4 April 2025
Following the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28, 2025, near the Myanmar-Thailand border, postgraduate students at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) quickly launched a digital initiative to support affected communities. Within six hours, they created an online platform using Facebook and email, allowing residents to submit photos of damaged buildings for rapid structural assessments.
Specializing in structural engineering, the students analyzed images to classify damage severity and provided safety reports in Burmese and Thai. Over 2,700 structures were assessed in just one week, with most submissions coming from Myanmar.
Initially led by 30 AIT students, the initiative grew to include volunteers from Rangsit University, fostering collaboration and hands-on learning. Widely praised online, the project showcased how academic knowledge and digital tools can be rapidly mobilized to provide vital assistance in times of crisis.
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/mr2zxxf7