HR: 1330h
AN: S42B-0168    [PDF]
TI: An Empirical Method for Rapid Estimation of Housing and Life Losses from Earthquakes in Taiwan
AU: * Tsai, Y
EM: ybtsai@geps.gep.ncu.edu.tw
AF: National Central University, 300 Jungda Road, Jungli, TAO 32054 Taiwan
AU: Yu, T
AF: National Central University, 300 Jungda Road, Jungli, TAO 32054 Taiwan
AU: Liao, S
AF: National Central University, 300 Jungda Road, Jungli, TAO 32054 Taiwan
AB: The disastrous 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan earthquake of M7.6 provided an excellent database for us to develop an empirical method for rapid estimation of the amount and spatial distribution of housing and life losses from future strong earthquakes in Taiwan. On the one hand, strong ground motion data were very well recorded throughout Taiwan to provide a detailed seismic shaking intensity map for the earthquake. One the other hand, high spatial resolution data on the amount of housing collapse and life loss were avilable at village level. We used these loss data, coupled with data on total housing stock and population, to calculate the corresponding rates of housing collapse and human fatality. It was found that housing and life losses began to take place when MMI was greater than 7. So we made statistical analyses of the housing collapse rate and human fatality rate for all the villages in MMI7, MMI8, and MMI9 zones, respectively. By using these empirical loss rates, we can make rapid estimation of the total amount of housing collapse and life loss in any village once its MMI intensity is given by either a rapid reporting or early warning system. As an example, we have applied this method to estimate the amount and distribution of losses from a future large earthquake in the Chianan area of Taiwan.
DE: 7223 Seismic hazard assessment and prediction
DE: 7299 General or miscellaneous
SC: Seismology [S]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting