Tsunami simulation research and mitigation programs in Malaysia post 2004 Andaman tsunami

This chapter presents field survey results on tsunami arrival times, wave runup heights, inundation distances and damage to properties on beaches in Penang and Kedah due to the 26 December 2004 Andaman tsunami. This onsite survey results are used to calibrate and validate a tsunami simulation model TUNA developed by the authors. Simulation results indicate that TUNA performs satisfactorily and can indeed reproduce salient features of tsunami characteristics observed in beaches in Penang and Kedah post 2004 Andaman tsunami. To understand quantitatively the role of mangrove in reducing the impact of tsunami, a numerical simulation model is developed and successfully applied to a stretch of mangrove forests in Penang. A main theme of this chapter is the desire to develop coastal communities that are tsunami resilient. With this in mind we outline briefly a series of workshops, conferences and other research development activities undertaken by key research institutions and government agencies in the past five years towards helping to achieve tsunami resilient communities in the regions, with particular reference to the South China Sea. It is hoped that this presentation will further enhance active collaboration with other research and operational institutions worldwide towards tsunami resilient communities.