German-Iraqi Partnership - Research Stay at Bauhaus-University Weimar
As part of the ongoing project titled "Towards Earthquake Mitigation in Iraq: EMS-98 Adopted Vulnerability Assessment of Existing Buildings," a research stay in Germany was conducted under the DAAD-funded Ta’ziz Short-Term Measures 2024 program. Coordinated by Bauhaus-University Weimar (BUW) in partnership with the University of Sulaimani (UoS) and Tishk International University (TIU), the project aims to enhance the seismic resilience of buildings in northern Iraq through collaboration and knowledge exchange between German and Iraqi academic institutions.
The research stay took place from 7th August to 31st August 2024 and involved eight students and five staff members from each partner university. During this period, the students participated in the Bauhaus Summer School 2024, engaging in specialized development courses, workshops, and social events offered by BUW. These activities provided valuable opportunities for the students to broaden their academic and professional skills, fostering a deeper understanding of advanced seismic assessment techniques and promoting international academic collaboration.
A transitional project meeting was also held in Weimar, Germany, attended by representatives from BUW, including Jun.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. L. Abrahamczyk, M.Sc. P. L. Hasan, M.Sc. B. Bapir, UoS, including Prof. Dr. S. Kurshid, Dr. A. Mohammed, Dr. S. Rashid, and Dr. B. Hamah Saeed, and TIU, represented by Dr. B. Haidar and M.Sc. H. Muslih. The meeting provided a platform to review the project's progress, discuss remaining tasks and objectives, and assign upcoming responsibilities. Key agenda items included project management updates, a review of expected outcomes, and planning for future measures and collaborations.
A key outcome of the research stay was the development of a comprehensive manual for assessing existing buildings and outlining good engineering practices for seismic risk assessment. This manual, collaboratively developed by the working group, is intended for use by government bodies and stakeholders in Iraq to guide building inventories and inform the development of building safety regulations.
During the research stay, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between BUW and UoS. This MoU aims to foster further collaborations, mutual research efforts, and the exchange of students between the institutions, reinforcing their commitment to ongoing academic cooperation and capacity building in the field of seismic safety and engineering.
The project is led by the Chair of Advanced Structures at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Bauhaus-University Weimar, with key coordination by Jun.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lars Abrahamczyk. Active contributors from BUW include Ph.D. candidates M.Sc. Peshawa Luqman Hasan and M.Sc. Baban Bapir, who played pivotal roles in the project’s research and coordination efforts. This initiative represents a significant advancement in bridging academic research with practical applications, emphasizing the shared commitment of all participating institutions to improve community safety and resilience in seismically active regions.
The project’s progress and outputs underscore the importance of international collaboration in addressing global challenges, highlighting the impactful role of research and education in enhancing societal resilience to natural hazards. The project will continue until December 2024, with a research stay in Iraq planned for October. During this stay, data collection on building stocks will be conducted, and workshops will be held for Iraqi students at both partner universities. These activities are designed to further support the project’s objectives and enhance the practical application of the knowledge gained through this collaborative effort.