Earthquake Hazards
The guide for assessing earthquake-related hazards has an important role on the owner's decision on future design and construction methods. This earthquake hazard guide can advise the owner or representative on factors affecting site selection and how to establish design criteria. This assessment should be complemented by a geotechnical engineer's data related to the hazards faced when building on earthquake prone areas.
This earthquake assessment guide can be carried out at initial stages and must evaluate factors affecting site selection: zone restrictions, geology, seismic activity hazard, soil conditions and inundation hazards from possible tsunamis or levees failure. This information must be able to provide guidance on the earthquake hazards and assist on areas where comprehensive studies must be completed.
Key Factor on Earthquake Hazards
A geotechnical engineer is a must when preparing this assessment and many other professionals should also participate in the evaluation process. The principal hazards that this guide will focus are:
Ground Shaking Earthquake Hazard
Site and Infrastructure Earthquake resistance
Seismic Hazards affecting the proposed construction
Earthquake Hazard Assessment Guide
The earthquake hazard guide must consider the following:
Location of the project
Location of active seismic faults
Type of soil underneath the proposed building
Geology formation and profile of soil strata
Is the soil susceptible to liquefaction?
Slopes stabilization measures
Structural stability of access after an earthquake
Location of primary connection points of related infrastructure
Environmental consideration from neighboring buildings
Distance and right of ways from adjacent constructions enough to prevent possible collapse impacts?
Stability of neighboring facilities
Zoning requirements
Flood zone levels
Surface runoff conditions and water management systems
Distance from highly developed areas?
All these factors are among the most critical when performing an initial evaluation and assessment of earthquake related problems. This information should be distributed to all related professionals, and this can be included in the Integrated project delivery method.
