The department of civil engineering of United International University organised a seminar titled Earthquake Risk and its Mitigation in Urban Areas of Bangladesh on the UIU campus at Madani Avenue in Dhaka on Saturday.
Professor Mehedi Ahmed Ansari, department of civil engineering and founder director BUET-Japan Institute of Disaster Prevention and Urban Safety, was present as chief guest in the seminar, said a press release.
Presided over by Professor Md Mujibur Rahman, department of civil engineering, UIU, and director, Centre for Smart Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability, the vote of thanks was delivered by Rumana Afrin, head, department of civil engineering, UIU.聽
Professor Mehedi Ahmed discussed the current earthquake risk level of Bangladesh using established geological and geotechnical data, as well as engineering measures to improve the earthquake resistance of buildings.
He explained the concept of detailed engineering assessment, highlighting how a systematic assessment of structural integrity helps identify vulnerabilities and prioritize interventions.
Emphasising the importance of retrofitting old structures to improve their performance under earthquake stress, he also introduced the colour-coded RMG initial building assessment summary and illustrated its use as a quick tool to identify buildings that needed urgent attention.
The seminar provided students with a comprehensive understanding of earthquake assessment and resilient building practices.
By linking DEA, retrofitting and practical evaluation methods, it reinforced the importance of safety-conscious, evidence-based engineering, equipping students to become competent and responsible civil engineers.