SEAOC's New Post-Disaster Performance Observation Committee

摘要

After past disasters, practicing Structural Engineers relied on ad hoc SEAOC Committees, individual SEAOC members, as well as other organizations such as the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and the Applied Technology Council to generate observation reports about the performance of structures. In many cases, the level of detail regarding performance of individual buildings has been quite limited. Summary reports have tended to be anecdotal and focused on the most spectacular damage. At best, practicing Structural Engineers with experience in the subject structures generated comprehensive reports with excellent practical advice on how practice should improve. In worst cases, observers with little or no practical experience generated sketchy reports of questionable value. Emerging changes in structural engineering practice such as the wider use of Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering imply that changes in analytical approaches are of the highest priority. However, observations after past disasters identify poor quality in design, construction, and code enforcement, as well as archaic code provisions, and lack of maintenance as the major contributors to excess damage. While our priorities may be debatable, there are no doubts that future observation efforts will benefit from more systematic approaches to data collection and interpretation than previously used. Recent developments in geographic information systems, online mapping, 3D imaging, near real time strong ground motion telemetry, ShakeMaps, Internet news, and data archiving can enable SEAOC to generate intelligence about emerging disasters and help deploy appropriately qualified teams and develop products with greater practical value. In early 2007, SEAOC formed a new statewide committee that is charged to obtain more in-depth information about the performance of structures - both good and bad - during natural or man-made disasters. The focus of the committee's initial efforts will be on earthquake performance, as this is a logical starting point. However, the efforts of the Committee are intended to apply in concept to other disasters, both natural and man-made. For coordination, the committee will function as a standing subcommittee of the Existing Buildings Committee with delegates from each regional Section of SEAOC. The intent is not to duplicate the functions of EERI, ATC, the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center and others are already doing, but to supplement those efforts with prioritization from practicing Structural Engineers.