Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions

Conference Track:  Manmade & Natural Hazards

Selection1:       Paper

Language:         English

Keywords:         Engineering journal, natural hazards, accidents, civil infrastructure

Contact Title:     Dr.

Contact First Name: Luis

Contact Last Name:  Suarez

University:       University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez

Web:              http://civil.uprm.edu/professor/lsuarez/

Position:         Professor of Civil Engineering

Country:          Puerto Rico

Email:            lsuarez@uprm.edu

Fax:              (1-787) 833-8260

Paper Title:

Experiences in the Publication of an Engineering Journal for the Latin American and Caribbean Scientific Community

Abstract:

This paper discusses the process of publishing an international technical magazine aimed at the Latin America, Caribbean and U.S. Hispanic market. The publication of the magazine, titled Revista Internacional de Desastres Naturales, Accidentes e Infraestructura Civil (International Journal of Natural Hazards, Accidents and Civil Infrastructure) began on July 2001. Six numbers have been published since its inception. It is currently published twice a year and is distributed free of charge to 600 subscribers, including faculty members, researchers, practitioners, and university libraries.

The magazine publishes contributions dealing with one or the juxtaposition of the subject areas described in its title. The expression Civil Infrastructure is used to describe the cluster of facilities that permit to transport or stockpile raw materials, water, energy, solid waste, information or people. The Natural Hazards attribute refers to the study of the effects on human lives and property of earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, hurricanes, tornados, floods and fire. The magazine also publishes studies on accidents and disasters caused by unforeseen events or human activities, including failure by improper design or faulty construction, collisions, explosions, etc.

The experiences and difficulties associated with the publication of the magazine are discussed. They include its dissemination and promotion, identifying prospective authors, obtaining funding, role of indexing, and advantages of electronic format. The themes of the magazine and its position among the numerous technical journals in English language (and a few in Spanish) are analyzed. The composition, subject, and country of origin of the papers published are classified and examined. The present study can shed some light on the state of the research activities in the subjects of manmade and natural hazards and civil infrastructure in Spanish America and Brazil.

Mailing Address: 

Department of Civil Engineering & Surveying

P.O. Box 9041

University of Puerto Rico

Mayagüez, PR 00681-9041 

Phone: 

(1-787) 832-4040 Ext. 3669

(1-787) 265-3815 

Other Authors: 

Luis E. Suárez (P) - lsuarez@uprm.edu

Luis A. Godoy - lgodoy@uprm.edu

Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying

University of Puerto Rico