Strategic Approach to Mitigate Human Casualties Caused by Large Scale Earthquakes - Engineering for Safer Non-Engineered Houses

Abstract eng:
Every large scale earthquake causes tragic damages to human societies especially human casualties. Sichuan Earthquake 2008 reminded us the fact again. Main cause of the human casualties is collapse of usual people’s houses, which are often called “Non-engineered” as they have no or little intervention of engineers. In spite of this crucial situation, only a few researchers and engineers pay attention to non-engineered houses. Following statement by UNISDR (United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction) in their report “Living with Risk: 2004 version” clearly describe the situation. “It remains something of a paradox that the failures of non-engineered buildings that kill most people in earthquakes attract the least attention from the engineering profession.” Under this circumstance, Building Research Institute (BRI) launched a research and development project focusing on non-engineered structures in 2006 on net work of researchers and practitioners in Japan, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Turkey and Peru. This paper presents outline of our major activities such as full scale shaking table experiments on brick masonry structures, shaking table experiments on simple and affordable seismic isolation, monitoring activities on construction practices on construction sites and pilot projects for disseminating technologies to people/communities. Based on the collaborative activities and discussion with our partners, we propose three approaches listed below to realize mitigation of disasters in actual situation. - to develop feasible and affordable seismic technologies acceptable for people/communities - to prepare effective approaches to deliver the technologies to people/communities - to encourage more researchers and practitioners to work on non-engineered structures

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