Joint Thai-US Expert Workshop “Flood Disaster Risk Reduction”

Published May 20, 2013
A Thai woman stands at the balcony of her flooded house following torrential rains in Thailand’s southern province of Trang April 2011.

A Thai woman stands at the balcony of her flooded house following torrential rains in Thailand’s southern province of Trang April 2011.

BANGKOK—ERDC-Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory’s (CHL) Dr. Cary Talbot, associate technical director, participated in the Joint Thai-U.S. Expert Workshop on Flood Disaster Risk Reduction in Bangkok, Thailand, 27-29 Mar.

After experiencing devastating floods in late 2011, Thailand is embarking on a large project similar in scope and cost to the post-Katrina Hurricane Protection System in New Orleans.

The Thai government requested input from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on planning and management of large construction projects and convened the workshop with more than 120 participants from Thailand and other Asian countries.

Prior to the workshop, a six-member USACE team spent two days touring affected areas and current flood protection projects. The workshop focused on USACE guidelines, policies and experience. The team gave presentations on program and project management structure; acquisition strategy; best practices and lessons learned; the USACE planning process; coastal, hydraulics and hydrology modeling software tools; and design, construction and project management including operations and maintenance.

Officials with the Thai government requested continued coordination with USACE and are addressing a memorandum of agreement that would set a five-year program.

The USACE team also met with His Excellency Woravat Auapinyakul, the Minister of Science and Technology, and with His Excellency Dr. Plodprasop Suraswadi, Deputy Prime Minister, to discuss continuing the USACE-Thai relationship.

Learn more about the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory.