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'East & Southeast Asia Regional Seminar
on Flood Hazard Mapping, 2008'
in Guangdong, China from 1/30-2/1, 2008

The International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM) and the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarter, China, (SFDH) co-hosted the "East & Southeast Asia Regional Seminar on Flood Hazard Mapping, 2008" with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Following the first seminar early February 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this second regional seminar was held in Guangdong, China, from January 30 to February 1st. The annual seminar is part of the follow-up program for researchers and engineers after attending JICA's region-focused training course entitled "Flood Hazard Mapping," whose implementation is commissioned to ICAHRM. Former participants of the 1st-4th Flood Hazard Mapping training courses were invited to the seminar from several different countries (China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand).

The principal aim of the seminar is two-fold; presentations on each country's current status and discussions for information sharing and problem solving. The participants first reported their activities after the training courses in their home countries regarding the production and dissemination of flood hazard maps. Then, they shared information and experience about various issues around flood hazard mapping, such as cases of successful implementation, problems they face, effective use of flood hazard maps. Discussions were followed to find solutions to the problems brought to attention. In addition, opinions and requests were heard to conduct more effective training courses from the next year on. Besides the presentations and discussions, special lectures were provided inviting two guest speakers; Dr. Manzul Kumar Hazalika, associate director of the Geoinformatics Center, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), and Dr. Li Na, senior engineer of the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR).

In the first regional seminar, former course participants reported on their flood hazard mapping projects. One of the major focuses in this second seminar was to see how much progress was made in their projects from the previous status reported in the first seminar, as well as what problems they face to move on with their projects.

Major progress from the previous year has been achieved in two countries; China and Malaysia. Flood hazard maps of different types have been produced for more areas in those two countries; more than 200 kinds for 36 areas in China and several kinds for two areas in Malaysia. Also, in both the countries, more realistic conditions are set using target areas' information and past disaster records to conduct flood simulation prerequisite for the production of anticipated inundation area maps. They are also working on data collection and database development to produce more effective flood hazard maps. At this moment the two countries have only prepared such maps for public offices.

In Cambodia and Indonesia, flood hazard mapping projects have been in progress with overseas research institutes. So far, anticipated inundation area maps have been completed for the study areas. Joint projects of this kind should be a promising option for countries that face financial as well as technical difficulty preparing flood hazard maps independently.

Thailand is another country which is earnestly promoting flood hazard mapping. The country has already completed anticipated inundation area map for the study area, and are planning to install sign boards with flood hazard maps on in many different places around the area.

In the Philippines, flood hazard mapping is being implemented on a community basis. Flood simulation and other advanced techniques have not been employed yet, but expectations are high for the usefulness of flood hazard maps that are produced by community members based on communities' own needs.

Laos is working on data collection and database development for flood hazard mapping, although they have not yet seen tangible achievement.

After the presentations and discussions, the participants commonly voiced that it is necessary to develop flood hazard mapping guidelines for their countries in addition to database development and acquisition of advanced mapping techniques.