that hit the areas of Leyte and Samar specifically Tacloban, Palo, Tanauan, Abuyog, Dulag, Tolosa, Basey, Balangiga, Guiporlos, and Quinapondan. The field survey was conducted to document evidences of storm surge such as water marks, traces of damaged buildings and vegetation and to assess the extent of actual storm surge height. Interviews from the local community and government agencies were also done to gather and validate data and information. The field survey also supports and confirms the numerical simulation of storm surge on November 8 in Leyte and Samar that Dr. Takagi had earlier investigated.

The team that conducted the field survey from December 5-11, 2013 was composed of professors, consultants, graduate students engaged in coastal engineering with the participation from Japan NHK TV news team. Prof. Tomoya Shibayama from Waseda University was the Team Leader, with Prof. Hiroshi Takagi as the Assistant Team Leader, also joined by Prof. Ryo Matsumaru of Toho University, Prof. Miguel Esteban of University of Tokyo and Prof. Nguen Danh Thao of Ho Chi Minh City University. Upon the invitation of Dr. Takagi from TIT. The field survey in Leyte was also in coordination with DPWH Region VIII thru Dir. Rolando Asis. During the visit at DPWH regional office, Asst. Secretary Soguilon together with Asst Regional Director Tabacon gave a short briefing on the areas greatly affected by the typhoon.

 

The team at Tacloban

Actual field surveys in Leyte and Samar took place from December 5-9, 2013. The areas covered in Leyte were Tacloban, Palo, Tanuan, Abuyog, Dulag, Tolosa, MacArthur, while in Samar were the areas in Basey, Balangiga, Guiporlos, and Quinapondan. Based on the visual traces of water marks, damaged buildings, vegetation measured with reference to the corrected sea level during the typhoon event and interview of the local people, the storm surge heights were in the range of 2 to 7m. The northern part of Cebu was also surveyed on December 10, 2013 particularly in the areas of Medellin, Bogo and Bagay where the storm surge height was estimated at less than 2m.

 

Presentation of Findings at DLSU with Dean Seva

On December 12, 2013, the Joint Survey Team from Japan side represented by Dr.Takagi, Dr. Matsumaru, Dr. Kumagai, Mr. Mikami visited DLSU for a personal courtesy to the Dean of GCOE, Dr. Rosemary Seva, CE Department Chair Engr. Jason Ongpeng and some CE Department faculty and staff. A presentation was made on the team’s field survey in the different areas and the initial results and findings on storm surge height ranging from 2 to 7m were also shared to the group as well as the overall experience on the scenarios and aftermath of the areas and people struck by typhoon. Delegates from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Toyo University, Waseda University and Pacific Consultants were then awarded certificates as Visiting Scholars by the CE Department for initiating the collaboration with DLSU.

 

Awarding of Certificates to the Guest Researchers
by CE Dept Chair Jason Ongpeng and Dean Rose Seva

The output of the Joint Survey is to provide assistance and contribution in the coastal disaster mitigation planning in the Philippines as well as in Japan and in other  countries that experience coastal flooding. A journal article is also envisioned to be realized. At present, a manuscript was already submitted to one journal for review. It is also anticipated that a seminar will be conducted by the joint survey team together with government agencies and stakeholders sometime in December 2014, a year after the Typhoon Haiyan, where DLSU is identified as the proposed venue for the seminar.

- Article written by Dr. Mario De Leon

Andalis - BIM Specialist lectures at DLSU

Sonny Andalis

Engr. Sonny Galoso Andalis, Technical Consultant/BIM specialist for Centre for Construction IT (CCIT) under the Building & Construction Authority of Singapore and guest lecturer at National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) delivered a lecture on "Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the CE Curriculum" on February 4, 2014 at the Henry Sy Hall from 10:00 AM  to 12:00 nn. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the process of generating & managing building data during its entire life cycle. Among the issues presented by Engr. Andalis were:

• NUS and NTU experience in implementing BIM in the CE curriculum
• The focus on analysis and physical model interoperability and structural detailing for engineering students
• Different approach to Singapore Poly, Ngee Ann Poly, Temasek Poly and ITE with more emphasis on modeling

  

  www.bkmofficeworks.com

• SUTD focus on research as patterned from MIT
• UniSIM focus on Facilities Management. Research focus for NTU and NUS BIM Center of Excellence covering commercial and infrastructure projects respectively
• Government funding to ensure productivity gains and localizing of best practices abroad
•  Collaboration with BIM centres worldwide: US Stanford CIFE on VDC and BIMscore, UK Northrumbia BIM Academy on Sustainability, US Georgia Tech Precast Lab, Israel Technion on Lean Construction, Australia Curtin University Facilities Management, Korea Kyung Hee University on OpenBIM and Texas A&M on CAVE technology.
• Various software on BIM in Architecture, Structures and MEP

The lecture introduced the Department to a new technology that is now becoming a standard in construction and infrastructure development and now introduced in civil engineering courses in CE schools in the US, Australia, Korea and Singapore. BIM concepts and software will soon be introduced in some of the undergraduate courses on building design and construction.

