Asked what hazard posed the greatest threat to their school, principals of coastal schools in Galle, Ampara and Batticaloa districts Sri Lanka overwhelmingly responded “tsunami”. This result is unsurprising considering scale trauma caused by December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. tsunami claimed over 35,000 victims Lanka, a third whom were children. It damaged destroyed 182 schools, further 287 served as camps for internally displaced persons. Given that far from all potential sources...

Around 300 000 people were killed by the tsunami that followed Sumatra–Andaman earthquake on Boxing Day 2004, making it one of worst disasters in modern history. Up to 40 died Sri Lanka alone, where around 80 houses also destroyed when waves up 15 m high swept ashore. This paper reports how coastal buildings and infrastructure behaved under various wave heights many lessons learned for reducing vulnerability future events. In particular, newly published national guidelines reconstruction...

Depth vs. damage curves were developed for a flood risk assessment carried out in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The major elements of the comprised building fabrics, contents, distributed infrastructure and vehicles. Current approaches to function development improved on by separating fabric contents; using actual footprints rather than assigning functions city zones; assessing accurately; incorporating Information sources included agencies, bills quantities buildings, expert consultations, household...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline different notions the term resilience used in scientific disciplines and consequently explore how concept can be applied energy systems. has emerged recently discourse. major questions addressed are: Which definitions underlying concepts are literature? How defined with respect systems which principles identified? Design/methodology/approach Building on understanding, characteristics various contexts described a methodology for selection an...

The 26 December 2004 tsunami displaced more than 500,000 people and killed an estimated 31,000 in Sri Lanka. Damage was not uniform, often reflecting distinct patterns of social, infrastructural, ecological vulnerability. Severely affected populations tended to be poorer, live fragile structures, exposed the as a result prior environmental degradation coastal zone. massive reconstruction effort may further decrease resilience rural communities by degrading natural environment that sustains...

This work investigates individual and social concerns regarding the integral sustainability of an alternative low-carbon cement. The framework Integral Philosophy was used for investigation. Social surveys were conducted in Australian, American, Sri Lankan contexts. data collected through both closed-ended open-ended questions a questionnaire. Analysis responses carried out using fuzzy techniques grounded theory techniques. Results indicate that individuals societies all three countries are...

This journal has aimed, during its existence of over 35 years, to promote systems methods, approaches and thinking, as applied Civil Engineering. What then is Engineering Systems? ...

Toughness is arguably a better metaphor than resilience to describe the characteristics of wider systems for which term ‘resilience’ currently employed. This argument presented by describing various features stress–strain curve, two terms relate. In particular, it large energy-absorbing and strain capacities plastic region that make toughness more apt metaphor. System can be seen as having three aspects, namely robustness, redundancy element toughness. Similarities are demonstrated between...

Abstract How can human beings learn to live well together? Two of the biggest challenges threatening well-being and flourishing are climate change global terrorism. Has engineering systems thinking anything offer such 'big' questions? We suggest that we would all benefit by 'engineering' a way forward. All engineers know structure, as bridge, requires firm foundations. There is real need address foundations humans together. argue role ethics. refer mythos, which was concerned with meaning...

Purpose Defining degradation in terms of physical deficiency-based condition descriptors, combined with Markov chain modelling, has been shown to provide improved predictions degradation. However, unless these conditions are converted lost value ratios (LVRs), maintenance managers would not be able grasp the cost implications Hence purpose this research is convert predicted ratings ratio bands. Design/methodology/approach Rectification costs were found using a Building Schedule Rates arrive...

The purpose of this study was to identify the impact Emotional Intelligence on Work-Life Balance and Employee Behavior Production Employees at Selected manufacturing company in Colombo District. A standardized questionnaire employed gather primary data from a sample 248 production employees, utilizing convenience sampling for selection participants. Correlation analysis simple regression were used measure relationships test advanced hypotheses by using Statistical Package Social Sciences...

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami affected 5% of Sri Lanka’s schools, severely damaging 108 and destroying 74. catastrophe highlighted the critical role schools in providing educational continuity during community recovery. Lanka has since rehabilitated rebuilt most destroyed along coastline. However, there is a limited understanding current levels school exposure to tsunami. This hampers preparedness risk reduction interventions that can improve resilience. paper presents multi-disciplinary...

The failure of hospitals in recent tsunami have caused extensive social and economic losses. A simple but quantitative approach is required to assess the resilience healthcare systems tsunami, which relates not only hospital building integrity, also maintaining functionality. This paper proposes a new relative risk index (TRRI) that quantifies impact on critical units, (e.g. Intensive Care Unit, Maternity Ward, etc) individual hospitals, as well service provision across network hospitals....

Abstract The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami inflicted more than 35 ,000 casualties in Sri Lanka, a third of whom were children. It affected 5% the country’s schools, severely damaging 108 and destroying 74. catastrophe highlighted critical role schools providing educational continuity shelter during community recovery. Lanka has since rehabilitated rebuilt most destroyed along coastline. However, there is limited understanding current levels school exposure to tsunami. This hampers preparedness...