A minimum of 20 participants is required for each excursion. Symporg reserves the right to cancel excursions if there are not enough participants. In this case, you will receive the refund at the registration desk

Prices are only indicative and can be modified for 2006

FIELD TRIP TO RHONE VALLEY, Deadline for registration : 31 May 2006
Saturday September 9, 2006 07:30 - 18:30 (lunch included)

CHF 150.- pers

This is a full day trip, which brings us to the canton of Valais, where seismicity in Switzerland is the highest. The travel will be along the whole length of the Lake of Geneva and continues into the Rhone valley. In this major valley several large dam projects are located at different side valleys including the 284 m high Grande Dixence gravity dam, the world's highest concrete dam.

Stop 1: Earthquake safety aspects of Emosson arch dam

The 180 m high Emosson double-curvature arch dam was completed in 1974 on the border between France and Switzerland north of Chamonix. The dam has some unique features, which required special attention during design and construction. The reservoir capacity is 228 million cubic meters and is the second largest storage in Switzerland. The water originates from both France and Switzerland and the ownership is also shared between the two countries (ATEL and EDF). The dam is located in the zone of highest seismicity in Switzerland. It is equipped with several strong motion instruments, which have recorded several near-field events. Comprehensive forced vibration tests were carried out from 2000- 2001with an eccentric mass shaker to obtain the complete frequency response of the dam and reservoir for four different water levels.

Emosson dam is located in a spectacular mountainous environment with glaciers and the access to the dam by a narrow gauge railway originating from the days of dam construction is an unforgettable experience.

View from the Emosson reservoir towards the dam crest and the Alps.

Stop 2: Upgrading of police headquarters of Sion

A 9-storey building houses the police headquarters for Sion the capital of the Canton Valais. Historically, earthquakes of magnitude 6 to 6.5 have occurred in this region with return periods of 50 to 100 years. In the case of a strong earthquake, the police headquarters is the nerve centre for disaster management. A comprehensive review of the seismic safety of lifeline structures in the canton has shown that the building is seismically deficient in the longitudinal direction. However, in the transverse direction the earthquake safety was satisfactory.

Extension of the existing police headquarters building by 9 m (left side) with additional internal RC structural walls

It was decided to increase the earthquake safety of the existing building by the addition of a new part with a length of 9 m length. In the building extension two capacity-designed, ductile RC structural walls with an I-section were added. The walls are fixed to a raft foundation, which is supported by piles. The structural walls are continuous over the whole building height. At each floor the old and new parts of the building are connected by post-tensioned tendons. The seismic strengthening of the building has been incorporated ideally into the architectural concept of the existing building.

CITY TOUR AND GENEVA COUNTRYSIDE
September 3rd , 2006 10h00 - 16h00 - lunch included

CHF 150.- pers

Our guide will show you the harbour, the fountain, the parks, the old town (crossing on foot: 30 minutes) dominated by St Peter's Cathedral, the Wall of the Reformers, many ancient and modern buildings, the business and banking centre, the international organisations area including the European headquarters of the United Nations.

After being guided through the city in the City Tour, we continue our drive by the country-side around Geneva, with the vineyards, the fortified houses and castles. An excellent complement to the city Tour.

CHAMONIX-MONT-BLANC - Deadline for registration : 31 May 2006
September 3rd , 2006 8h30 - 17h00 - lunch included       important: valid visa needed for France                                      

CHF 220.- pers. (to be confirmed)

Travel via cable-car to the Aiguille du Midi, a rocky peak nearly 4000 meters up facing the Mont-Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe. The view form the summit gives a breathtaking panorama of the Chamonix valley and the high mountains of the Swiss, French and Italians Alps. Excursion to the Mer de Glace, this magnificent glacier is 7km/ 4 miles long and averages 1200m/ ¾-mile in width.  

BASEL AND SURROUNDINGS - Deadline for registration : 31 May 2006
September 2rd 13:00 - Sunday September 3rd 18:00 (hotel and lunch on Sunday included)
CHF 370.- pers.

Basel is one of the large commercial and industrial centres in Central Europe in the border area of Germany, France and Switzerland. The city offers a unique range of culture and art, and possesses one of Europe's most attractive and best-preserved old towns. In 1356 the city was hit by one of the largest known earthquakes in Central Europe. The tour focuses on the traces of this event and offers an insight into the geologic and tectonic environment, the palaeo-seismological findings, and the historical and archaeological traces still existing today. More information on the detailed programme will be listed on the Conference website.