New Approach to Reducing the Risk of Natural Disasters

Abstract eng:
Reducing the risk of disaster -in structural engineering terms- generally consists of reducing the constructions’ vulnerability, but the resulting buildings are not necessarily safe. For example, 3000 reinforced concrete and steel buildings collapsed or were severely damaged in the Lake Zone in Mexico City, during the 1985 earthquake, and severe damage was inflicted on wooden apartment buildings at the Marina district in San Francisco, CA, during the Loma Prieta 1989 earthquake. In both cases the natural site characteristics were very unfavorable. So a different approach is proposed, giving priority importance in developing urban plans for disaster reduction based on hazard maps, according to earth sciences and engineering investigations, but without disregarding the latest technology on earthquake resistant design. This approach is being applied in the reconstruction of the largest cities affected by the Peru August 15, 2007 earthquake. It is expected that the damage will be reduced to less than 5% of the construction value and the residents will be adequately protected. Special application is made for school buildings. The Pakistan 2005, and the Sichuan 2008 earthquakes highlighted the need to protect school children.

• Export as: BibTeX | MARC | MARCXML | DC | EndNote | NLM | RefWorks
• Add to your basket