Summary of Panel Discussion: How to cope with low frequency-high impact disasters

摘要

Kobe, January 1995 Earthquake issue is a matter of several hundred year return period for the specific damaged area. But its engineering as well as societal impacts were enormous. It was a typical "low frequency - high impact disaster". Recognition of this type of disaster in Japan is now very high. It will lead to revision of design codes for some engineering structures as well as other public policies. Similar problems may be found in other parts of the world, not only in earthquake issues. We would, therefore, like to discuss the subject matter from a broad viewpoint with an emphasis on the role of reliability concept.