IDRiM 2015 Conference

IDRiM 2015 Conference

Disaster Risk Reduction:
Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Growth


Dates: 28‐30 October 2015
Venue: Scope Convention Centre, New Delhi, India

The 6th Conference of the International Society for Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRiM 2015), entitled “Disaster Risk Reduction: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Growth” will be held at the Scope Convention Centre, Scope Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, India, on October 28-30, 2015.

The conference is hosted by Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TAIFAC), in New Delhi, India. The conference is being supported by several national and international organizations including the School of Planning and Architecture (New Delhi), the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) (Japan), and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) (Austria).

TIFAC is an autonomous body set up under the Department of Science and Technology in 1988 as a Technology Think Tank. TIFAC is mandated to assess the state-of the art technology and set directions for future technological development in India in important socio-economic sectors.
This collaborative three day conference aims to develop a comprehensive roadmap on a regional framework for earthquake, flood, extreme weather and other natural hazard triggered disaster risk management. India is going through a period of economic growth, with its many benefits as well as challenges. This is also a period that presents opportunities to introduce DRR practices in support of sustainable growth. The conference will endorse mechanisms for strengthening collaboration between research and knowledge-based institutions as well as practitioners in the region. The conference also evolves strategy for training, capacity development on the importance of disaster countermeasures and response preparedness in the region leading to effective disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies and implementation of related projects at regional levels.

This event will have multiple tracks including plenary talks, panel discussions, parallel sessions, and poster/oral presentations during the annual ‘Young Scientists Session (YSS). The conference provides recognition to the best YSS oral and poster presentation. The Award Ceremony will be held during the conference. A full set of double blind peer reviewed proceedings will be produced with special editions of journals. The main themes and subthemes of the conference include:

  1. Natural and Technological Hazards: Forecasting & Early Warning Systems
    a. Earthquake Hazard Assessment & Microzonation
    b. Cyclones & Track Predictions
    c. Flood and Draught Estimation
    d. Effects & impacts of Climate Change
    e. Hazard Modeling and Forecasting
    f. Weather & climate extreme Forecasting
    g. Storm Surge Modeling
    h. Landslide Hazard Zonation
    i. Snow Hydrology
    j. Natech Hazards: Modeling and Analysis
  2. Growth, Environment and Disasters
    a. Development and Disasters
    b. Water resource management
    c. Growth and Gaps in Infrastructure Development
    d. Industrialization, Land use and Technological Hazards
    e. Integrated risk governance
    f. Climate change: vulnerability to extreme weather events
    g. Natechs and Community: Area-wide risk management
  3. Disaster Preparedness: Anticipating and minimizing impacts
    a. Structured mitigation measures for various hazards: Scenario development
    b. Socio-economic impacts of disaster
    c. Adaptive management and coping initiatives
    d. Disaster safety nets and financial risk transfer mechanisms
    e. Rapid damage assessment systems
    f. Innovative technology options for the future
    g. Lessons from South Asian disasters
  4. Education and Communication strategies
    a. Capacity Building for DRR (e.g., training, safety and culture, etc.)
    b. Technology tools for assessment and communication including- ICT and satellite technology
    c. Technology tools including ICT and space technology
    d. Resilient communication technologies
    e. Smart sensors
  5. Post Disaster Recovery& Management
    a. Governance issues related to post disaster relief & rescue
    b. Reconstruction & rehabilitation strategies
    c. Societal response & resilience building

Abstracts addressing other topics relevant to integrated disaster risk management will also be considered. We are pleased to announce the call for special session proposals, general session, and YSS abstract submission.

Important Deadlines:

April 30, 2015 Session proposals closing

May 15, 2015 Abstract submission closing for

General/Invited/Young Scientist

May 15, 2015 Notification of abstract acceptance

May 31, 2015 Call for papers and session proposals

Submit at conference@tifac.org.in

July 15, 2015 Full paper submission closes

August 15, 2015 Early bird registration closes

September 15, 2015 Announcement of conference programme

September 30, 2015 Final registration and payment

October 10, 2015 Final programme online now

October 28, 2015 Conference starts

Objectives and scope

India has a highly diversified range of natural features. Its unique geo-climatic conditions make the country among the most vulnerable to natural disasters in the world. Disasters occur with amazing frequency in India and while the society at large has adapted itself to these regular occurrences, the economic and social costs continue to mount year after year. It is highly vulnerable to floods, drought, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes, etc. Increasing conflict between human activity and the ecosystem has been quite alarming to global environment causing climatic change, thus leading to increased natural and man-made disasters. This has raised challenging issues for disaster management strategies for future.

The conference will build on opportunities through science and technology to address current issues and reduce risks for future generations. The conference would discuss the linkages among governance issues, decision making and disaster risk reduction policies for mainstreaming DRR into development policy and would identify effective ways of cooperation between the disaster, environment, water and health sectors, and explore examples of networks, cooperation, processes and partnerships. Driven by common objectives of survivability, there is a need to bridge gaps between disaster reduction and development through varied types of science (natural, social and others), technologies and people centric actions. It intends to stimulate a next generation of ideas and actions for disaster management. Whilst the event is focused on three days of intensive internationally supported debates, the event will mark prior and subsequent collaboration between multiple partners.

In addition, lessons learned, best practices and tips would be shared on how to harness the technological power before, during and after disasters.. This conference is hoped to go beyond the awareness and the need to plan the individual components required to develop and implement an effective disaster management plan. It is hoped that at the end of this Conference participants will take home the seriousness, awareness and importance of participative joint efforts needed in situations arising out of calamities caused by natural disasters.

Who should attend the conference?

  • Scientists
  • Teaching Faculty
  • Research Scholar
  • UG/PG Students
  • Planners
  • Government officials
  • National and State level Disaster Management Authorities
  • Industry experts
  • Business officials
  • Policy Makers
  • Non Governmental Organizations

We look forward to your kind confirmation and participation.

Contact:

conference@tifac.org.in

society@idrim.org