ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION AT THE SMOLYAN BRANCH OF VFU "CHERNORIZETS HRABAR": INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR MONITORING LANDSLIDES IN THE RHODOPES
29 August 2024
With a significant institutional presence and proposals for legislative changes, a round table discussion was held in the branch of Varna Free University in Smolyan on the topic "Mechanisms of interaction and new technologies in the instrumental monitoring of landslides in the Rhodope region"
Driven by the desire to solve important social problems, as well as by the possibility of joint development of socially useful products with the municipality of Smolyan, the Smolyan Branch of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" initiated the holding of a round table discussion on the topic "Mechanisms of interaction and new technologies in the instrumental monitoring of landslides in the Rhodope region".
The forum was opened by the mayor of the municipality of Smolyan Nikolay Melemov, the regional governor of the Smolyan region - Zahari Sirakov and Assoc.Prof. Anelia Parzhanova, PhD - director of the Smolyan Branch of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar".
It was attended by representatives of the academic community of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar", the chairman of the Municipal Council - Dimitar Katsarov, the director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - Smolyan senior commissioner - Tsvetan Tsankov, head of the Regional office Fire Safety and Population Protection - chief inspector Vasil Valchev, the manager of the Smolyan Water and Sewerage Department - engineer Kostadin Totev, the chairman of the Chamber of Builders in Bulgaria - Smolyan - engineer Asen Sokolov, deputy regional governor Krasimir Daskalov, head of the Road Police sector at the Ministry of Internal Affairs - Smolyan – chief inspector Plamen Yordanov, heads of state institutions and employers' organizations.
Eng. Mariyana Tsekova provided all key participants and interested parties with tools, information, technical expertise on adverse geodynamic processes and phenomena in the Rhodope region.
Emphasis was also placed on promoting interaction between institutions, businesses, the non-governmental sector for the use of new technologies in the instrumental monitoring of landslides for the purpose of early warning, disclosure and other preliminary actions related to protecting the life and health of people in landslide areas.
Assoc. Prof. Parzhanova: The holding of similar public discussions for the benefit of the population of the Rhodope region is part of the educational policies of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar", Branch - Smolyan. They are aimed at strengthening the economic and social sustainability of the region, as well as outlining a long-term vision for the successful reduction of the consequences of landslides, erosion and abrasion processes in the Rodopes.
The round table discussion is a natural and necessary continuation of a series of measures developed in previous years, related to the identification of measures to combat landslides, which are directly dependent on the danger they pose to the population, technical infrastructure, the environment, the historical and cultural monuments, etc.
The organization of such a forum is also motivated by the need to take measures and actions aimed at preventing and reducing the degree of erosion - landslide danger, limiting and quickly liquidating the consequences of these processes; protection of the population, material funds and the environment from their impacts.
Expected Effects:
- legislative initiatives;
- identification of measures to reduce economic, social and environmental losses and consequences of landslides, erosion and abrasion;
- conclusions and lessons learned from the analysis of previous strengthening of landslide slopes and coastal defence;
- assessment of the landslide hazard, erosion and abrasion as an element of the surrounding (terrestrial) environment;
- assessment of the economic expediency and effectiveness of activities against landslides, erosion and abrasion;
- application of scientific research and practical application of forecasting results in the field of geological hazard and in particular in landslides, erosion and abrasion, using regularities resulting from information in the Geographic Information System and the register of landslides and collapsing coasts from abrasion and erosion.
