DEAR READERS...

We are proud to welcome you to read the NBRO Newsletter which covers the Key activities initiated by National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) during the last quarter of the year 2023. Over the past thirty five years, NBRO provided a platform to policy makers, professionals, scholars and practitioners

to discuss and share their views and experiences on emerging building technologies, settlement planning, and Disaster Risk Reduction. As such, this year also NBRO engaged in numerous research and development activities which aimed at creating a safer built environment.

Further, NBRO as a leading institute in Sri Lanka, provides testing and consultancy services, analysis services, structural and construction project management in the fields of environment studies and services, building material research and testing, and geotechnical engineering.

Hence, we are happy to invite you to join hands with NBRO by the means of R & D or collaborative consultancy works for creating a safer built environment.

This Newsletter presents a number of articles on the subjects of DRR, resilient housing, building materials, and sustainable environment etc. We sincerely hope that the readers will enjoy reading this edition of Newsletter. We welcome your feedback and ideas for future actions of NBRO.

Eng. (Dr.) Asiri Karunawardena
Director General

CONGRATULATIONS !!

 

Aiming to build a vibrant scientific and technological community in the country, the National Research Council has designed and implemented the NRC President’s Awards since 1999. It recognizes a distinguished piece of Sri Lankan research and bestowing awards from the President of Sri Lanka, as a national honor to efforts of our scientists. This felicitates the authors and inventors of publications and patents of years 2019 and 2020.

 

The President’s Awards for Scientific Research (PASR) for publication years 2019 and 2020 was held on the 21st November 2023 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exposition Centre of the BMICH, Colombo 07.

Eng.(Dr.) Asiri Karunawardena, the Director General of the National Building Research Organisation and Mr. R. M. S., Bandara, Former Director, LRRMD and Mr. H. D. S. Premasiri, Director, Environmental Studies and Services Division received President’s Awards for three separate Scientific publications for years 2019 and 2020, organized by the National Research Council (NRC).

 

The awards were presented for following research publications;

Geoinformatics & Intelligence Laboratory (GEOAi_Lab) at the National Building Research Organisation consists of Geospatial and Remote Sensing Analysts, Cartographers and Visualization Expert, IT & Database Administrators and Software Developers/Programmers trained in geomatics, geography, statistics, and urban informatics.

 

Figure: Opening ceremony of GeoAi_LAB

 

Mr. K G Dharmathilaka (SLAS), who was newly appointed as the Additional Secretary to the Disaster Management Division of the Ministry of Defence paid a visit to the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) on 31st August 2023.

Additional Secretary along with the Administrative Officer of the Disaster Management Division were welcomed by Eng. (Dr.) Asiri Karunawardena, Director General of NBRO, with the directors and staff of the organisation.

A discussion was held and the Additional Secretary expressed his fullest support in conducting NBRO’s functions to ensure the creation of a safer resilient build environment. He also inspected NBRO’s newly constructed laboratory complex and landslide early warning centre.

 

The World Landslide Forums are organized every three years to bring together scientists, engineers, practitioners, businesses, and policy makers from around the world to share progress on landslide risk reduction on a global scale.

The 6th World Landslide Forum was held from 14.11.2023 to 17.11.2023 in Florence, co-organized by the International Consortium on Landslides and the UNESCO Chair in Prevention and Sustainable Management of Geo-hydrological Hazards at the University of Florence, under the International Programme on Landslides (IPL) supported by five United Nations’ organizations (UNESCO, WMO, FAO, UNDRR, UNU) and four international scientific organizations (ISC, WFEO, IUGS e IUGG).

With a participation of over 1100 attendees from 60-plus countries, the Forum encompassed general plenary sessions, parallel scientific sessions, technical exhibitions, workshops, and various supplementary events across its four-day duration.

The main theme of the Forum was "Landslide Science for Sustainable Development," emphasizing the crucial role of addressing landslide impact, among other hazards, in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Representing the National Building Research Organisation, fourteen researchers, including the Director General, Senior Scientists, and Scientists, presented their innovative research at the Forum.

This event served as a pivotal platform for the exchange of ideas and the establishment of connections among scientists, stakeholders, and policymakers involved in landslide analysis, disaster investigation, and risk management worldwide. This gathering presents a significant opportunity for NBRO on a global scale in the future.

