ADPC in partnership with NSET-Nepal, the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC, Enschede, the Netherlands) and the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal) is offering the Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction for Cities (EVRC) as the Pre-Symposium Training Course from 11-22 November 2002. The course is intended for greater understanding of the causes and effects of earthquakes in urban areas, so as to reduce damage and loss of life from these destructive events. The course covers topics such as earthquake hazard and risk assessment; application of geo-information science in earthquake hazard/risk mapping and analysis; earthquake vulnerability and reduction strategies; development of multi-sectoral partnerships etc. During this course special emphasis will be given to the use of GIS for hazard and risk assessment and the Kathmandu Valley will be used as case study. Class room lectures, case studies and field exercises will be the form of training. This course will be particularly useful for engineers, geologists and policy makers involved in city development and urban planning, emergency response agencies, relief and rehabilitation agencies, and disaster mitigation, especially earthquake mitigation agencies. It will be an intensive and interactive two-week training course.

The registration fee for the Pre-Symposium Training courses is US$ 2000. For more information, please contact Ms. Neo Chee Szu or Ms Neeva Upreti, NSET-Nepal at asc@nset.org.np or visit the website at http://www.nset.org.np/ASC2002/