Yunita Idris

Modern confined masonry (CM) construction consists of masonry walls confined by reinforced concrete (RC) tie‐columns and tie‐beams. When built correctly, CM buildings have shown good performance in earthquake's shaking. Even though CM construction has been practised for almost a century in some Latin American countries, its use and standardisation are limited in other seismically active regions of the world. Considering its efficient, adaptable and affordable construction technique, and the evidence of safe performance in earthquake‐prone areas, there is great economic, technical and sustainability potential in its wider application. In this context, the UNESCO Chair in Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Engineering (UNESCO Chair DRR_RE) at UCL, supported by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), ARUP and Build Change, organised, in February 2024, a 2‐day virtual Symposium on Recent Advances and The Way Forward in CM Construction Technology . This paper synthesises insights from the Symposium and subsequent knowledge exchanges among experts and practitioners from over 14 countries. Four themes are examined in detail: status of seismic design codes and research developments related to CM structures across the world, use of CM for construction of school buildings, seismic retrofitting of existing CM structures, and durability and adaptation to climate change for a sustainable future. The paper identifies technical research challenges under each theme and provides strategic guidance to widen knowledge and practice of CM construction globally.

Preserving historical mosques in their original designs enhances cultural heritage understanding and promotes the use of environmentally friendly local materials. This study investigates three historical mosques in the Gayo Highlands of Indonesia, each with similar designs but different...

Earthquake sources in Aceh have distinct characteristics. Understanding the seismic characteristics of each earthquake source is crucial for comprehending earthquake cycles and assessing seismic hazards. A key parameter in characterizing an earthquake source is the b-value, which indicates the relationship between the number of earthquakes and their magnitudes, influenced by the magnitude of completeness (Mc). The present study analyzed the seismic characteristics of two subduction zone segments and sixteen fault segments using the least squares method on selected earthquake data specific to each segment. The analysis revealed that the b-value ranged from 0.5 to 0.6 in the subduction zone segments and from 0.3 to 1.0 in the fault segments. These variances in b‑value reflect the different seismic characteristics of the earthquake sources that shape the tectonic settings in Aceh. A lower b-value signifies an elastic zone capable of holding higher stress levels, whereas a higher b-value indicates a brittle zone that can only withstand lower stress levels.

This paper reflects on the progress of tsunami preparedness in a coastal community in Aceh, Indonesia, nearly two decades after the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. The research employs a comprehensive approach to thoroughly evaluate and comprehend the community’s preparedness, its correlation with local perceptions of tsunami risk, and delves into the prevalence of tsunamis in the area, with a specific emphasis on the significant impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami on the coastal community of Aceh. To investigate the community’s readiness and the potential impacts of tsunamis at the study site, tsunami simulations were performed using the shallow water equation within the COMCOT (Cornell Multi-grid Coupled Tsunami) model. These simulations assessed run-up and inundation scenarios, thereby providing justification for the potential tsunami impact in the area. Modelling the scenario of tsunami in the region is important to measure the potential impact and estimation time for community to prepare the evacuation plan. In addition to the numerical modeling, a mixed-method approach was employed, involving the distribution of questionnaires and conducting in-depth interviews with 150 respondents directly on-site. These assessments yielded valuable insights into community perspectives on tsunami risk and their preparedness measures. The findings contribute to the development of effective strategies for disaster management by integrating local knowledge, experiences, and socialization programs. The study emphasizes the significance of ongoing endeavors to enhance community preparedness and mitigate the consequences of tsunamis.