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CHAPTER 5 Activities for an International Decade An activity of the scope of the IDNHR requires careful planning in the best spirit of international cooperation. The detailed planning and organiza- tion of the Decade is not the province of this report. However, this chapter explores activities of general importance to the conduct of the Decade, whatever its configuration. Topics in- clude the nature of cooperative projects, facilitat- ing communication at both the scientific and lay levels, and some suggestions for IDNHR commit- tees and planning meetings. COOPERATIVE PROJECTS: ESSENCE OF THE rDNHR Types of Cooperative Projects A primary focus of the IDNHR is initiation of a wide range of cooperative projects designed to put into practice the knowledge that exists and to stimulate further cooperation and research. Coop- erative activities between scientists and practi- tioners - those responsible for implementing haz- ard reduction measures - can be both domestic and international in scope. Possible cooperative projects generally fall into three categories: ~ the collection, dissemination, or application of existing knowledge and identification of gaps in knowledge; ~ applied research that is problem-focused and aimed at filling gaps that have been identified; and ~ new research that can yield additional knowl- edge for general application. Projects That Apply Existing Knowledge Research since World War II provides the technical capability to greatly reduce the number of deaths caused by natural hazards. Fot earth- quakes, cyclones, and other rapid-onset events, most deaths occur in the Third World. Most of them result from the failure of improperly de- signed and constructed buildings. By simply distilling existing information and translating it into practical guidelines for improved construc- tion, we can significantly improve the perform- ance of even the most basic buildings. In a sense, the buildings that are least challenging have been ignored. Instead, attention is focused on the more complex and scientifically intetesting structures. For example, high-rise, high-cost, and high-occu- pancy buildings have commanded the attention of the research community, and nonengineered buildings have received relatively little attention. During the International Decade for Natural Hazard Reduction, all sectors will receive more attention, increasing the application of knowl- edge to areas where results can be immediately attained and stimulating further work in the more complex building systems. The safety of facilities whose failure would affect large populations - dams, nuclear power plants, pipelines, refineries, chemical processing plants, and others - will be improved by coordi- nating and codifying procedures for hazard as- sessment, risk analysis, and engineering design. This could be achieved through cooperative proj- ects. Further, knowledge about disaster prepared- ness gained from individual disasters can bea 53