 

The very recent examples are fires that broke out at “Global Care Products”, Kandana and “Watercare Technologies (Pvt) Ltd”, Homagama on 8th August 2023, and 17th August 2023 respectively. Both industries have used flammable and volatile chemicals with low flash points as raw materials in their manufacturing processes. The main danger from smoke is reduced visibility. Smoke and toxic gases and vapours generated during a fire are responsible for the harmful effects such as respiration difficulties, and mild irritation of the eyes, nose and skin.

 

As a multi-disciplinary technical service provider functions under the Disaster Management division of the Ministry of Defense, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) was informed by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and Disaster Management Center (DMC) of both of these incidents.

 

The Secretary, NIFS requested National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) to assess the present condition and to provide mitigation measures to rectify the damaged auditorium building and to stabilize an unstable slope below the said auditorium at NIFS premises. The site is accessible through Keppetipola road and then through Hanthana Road travelling about 1.0 km from Bogambara Stadium. GPS coordinate of the site location is 7.283828N, 80.632171E. The area of concern is a recent extension of space to its auditorium, built
close to a steep slope where several private houses are found along the toe of the slope. In this project, NIFS act as the employer/ funding agency while NBRO performs as the Consultant to the project. The contractor to the project is RR Constructions (Pvt.) Ltd. and the project is currently at implementation stage. Contract sum of construction work is about 137 million (excluding taxes) and project duration is 8 months.

 

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), in collaboration with the International Consortium on Landslides (I.C.L.), has organized a symposium on the "Development of Early Warning Technology for Rapid and Long Traveling Landslides" (Project RRLL). Project RRLL is a five-year research project initiated in 2020 between I.C.L. and NBRO under the framework of the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS), a Japanese government program promoting international joint research.

 

The symposium was successfully held on the 25th of August, 2023, at the Jasmine Hall of BMICH premises. This significant event was filled with renowned experts from Japan and NBRO scientists in landslide research and early warning systems.

 

The inauguration session started with a remarkable speech by project leader NBRO, Eng. (Dr.) Asiri Karunawardene, Director General of NBRO. Afterwards, Ms. Yuri Ide, the senior Representative of the JICA Sri Lanka Office, addressed the audience. Further, Mr. Takashi Asaeda, Research Supervisor, SATREPS, J.S.T., delivered the prerecorded greeting message. Also, the greeting messages were delivered by Mr. Athula Karunanayake, Director General of the Department of Meteorology, and Mrs. Anoja Senevirathna, Director - Mitigation, Research & Development. Moreover, a brief introduction of the "Project RRLL" highlighting the achievements obtained so far was presented by the Project Leader, I.C.L., Prof. Kazuo Konagai, at the end of the symposium's first session.

 

Trees are highly valuable resource in urban areas in many ways. However, with the development of facilities such as roads, buildings, plants, communication systems etc. Some of trees may become hazardous by damaging and injuring the community. Specially, trees on roadsides would be highly hazard due to the instability with high rain and wind conditions. It has experienced increasing such incidents during previous weeks in Colombo and other areas which caused the loss of several lives. Due to the increasing of these tragic incidents happening with tree falls recently, NBRO has been requested to study and coordinate devising a mechanism to minimize such disasters. 

STRENGTHENING DISASTER RESILIENCE:

PRE-MONSOON AWARENESS PROGRAMS EMPOWER KEGALLE AND RATNAPURA DISTRICTS

 

In a proactive initiative aimed at fortifying communities against the threat of landslides and disasters, a series of awareness programs were recently conducted in the Kegalle and Ratnapura districts. Organized as part of pre-monsoon preparations, the events were orchestrated by the National Building Research Organisation and the District Disaster Management Unit. These crucial programs witnessed active participation from officials representing various institutions dedicated to disaster risk management in the respective regions. Janathakshan GTE Ltd., a key player in promoting sustainable solutions, provided vital financial support to facilitate the success of these programs.

The inaugural workshop, held on September 26, 2023, was chaired by the Kegalle District Secretary, attracted the participation of approximately 80 individuals at the DS Office auditorium in Kegalle. The subsequent program, chaired by Ratnapura District Secretary on October 31, 2023, gathered around 85 participants at the Ratnapura DS Office auditorium.

 

 

In a demonstration of technological prowess, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) actively participated in the "Techno 2023" national engineering and technology exhibition held at the BMICH from October 20th to 22nd, 2023.

