Project News

Enhancing the earthquake monitoring network: DGM

The Department of Geology and Mines (DGM), under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA), gathers and analyzes seismological information in Bhutan. For the Project, one of the missions of the DGM is to enhance the national earthquake monitoring network that was first implemented in 2013 in collaboration with Japanese agencies such as the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) and Kyoto University. Since June 2017, the DGM has been setting up a new computer server room, the National Earthquake Observatory Room, where all monitoring data are sent from several observation stations. Facing with some technical troubles during the setting up phase, the DGM with technical supports from the NIED and Kyoto University, is currently trouble shooting, and seeking to establish a more stable network and a better maintenance structure.

The National Earthquake Observatory Room at the DGM

The second Working Group meeting: DDM

The second Working Group meeting was held on 14th July 2017, at the Department of Disaster Management (DDM), to review the activities from June, share the next quarter activities, and to discuss challenges and possible solutions. The meeting was chaired by the Chief Program Officer of the DDM, Mr. Pema. The latest activities were reported by the Department of Culture (DOC), the Department of Engineering Services (DES) and the DGM. The JICA Project Coordinator reported the tentative delivery plan of the equipment that will be procured by the Project, as well as a dispatch plan of Japanese short-term Experts in September.

Working Group members at the DDM

A Web Meeting with Japan: DOC

On 18th July 2017, the DOC, Nagoya City University (NCU) and Kagawa University (KU) held a web meeting to confirm the progress and design of specimens for pull-down testing, and to clarify points on the drawings of the full-scale static testing. Attendees were engineer Ms. Phuntsho and electrical engineer Mr. Lhendup from the DOC, Dr Shrestha from NCU, and Dr Miyamoto from KU.

A web meeting at the DOC project office.