Development of tools for seismic risk mitigation in Algeria: Application to the city of Blida

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2018

Authors

Smail Kechidi (Author) FEUP; Mário Marques (Author) FEUP; José M. Castro (Author) FEUP; Ricardo Monteiro (Author) Other

Conference proceedings International

Title: 16th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering

Pages: 1-11

Other information

Abstract (EN): Regions with a significant percentage of old and/or non-seismically designed buildings, located in areas with deficient urban planning, are particularly vulnerable to natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis and floods. Algeria has been a victim of earthquakes in the northern part of the country e.g., El Asnam in 1980 (Mw 7.1) and Boumerdes in 2003 (Mw 6.8), where significant human and economic losses were endured. Using large-scale seismic risk assessment is becoming a common trend around the world to attempt to reduce potential losses from this type of events. Seismic risk assessment requires the development of three models: seismic hazard, exposure, and vulnerability of the exposed assets. Typically, exposure and vulnerability models for natural hazard risk assessment rely on proxies, such as census data and local experts’ opinion for distribution of population and buildings. In this paper, the development of an exposure model for Northern Algeria begins by covering a wellidentified seismic prone region, the province of Blida, as a first-case study city. Subsequently, a step forward is provided by engaging different Algerian stakeholders in the collection of building data employing a user-friendly Android smartphone/tablet application designated by Building Inventory Tool (BIT). This initiative aims not merely to build exposure and vulnerability models but also to increase the risk awareness among local population and practitioners.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11