Japanese experts to help BMC improve damaged buildings

A panel of experts in structural engineering and risk management technologies from Japan have made some recommendations to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to improve the conditions of dilapidated buildings in the city.

Disaster Prevention and Research Institute (DPRI) of the Kyoto University, Japan will be helping the civic body to fine tune the city's disaster management plan.

"A high level committee consisting of researchers needs to be formulated in order to assess the risk of each building," said Yasuhiro Hayashi, Professor from the Department of Architectural Engineering.

The panel has suggested that the civic body must immediately set up a rapid screening tool to assess the dangerous structures in the city.

"The inspection can be carried out in different ways like rapid simple screening test, simplified vulnerability assessment, rapid sample screening, electromagnetic, rebound and hammering test, micro tremor measurement," Hayashi said.

He also said, the authorities need to create awareness and carry out extensive research to assess risks for these structures.

The civic body is also likely to set up a risk assessment centre in collaboration with Kyoto University, Japan to facilitate the collection and sharing of data on building collapses.