The exhibition served as a platform for NBRO to showcase a diverse array of naval technologies utilized, highlighting advancements in drone technology, resilient construction techniques, innovative building materials, geo-technical technologies, and a spectrum of environmental technologies. Noteworthy displays included real-time data on air quality index, water quality index, and rainfall.

 

On the inaugural day of the exhibition, the NBRO stall welcomed prominent guests, including Kanaka Herath, State Minister of Technology of Sri Lanka, who, along with other dignitaries, explored the innovative contributions of NBRO. Dr. Eng. Asiri Karunawardhana, the Director of NBRO, played a pivotal role in guiding the guests through the groundbreaking technologies on display.

 

The Technology Society of WP/JA Mahamathya Vidyalaya, Athurugiriya, hosted an educational exhibition on October 26, 2023, within the school premises. The event featured stalls dedicated to various subject areas, including Engineering Technology, Science for Technology, Geography, and more.

Among the exhibitors, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) seized the opportunity to highlight its premier position in the field. In a dedicated stall, NBRO showcased crucial information related to landslides, resilient construction, building material testing and environmental-related testing.

The NBRO exhibit provided valuable insights into the organisation's expertise and contributions to these vital domains. Students, educators, and visitors had the chance to engage with NBRO representatives, gaining a deeper understanding of the advanced technologies and methodologies employed in the field.

NBRO's participation in this educational initiative not only reinforced its commitment to knowledge dissemination but also allowed visitors to access valuable information in the critical areas of landslides and environmental testing.

 

In the wake of adverse weather conditions over the past few days, numerous disasters, notably landslides and rockfalls, have been reported in various regions surrounding the central mountains of Sri Lanka. From September 28th to November 15th, 2023, a total of 1037 incidents, including landslides and rockfalls, have been recorded across multiple districts, namely Badulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Kegalle, Matale, Ratnapura, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Colombo, Kurunegala, and Gampaha.

Matara district witnessed the highest number of incidents, totaling 321, while Kegalle and Galle reported 236 and 133 incidents, respectively. Tragically, these incidents have resulted in seven reported deaths, with five casualties recorded in the Ratnapura district.

Residents living in mountainous areas are urgently advised to remain vigilant, considering the heightened risk of landslides, slope instability, rockfalls, and subsidence. Authorities stress the importance of heeding early warning messages issued by both the National Building Research Organisation and the Disaster Management Center.

The collaboration between local communities and relevant authorities is crucial to ensuring the safety and well-being of residents in these vulnerable areas. Stay tuned to official communications for the latest updates and adhere to precautionary measures to mitigate the risks associated with adverse weather conditions.

 

On 25th October 2023, a group of trainees and instructors from the Sri Lanka Air Force who are involved in "No 34 Disaster Management and First Response Basic Course", visited the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO). The visit included a demonstration of NBRO's involvement in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and an experience-sharing session on first response at disaster events.

The trainees also had the opportunity to explore NBRO's state-of-the-art ISO standard laboratories, such as the Environment Studies and Services Laboratory, Building Material Research and Testing Laboratory, Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory and Geospatial & Intelligence Laboratory. This allowed them to gain a better understanding of the laboratory services offered by NBRO.

 

The Sri Lanka ArcGIS User Conference – 2023 (SLAUC – 2023) hosted by GIS Solutions (Private) Limited, the sole ESRI distributor in Sri Lanka, was a remarkable event held on November 28th, 2023, at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo.

During the conference, NBRO proudly unveiled its groundbreaking applications centered on landslide risk management using ArcGIS technology. The presentation focused on three pivotal components crafted by NBRO: the development of the Landslide Risk Information Portal, the Subsurface Geology Portal, and a location-based field data collection app powered by the ArcGIS Survey 123 platform.

This demonstration underscored NBRO's commitment to leveraging ESRI platforms to enhance geospatial solutions and address critical challenges related to landslide disasters in Sri Lanka. The showcased applications not only highlighted the innovative capabilities of ArcGIS but also emphasized NBRO's dedication to fostering a safer, sustainable, and resilient environment for the people of Sri Lanka.

Chinthaka Rathnasiri

Dr. HAG Jayatissa

Chanchala De Silva

Madara Dissanayaka

Ireka Perera

Anuruddha Vijekumara

Chathuranga Kumarasiri

Pasindu Wickramasinghe

Wasana Withana