[CEUS-earthquake-hazards] Societal Implications of Performance Based Earthquake Engineering

[Joe Tomasello]

Lawrence et al:

 

There is no objection to performance based building designs; particularly if
the building owner is allowed to decide the minimum and maximum goals.
However, this is not the thrust of "Societal Implications of
Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering".  Rather, it pre-supposes that the
benefit of the society and the individual are one in the same and looks for
the government to mandate seismic mitigation for purposes beyond life
safety.  The essence of the paper hints at the use of private property for
the benefit of the public and assumes the primary objective of  private
owners (as opposed to buildings owned by the government) is to benefit
society. The government can claim the right to mandate safety but how does
the government obtain the right to dictate minimum risk in the reduction of
private property loss?  

 

In the New Madrid Seismic Zone the public has never considered life safety a
"murky goal;" and would consider limiting economic loss if a favorable cost
benefit relation can be established. In the New Madrid Seismic Zone this has
yet to be shown; it's likely never to be done given the absence of severe or
strong ground motion. 

 

If seismic hazard mitigation were inexpensive (per the stated claim) and if
the building owner could realize a favorable cost benefit relationship
"transformation in perspectives" wouldn't be needed. Savvy individuals would
have already acted and there would be little need for government mandates.  

 

Conversely, creating artificial incentives, presumably through government
mandates, would create avoidance by postponing private development,
relocation to more favorable areas, or out and out cheating.  Similar
responses have been experienced with LEED programs where the incentive is
political instead of economic. Few LEED programs are economically based but
those that are usually owe their solvency to federal grants.

 

"Societal Implications of Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering" pretends
that improved risk management can overcome the raw physics of restraining
huge masses set in motion on top of an inverted pendulum. The benefits
offered in the paper are intangible and bears little resemblance to the real
world economics confronting any prospective new building owner.

 

 

Joseph Tomasello, PE

5880 Ridge Bend Rd.

Memphis, TN 38120

 

Phone:

(901) 761-2016 office

(901) 821-4968 direct

(901) 412-8217 mobile

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