International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG) - Official Blog

The activities of the IAPG-Peru section in 2014

by Sandra Paula Villacorta Chambi and Cosme Pérez-Puig Obieta

(IAPG-Peru; email: spvillacorta@gmail.com)



During the 2014, the Peruvian section of the International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG) took part in the organization of the workshop "Management of Geological Hazards in Lima and Callao" and the course "Flood Modeling using geomorphological and hydraulic methods".


Workshop "Management of Geological Hazards in Lima and Callao"

The workshop "Management of Geological Hazards in Lima and Callao" took place on 20th and 21st November, 2014 in Lima (Peru) and in the auditorium of the Peruvian Geological Society (in Spanish: Sociedad Geológica del Perú or SGP). It was a joint initiative between the Peruvian chapter of the YES (Young Earth Scientist) network, the SGP and the Peruvian section of the IAPG to contribute to disaster risk management in the capital of Peru. The event was also sponsored by major national organizations dedicated to these topics.
It counted with the participation of prominent national speakers, who presented different case studies occurred in Peru (to download them, in Spanish, just follow this link).

Dr. César Muñoz, President of the SGP,
during the opening of the workshop. 
For more photos from the workshop
click here.

After the conferences, a discussion was held on actual situation on risk management in Lima within three working groups: 1) mass movements, 2) Earthquakes and Tsunamis and 3) and River Flood Risk. During the discussion, each participant showed his and her point of view, in a "brainstorm" process, in order to make a feedback process. The event ended with a discussion panel, whose agreements may be viewed on the official record of the event (in Spanish).
The workshop has led to the approach between several organizations involved in the management of geological risks in Peru, with the objective to become the seed of future joint ventures between them.
Some of the identified needs have been: 1) to involve other knowledge networks and the mass media (radio, television) in order to allow greater dissemination of geoscientific information, 2) to encourage the participation of more citizens, who usually ignore the realization of such important events for raising public awareness on issues of national importance.


Theoretical and practical course: Flood Modeling using geomorphological and hydraulic methods

The theoretical and practical course “Flood Modeling using geomorphological and hydraulic methods” was carried out between 24th and 30th November, 2014 with the collaboration of the Peruvian and Spanish Geological Surveys (respectively, INGEMMET and IGME). It was taught by Dr. Miguel Llorente, Researcher of the IGME.
Because of the need for training of professionals who develop geomorphological maps in Peru, whose actual experience is almost poor, the Peruvian section of the IAPG developed the course project and submitted a proposal to the SGP, who accepted it. The Peruvian chapter of YES Network was invited to co-organize the event.
The lectures, including practices with Arcgis Hecras, were held at the auditorium of the INGEMMET (Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico) in Lima (Peru) and included discussions on the geomorphological implications for flood modeling and on the cross-validation between interpretations of geomorphological elements (qualitative results) transformed into plain and elevation morphometric characterization (quantitative data). Discussions highlighted that good modeling fits needs for good geomorphological studies, and vice-versa.

Dr. Miguel Llorente, from IGME, while is giving
some explanations during the field trip.

The practical part of the course was a field trip through Andean chain, between the regions of Lima and Junín, in order to look at typical landforms of coastal, mountain range and jungle areas. Participants were taught to collect geomorphological data, and were introduced to the overlapping principle to determine fluvial, alluvial, colluvial, deluvial, proluvial and glacial sequences.
This course has allowed the participants to learn about the techniques of geomorphological analysis from a genetic point of view, the processes that led to different landforms, and the standardization and progressive improvement of the applied geomorphological mapping (both in the office and the field). The concepts taught during the theoretical course and its applications on the geomorphological mapping were discussed, in particular it was observed that on detailed scales mainly active processes are represented, whereas in less detailed scales the tectonic processes with predominant processes indicators have better accommodation. Finally, some scopes for mapping improvement were identified.

The training of Peruvian researchers in these techniques will allow soon the development of new investigations and studies that will be useful for the competent institutions in planning strategies for mitigating the effects of floods in Peru.

Different sketches prepared by participants
during the field trip.

In the 2nd edition of the course, that will take place in 2015 in Arequipa, a deeper knowledge on aspects of fluvial geomorphology and numerical modeling of floods will be developed. This 2nd course will be included among the activities of the forum on geological risk management, organized by INGEMMET with the collaboration of the Peruvian Section of IAPG and other institutions.