Earthquakes and Built Environment

An earthquake is a rare event with a low probability but high risk, as it can cause catastrophic consequences for the built environment, nature, and people. However, the reality is that most of the problem is human-made due to inadequate construction. Today, we know how to build earthquake-resistant structures, but we are still unable to predict earthquakes.

In this course, students will learn about the specific characteristics of seismic loads and the impacts that earthquakes can have on the built environment. The course synthesizes and builds upon previously acquired knowledge of structures and their behaviour during earthquakes while addressing a broader perspective – namely, the seismic vulnerability of the built environment in relation to the earthquake resilience of an entire city or neighbourhood as a socio-spatial system.

Some topics covered (selection): Earthquake as a disaster, as an opportunity (adaptation, transformation in response to the earthquake threat); The inevitability of earthquakes and the question of living in a (post-)earthquake city; Seismic vulnerability of the existing building stock – expected damage states; The city as a network – key components of the urban system that influence its resilience in the event of an earthquake, city modelling; The importance of open spaces; How will the city function immediately after an earthquake? What about accessibility to critical buildings and urban functions? Where are the “bottlenecks”? How quickly can recovery take place?; Measures to enhance the seismic resilience of the built environment; …