IRIDeS members visit Chiang Rai, Thailand (2019/2/19-2019/2/22)   Theme: Earthquake Damage and Disaster Recovery   Location: Chiang Rai, Thailand  
Between Feb. 19th to Feb. 22nd, IRIDeS faculty Assoc. Professors Anawat Suppasri (Hazard and Risk Evaluation Research Division), Erick Mas (Hazard and Risk Evaluation Research Division), and Elizabeth Maly (Disaster Information Management and Public Collaboration Division) visited Chiang Rai Province, Thailand, as part of a research collaboration supported by JSPS-NRCT Bilateral Program FY2017-2018. On Feb. 19th and 20th, IRIDeS faculty joined with local Thai faculty from Mahidol University and Chiang Mai University, and visited the areas most damaged by the 2014 earthquake in Mae Lao and Dongmada subdistricts of Chiang Rai Province. The site survey included inspection of public buildings such as school and hospitals, and IRIDeS faculty learned about what kind of building damages were experienced, the impact of the disaster on operations, and efforts to improve construction standards.  
Following the Feb. 20 M4.9 earthquake which occurred nearby in Lampang province, Assoc. Prof. Suppasri joined Thai colleagues from Mahidol University and Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna for a rapid survey of the damage conditions in this area, met with the Lampang Provincial Governor and Subdistrict Officers from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. The team evaluated damage condition of each building and gave advices to local government officers and local residents on retrofits. 
On Feb. 21 Assoc. Prof. Maly joined with research collaborators from Chiang Mai University to visit the Subdistrict of Sai Kao, where housing reconstruction after the 2014 Earthquake has been carried out through the combination of support from various public, private, and non-profit organizations, and the coordination of the local residents’ association. 
site survey with Thai counterparts site survey with Thai counterparts  site survey with Thai counterparts  
site survey with Thai counterparts example of reinforced construction 
in Dongmada subdistrict 
example of traditional housing repaired in Sai Kao subdistrict 
   Rapid survey of M4.9 earthquake in Lampang province 
Text and Photos: Liz Maly (Disaster Information Management and Public Collaboration Division)  
and Anawat Suppasri (Hazard and Risk Evaluation Research Division)     