Chula, EARTH, and EIT Host “One Year After 2025 Earthquake” 

The National Earthquake Research Center (EARTH), in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University and the Engineering Institute of Thailand under Royal Patronage (EIT), organized an academic conference titled “One Year After the March 28, 2025 Earthquake: Lessons Learned and the Future of Safety in Thailand” on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at the Faculty of Engineering Auditorium (Building 3), Chulalongkorn University. The event served as an important platform to draw lessons from the March 28, 2025, earthquake, covering both building structures and infrastructure systems. It also analyzed the causes and contributing factors behind structural damage—particularly the case of the collapsed State Audit Office building—in order to define future directions for improving safety standards. 

The conference was officially opened by Dr. Wiparat De-ong, Executive Director of the National Research Council of Thailand. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Witaya Wannasuphoprasit, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Chulalongkorn University, delivered the welcome address. This was followed by a keynote lecture from Prof. Dr. Pennung Warnitchai, Director of the National Earthquake Research Center, who presented an overview of Thailand’s earthquake risks and lessons learned from the 2025 event. Special remarks were also given by Mr. Toru Kajiwara, Minister and Head of the Economic Section at the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, and a presentation on post-disaster damage and needs assessment by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tavida Kamolvej, Deputy Governor of Bangkok. 

The conference brought together experts from various institutions, both domestically and internationally, to share in-depth knowledge on key topics, including earthquake sources and active fault lines affecting Thailand, the influence of soil layers on seismic wave behavior, large-scale field damage assessments of buildings, structural behavior analysis, and earthquake-resistant design approaches, as well as the development of monitoring systems and early warning systems. It also covered national-level disaster risk management strategies. Case studies included inspections of over 6,000 buildings in Bangkok, the use of satellite technology to detect structural damage, engineering analyses of affected structures, and advancements in early warning and structural health monitoring systems to improve timely disaster response. 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Witaya stated that the Faculty of Engineering at Chulalongkorn University has undertaken comprehensive work on earthquake-related issues. The Department of Civil Engineering and related units have studied building structures, signal systems, and seismic wave behavior to develop preventive measures and reduce potential impacts. One notable innovation is a building and crack inspection tool that allows the public to assess the safety of their residences independently, reducing panic after an incident while promoting accurate understanding of risks and building safety. Additionally, an early earthquake detection sensor system has been developed and installed in high-rise buildings in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. This system can provide alerts approximately three minutes in advance, allowing authorities and the public time to prepare and mitigate potential losses. 

The Faculty of Engineering also collaborates with various government and academic agencies on disaster management, conducting systematic research on emergency response from the individual level to organizations and city-wide systems. This aims to establish effective and sustainable disaster management mechanisms. In terms of policy development, the university organized this conference to gather experts nationwide and internationally to jointly develop new standards for building inspection and retrofitting, aligned with evolving risk contexts. 

Reflecting on lessons from last year’s major earthquake, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Witaya noted that although the epicenter was located outside Thailand, the effects were felt in Bangkok. This marked a turning point that highlighted the city’s vulnerability and led to in-depth studies on seismic wave behavior and impacts on different building types. The knowledge gained has been further developed into preventive measures, building improvements, and practical guidelines for the public, organizations, and educational institutions to better respond to future earthquakes. 

“Earthquakes are an unavoidable risk, but they can be managed through knowledge, technology, and public awareness. Chulalongkorn University is committed to continuously advancing knowledge and innovation so that Thailand can safely coexist with such risks,” he concluded. 

Prof. Dr. Pennung added that earthquake events over the past year have become a crucial turning point, improving Thailand’s understanding of seismic sources and wave behavior—especially their effects on high-rise buildings in Bangkok. Additional risk factors from other potential sources still require close monitoring. Seismic data collected in Bangkok is being used to develop new models for more accurate future earthquake intensity assessments, which may lead to improved building design standards better suited to emerging risks. 

He also emphasized that this conference plays an important role in communicating knowledge to multiple sectors—including engineers, urban administrators, and the real estate industry—so that the information can inform planning and policy decisions. The goal of research and knowledge dissemination is to reduce long-term earthquake risks by addressing root causes and promoting effective building design and management strategies, ensuring safer and more resilient disaster response.

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