Canal de Panama

Professor Julian Bommer is giving an invited lecture on “Seismic Design Requirements for the Canal Expansion Structures” at the International Engineering & Infrastructure Congress

Professor Julian Bommer is giving an invited lecture on “Seismic Design Requirements for the Canal Expansion Structures” at the International Engineering & Infrastructure Congress organized by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), to be held in Panama 18-20 April. The Congress is in part intended to showcase the Canal Expansion Programme, with new sets of locks being constructed to  accommodate post-Panamax cargo ships: 

http://www.pancanal.com/canalcongress/english/index.html

The Panamal Canal

Prof. Bommer has served on the Seismic Advisory Board (SAB) of the ACP since its formation in 2003, providing guidance and review of studies to ascertain the appropriate levels of earthquake design loading for the Canal Expansion Structures. The study generated some controversy because Panama has traditionally been considered a country of low seismic activity, particular in comparison with neighbouring countries in Central and South America. In fact, the final decision by the US Congress to build an inter-oceanic crossing through Panama rather than Nicaragua was strongly influenced by the active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes in the latter. However, geological investigations conducted on the recommendation of the SAB identified several large faults in central Panama, with clear evidence of having generated large earthquakes in the last few centuries; some of these faults are located in relatively close proximity to key installations of the Canal.