Fatima Muhammad Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – A geology expert has called for the implementation of earthquake safety measures in all buildings in the Kingdom. The Kingdom's west cost is under threat of earthquakes due to the presence of volcanoes in the area, President of the Saudi Geological Survey Zuhair Nawab told Saudi Gazette. He said that the Saudi Geological Survey has earthquake observation centers operating around the clock. It also arranges the exchange of information with other GCC countries. Nawab said that King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has approved a workshop involving 58 scientists and researchers from the Kingdom and Arab countries to focus on the Red Sea. The three-day workshop, which will take place in February 2013, will address 38 key areas of concern about the Red Sea. A document will be prepared after the completion of a three-year research project. The document, which will be printed in book form by Springer Publishing, will be the main source of information and reference on the Red Sea, said Nawab. The Saudi Geological Survey recently published a book on the Kingdom titled “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in numbers.” The book provides geographical information about the Kingdom. Nawab said that lack of knowledge about the Kingdom was the main reason for publishing the book. The book has been welcomed by the Ministry of Education which plans to incorporate it in the Saudi curriculum, said Nawab. He said that they are arranging with the Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities to promote geological tourism. This can be achieved by highlighting places and caves that have been neglected and remain unexplored. Regarding the Jeddah floods and if the catastrophe could repeat itself, he said, “New dams have been built taking into consideration the high level of rain that takes place once every 200 years.” Nawab believes that the tough fieldwork involved in geological surveys is the main reason for not employing women. “The fieldwork requires long travel and staying in rugged and remote areas. It would be difficult for the Saudi Geological Survey to employ our daughters to go into the field with workers who are not their male guardians,” explained Nawab.
