Publications

Michellier, C.,  Dewitte, O.,  Tréfois, P. & Kervyn, F. 2014. ‘Crowd-sourced geohazards database in Central Africa for multi-risk regional assessments’. RGS-IBG Annual International Conference, 26-29 August 2014. Book of abstracts. London.

Conference abstract

In the Lake Kivu area (East African rift valley), geological hazards represent major threats to population and assets. The main risk is due to rainfall and/or earthquake landsliding. Moreover, the region is characterized by a strong seismicity. The two active volcanoes, Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira, also contribute to endanger the area. The objective of the GeoRisCA is to assess multi-hazards and vulnerability to support risk management. In this perspective, collecting and analyzing information regarding past disasters that occurred in the region is an essential step. The Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) started to compile such data few years ago. In the framework of GeoRisCA, we aim at enhancing this database by collaborating with local institutions in charge of disaster management and risk prevention. It aims at standardizing data collection in the three targeted countries (Burundi, Congo DR, Rwanda). Using a form-based approach, each disaster will be recorded by local stakeholders and the RMCA will assure the compilation in a regional database. Data collected this way will then be used in the first regional (as well as local) multi-risk assessment. Local institutions and scientists will then be responsible for this database maintenance, and will benefit from a new reliable disaster information resource.