"BIM in the CE Curriculum "Lecture - 4 Feb 2014

Dr. Tanhueco at 1st Regional Conference on Natural Disaster - Indonesia

Dr. Renan Tanhueco, Assoc. Professor in the Hydraulics and Water Resources (HWR) Division of the Department attended the 1st Regional Conference on Natural Disaster last Jan 22-23, 2014 at Inna Garuda Hotel, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. . The conference has the theme, “Building Disaster Resilience in the ASEAN Region.”  The conference was hosted by AUN/SEED-Net and organized by Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). As Natural Disaster is a new field of AUN/SEED-Net under Phase III, the conference was held the first time in this field. 

Dr. Tanhueco presented a paper on his research on Flood Risks, DRR and Climate Change Adaptation in Surigao Del Norte Province. The abstract of the paper is shown below:

Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in Local Development Planning and Decision-making Processes: Managing Flood Risks in Surigao Del Norte Province, Philippines

by Renan Ma. Tanhueco

Abstract

The paper shares the learned experiences on how to build resilience and reduce vulnerabilities through physical framework and land use planning in Surigao Del Norte Province. It presents key concepts and practice of mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in local development plans and decision making processes. It also identifies gaps in knowledge and understanding of risk sensitive physical planning and implementation in the study area and how these were addressed through technical assistance to different levels of government with support from development partners and educational institutions of higher learning. Among the key concerns that prevented integration of DRR and CCA in local physical development planning in the study area include: a) the lack of framework and process for mainstreaming DRR and CCA in plans, b) the need to improve hazard mapping and develop flood risk assessments, c) the lack of technical capacity and political experience to deal with areas impacted by natural hazards and e) the difficulties of utilizing land use management (engineering and land use) methods to reduce disaster risks and adapt to future climate change related hazards.

Papers from various topics namely disaster management, debris and flood, drought, disaster management, earthquake, geo-hazard and tsunami were presented by participants from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.The next ND Regional Conference will be jointly held with Geological and Geo-Resources Engineering at the University of Yangon, Myanmar on 29-30 September 2014. 

Group Photo from AUN/SEED-Net Website

The natural disaster management is a new field of study in the AUN/SEED-Net program and funding had been allotted for this new field for research, scholarships, exchanges, visits. To increase participation of the faculty who have researches in hazard and risk assessment, DRR and climate change, the Department nominated Dr. Renan Tanhueco and Dr. Andres Oreta as contact faculty members in this area of Natural Disaster (ND) of the AUN/SEED-Net.

Cultural Tours

Participants of the 1st RC on Natural Disaster - AUN/SEED-Net

- Information from AUN/SEED-Net website

Two Weddings in the Department

2014 seems to be a blessed and fruitful year for the CE Department as two of its faculty members tied the knot in a Catholic wedding this January.

The marriage rites and reception of Engr. Richard De Jesus  and his bride Madz Ascano was held on January 18, 2014 at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Cubao, QC. Engr. De Jesus was formely a part-time teaching faculty and recently joined the department this 3rd term as full time faculty.

Dr. Jonathan River Dungca and Ms. Peachy Inocente were united in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony on January 31, 2014 at the Our Lady of Carmel Parish Church (Barasoain Church), Malolos, Bulacan. Dr. Dungca is a full-time associate professor of the department. He is presently the External Affairs Director of the Gokongwei College of Engineering, DLSU.

Principal sponsors in Richard's wedding: Dr. Lessandro Garciano & Engr. Ronaldo Gallardo.

PS: Incidentally, in the two weddings, Engr. Ronaldo S. Gallardo, former CE Dept. Chair, is a common "ninong" or principal sponsor. Mano po Ninong! :-)

Congratulations to the newly married couples. 

May you have a fruitful marriage and a happy family.

Nishida - TIT Prof visits DLSU CE Department

Dr. Takahiro Nishida of TIT as Visiting Professor

Dr. Takahiro Nishida, professor from the Graduate School of Science and Engineering and Department of International Development Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology (TIT) visited De La Salle University as a Visiting Scholar to the Civil Engineering Department on December 6-13, 2013. Dr. Nishida’s visit was primarily devoted to providing ideas, advice and recommendations to the ongoing researches on concrete mixed with seawater of civil engineering undergraduate and graduate students. He also conducted a lecture about the “Investigation, Repair and Strengthening of Deteriorated Concrete Structures”. A discussion in organizing the Crack Seminar and Workshop on Civil and Chemical Engineering in September 2014 and the Seawater Mixed Concrete Seminar in March 2015 was held with CE Dept. cahir, Jason Ongpeng and TokyoTech Office manager, Ronaldo Gallardo. These seminars will be organized together with TIT and the Japan Concrete Institute. Dr. Nishida also attended undergraduate student presentations on thesis and course projects related to construction materials, technology and management.

- Article written by Cheryl Capiz-Roxas