On November 25, Thuyloi University held an online scientific workshop with the topic "Prevention of landslides and flash floods"
The scientific workshop happened with the participation of representatives of ministries, branches, localities, and members of Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, international organizations such as UNDP, JICA; scientific research institutions such as Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Vietnam Institute of Water Resources, Institute of Water Resources Planning, Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Institute of Geography; and many researchers in the field of disaster prevention, geology, water resources etc.
On the guest side, there were Ms. Hoang Van Anh, Director Education and Society, British Council Vietnam; Mr. Yasuhiro Kasuya, Senior Advisor at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); Mr. Hồ Quang Bửu, Vice Chairman of Quảng Nam People's Committee; Mr. Nguyễn Bá Đức, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ha Tinh Province; Mr. Đinh Công Sứ - Vice Chairman of Hòa Bình People's Committee.
In the workshop, there were international presenters including Prof. Duong Quang Trung (Queen's President of Belfast's President Telecommunication, Research Director of the Royal Academy of Technology, UK); GS. Dr. Bui Tien Dieu (Southeast University, Norway); Prof. Dr. Akihiko Wakai (Gunma University, Japan); Prof.Dr. Hitoshi Tanaka and TS. Nguyen Xuan Tinh, Tohoku University, Japan; Dr. Trinh Quang Toan, University of California-Davis, USA and many local speakers. Prof. Dương Quang Trung from Queen's University Belfast, UK; Prof. Bùi Tiến Diệu from University of South Eastern, Norway; Prof. Akihiko Wakai from Gunma University, Japan ; Prof. Hitoshi Tanaka and Dr. Nguyễn Xuân Tính from Tohoku University, Japan; Dr. Trịnh Quang Toàn from University of California Davis, USA.
From Thuyloi University, there were President Prof. Dr. Trịnh Minh Thụ, Vice President Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Trung Việt ; representatives of units and TLU’ researchers.
Overview of the workshop at TLU
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Trịnh Minh Thụ, TLU’ President affirmed that the workshop on prevention of landslides and flash floods took place between Vietnamese and international scientists, managers aiming to exchange and discuss from which to propose short- term and long-term solutions to reduce risks of natural disasters. He believed that the experiences and valuable scientific information of experts and scientists at the workshop would contribute to promote scientific researchs in disaster prevention and mitigation in general and flash floods and landslides in particular in Vietnam as well as in the world.
Prof. Dr. Trịnh Minh Thụ -TLU’s President delivered the opening speech of the workshop
According to Ms. Hoàng Vân Anh Director Education and Society at British Council Vietnam: "Despite the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic, the scientific workshop on preventation of landslides and flash floods took place at the right time". She also affirmed that in the context of unpredictable developments of rain, storm, flood, landslides causing great damage to life and property were taking place in many central provinces of Vietnam, the workshop organized by Thuyloi University was an opportunity for scientists to exchange, discuss, analyze the causes and propose structures and non-structures solutions to minimize damages caused by landslides and flash floods.
Ms. Hoàng Vân Anh, Director Education Society at British Council Vietnam
Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Trung Việt, Vice President of Thuyloi University, Chairman of the workshop
Mr. Hồ Quang Bửu, Vice Chairman of Quảng Nam People's Committee
Mr. Đinh Công Sứ - Vice Chairman of Hòa Bình People's Committee (right) and Mr. Nguyễn Bá Đức, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ha Tinh Province (left)
According to reports of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, from the beginning of the year until now, natural disasters have progressed complicatedly and abnormally in many regions of the country with 16 types of natural disasters. Specifically, there were 9 storms in the East Sea; 263 thunderstorms, tornadoes, heavy rains in 49 provinces ; 15 flash floods, landslides; 72 heavy rains cause flooding and inundation; especially the historic heavy rain and floods that happened in the Central region; 79 earthquakes. Only from the end of September to October 2020, the central provinces from Nghệ An to Bình Định heavily affected by 8 types of natural disasters including storms, tropical depressions, storm surges, heavy rains, floods, flash floods and landslides. This was one of the most serious and severe natural disasters that has affected most all socio-economic activities and infrastructure on all routes from sea to plain, midland and mountainous area.
The scientific workshop on prevention of landslides and flash floods was an good opportunity for scientists from many fields and representatives of relevant ministries and agencies to share their initiatives, experiences and propose effective solutions to support the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control to have more scientific bases for effective management and respond of natural disaster, greatly reducing the loss of life and property of the whole society.
There were 9 reports that were presented at the workshop including:
1. “Application of 5G, AI, Big Data to prevent and mitigate natural disasters including flash floods and landslides” presented by Prof. Dương Quang Trung, Chair of Telecommunications, Queen’s University Belfast, UK , Research Chair, Royal Academy of Engineering, UK;
Prof. Dương Quang Trung from Queen's University Belfast, UK
2. “Application of geospatial technology and mathematical modeling to simulate and forecast flash floods and landslides” presented by Prof. Bùi Tiến Diệu, University of South Eastern Norway, Norway;
Prof. Bùi Tiến Diệu from University of South Eastern, Norway
3. “Mitigation of landslides and flash floods” presented by Prof. Akihiko Wakai, Gunma University, Japan;
Prof. Akihiko Wakai from Gunma University, Japan
4. “Mechanism of river bank breakage in Marumori City due to Typhoon Hagibis in 2019” presented by Prof. Hitoshi Tanaka and Dr. Nguyễn Xuân Tính, Tohoku University, Japan;
Prof. Hitoshi Tanaka from Tohoku University, Japan
5. “Construction of the landslide susceptibility map using extreme precipitation scenarios coupled with the topographic, geomorphic, and geologic conditions, application for Thao River Basin, Vietnam” presented by Dr. Trịnh Quang Toàn, University of California Davis, USA;
6. “Monitoring and forecasting the risk of sliding slope in Quảng Nam Province” presented by Assoc.Prof.Dr. Đỗ Minh Đức, University of Natural Sciences, Hanoi National University, Vietnam;
7. “Study on the influence of Nhật Lệ Estuary on the flood drainage capacity of Kien Giang River during historic flood events” presented by Assoc.Prof. Dr. Trần Thanh Tùng, Thuyloi University, Vietnam;
8. “Causes of inundation of Hương River, Thừa Thiên Huế” presented by Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nghiêm Tiến Lam, Thuyloi University, Vietnam;
9. “The issue of landslide in Quảng Bình and Quảng Trị” presented by Assoc.Prof.Dr. Hoàng Việt Hùng, Thuyloi University, Vietnam.