About G-EVER

As shown by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake, Asia-Pacific Region is an area with high risk of catastrophic natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Once a disaster occurs, in today's highly globalized economy, it can create unpredictable turmoil all over the world, not just in the affected area. These global-scale disasters are crucial for the sustainable development of the global economy to ensure human security. Japan is a country of plate convergence. Since the 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu (Kobe) earthquake, extensive studies have been done in Japan, such as nation wide active fault surveys, development of high density seismograph networks and GPS crustal deformation monitoring system. Our knowledge on earthquakes is improved dramatically and observation and study results are systematically transferred to the society. However, it is fair to say that our understanding on earthquakes is still limited and further studies should be done for the mitigation of seismic disasters. One of impediments to the development of geologic hazard studies is the infrequency of occurrence in a limited area. This makes it difficult to promote hypothesis and test processes. This may be solved by the international correlational study because geologic hazards are not less frequent phenomena any more. Now is the time to establish an effective international framework where we collaborate and develop a system to gather information on disaster mitigation in Asia-Pacific Region, including Japan.

Here are the purposes of the G-EVER. 1) To enhance collaboration among geological institutes within the Asian Circum-Pacific Region and rearrange existing information about the future risk for global earthquakes and volcanic disasters, 2) to build international and national networks, set up a website, and establish a consortium so that we can share and provide the information, 3) to create the environment to promote cooperative research, including personnel training, in the area with little information, especially in developing countries, and 4) to evaluate the risk of business activities in the Asia-Pacific region and seek to develop new business opportunities to provide information on the risk of catastrophic natural disasters. Through this full research of natural disasters, we can contribute to the society. Grasping disaster risk in advance enables us to reduce the damage from large-scale disasters, which are expected to cause worldwide impact on the economy. By improving the database for hazard risk information, we can assist international economic activities in formulating their BCP, and various private businesses concerning risk reduction.

Yusaku Yano
(President of G-EVER Consortium)

The first Workshop on Asia-Pacific Region Global Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption Risk Management (G-EVER1) was held in Tsukuba, Japan from February 22 to 24, 2012. The workshop focused on the formulation of strategies to reduce the risks of disasters caused by the occurrence of earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions worldwide. More than 150 participants attended the event. During the workshop, the G-EVER1 accord was approved by the participants. The Accord consists of 10 recommendations like enhancing collaboration, sharing of resources, and making information about the risks of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions freely available and understandable. The G-EVER Consortium among the Asia-Pacific geohazard research institutes was established in 2012. The G-EVER Promotion Team of GSJ was also formed on November 2012. The G-EVER Hub website was setup to promote the exchange of information and knowledge about volcanic and seismic hazards among the Asia-Pacific countries. Establishing or endorsing standards on data sharing and analytical methods is important to promote data and analyses results sharing. The major activities of G-EVER include participation in global risk reduction efforts such as the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) Program, Global Earthquake Model (GEM) and Global Volcanic Model (GVM). The G-EVER international conference would be held every 2 years in the Asia-Pacific countries. On the other hand, one to two days G-EVER international symposium would be held annually. The 1st G-EVER International Symposium was held in Tsukuba, Japan on March 11, 2013. The 2nd Symposium is scheduled in Sendai, Tohoku Japan, on Oct. 19-20, 2013. Several G-EVER Working Groups were proposed such as the following: (1) Risk mitigation of large-scale earthquakes WG, (2) Risk mitigation of large-scale volcanic eruptions WG, and (3) Next-generation volcanic hazard assessment WG. A preliminary volcanic hazard assessment assist system is available online.
The Asia-Pacific region earthquake and volcanic hazard mapping project aims to make an advanced online information system that provides past and recent earthquake and volcanic eruption information (e.g. age, location, scale, affected areas and fatalities) and risk assessment tools for earthquake and volcanic eruption hazards. A printed map version will also be published as the new version of the Eastern Asia Geological Hazard Map of the Commission for the Geological Map of the World (CGMW). The online hazard infomation system provides useful information about earthquake and volcanic hazards in an interactive and user-friendly interface. Past and recent large-scale earthquakes (>M7) and volcanic eruptions (>VEI 5), tsunami inundation areas, active faults distributions, and major landslides are planning to be shown on the map. Links to major earthquakes and volcanic eruptions databases are available in the system.