2022 Chapter Meetings
Vibration Monitoring in Buildings and Its Application in Seismic Risk Reduction
Eric M. Hernandez, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Vermont
EERI, New England Chapter, Lecture Series
Friday, September 30, 2022, 1:00 – 2:00 PM, Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register for FREE at: HERE
Abstract: Seismic risk as it relates to buildings is a product of the seismic hazard, the structural vulnerability, and the consequences of failure. Monitoring vibrations in buildings before, during and after potentially damaging earthquakes can provide valuable information regarding the structural characteristics of buildings and their vulnerability. In contrast to building codes and regulations, which address the building population as a statistical ensemble, vibration monitoring allows engineers and stakeholders to obtain individualized information about their particular building structure. Information extracted from vibration measurements can be used to improve rapid screening, make better predictions regarding future performance during a potentially damaging earthquake, inform decisions regarding retrofit, and perform rapid post-earthquake assessments which can significantly improve community resilience. In this talk, Prof. Hernandez will present the theoretical foundations of seismic vibration monitoring, ongoing research on the topic, and some real-world applications.
Biography: Prof. Eric M. Hernandez is a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Graduate Program Director at the University of Vermont. He specializes in structural engineering and has over 20 years of experience as a researcher, consultant, and educator. He received his BS in Civil Engineering from Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena in the Dominican Republic and his MS and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University. His research interests include structural dynamics, inverse problems, earthquake engineering, reliability of engineering systems, and structural health monitoring. Since joining the University of Vermont in 2011 he has received several research grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the Vermont Agency of Transportation. In 2018, he received the inaugural Sweeny Green and Gold Professorship in Civil Engineering. At the University of Vermont, Prof. Hernandez teaches courses in structural analysis, earthquake engineering, and reliability of engineering systems.
A Panel Discussion on Vulnerability of Masonry Buildings Against Ground Shaking in Low to Moderate Seismic Zones
Michael Fillion, PE, SECB, President, Fillion Group, Inc.
Ken Lambert, CSL, CSI, Director of Industry Development & Technical Services, International Masonry Institute
Jitendra Bothara, Director, ResiPro International Engineering Ltd.
Hosted by EERI, New England Chapter
Thursday April 7, 2022, 4:00 – 5:00 PM, Eastern Time (US and Canada)
For registration, please visit: HERE
Please join us for an open discussion on URM. The event will begin with a brief introduction of a topic by each speaker followed by discussion and questions. The speakers and their topics are…
- Ken Lambert – Building inventory in New England and history of masonry code requirements in New England.
- Mike Fillion – History of addressing Seismic Hazards of URM buildings in the Massachusetts State Building Code and how we got to the current provisions.
- Jitendra Bothara – Seismic safety of URM buildings – New Zealand Approach.
Multi-Hazard Parametric Catastrophe Bond Trigger Design for Subduction Earthquakes and Tsunamis
Katsuichiro Goda, Western University, Ontario, Canada
EERI, New England Chapter, Lecture Series
Tuesday January 25, 2022, 2:00 – 3:00PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register for FREE at: HERE
Abstract: This study presents trigger design methods and performance evaluations of multi-hazard parametric catastrophe bonds for mega-thrust subduction earthquakes and tsunamis. The catastrophe bonds serve as alternative disaster risk financing tools for insurers and reinsurers as well as municipalities and governments. Two types of parametric catastrophe bond trigger are investigated. A scenario-based method utilizes available earthquake source-based information, such as magnitude and location, whereas a station-intensity-based method can be implemented when seismic and tsunami hazard monitoring systems are in place in a region. The case study results, focusing on wooden buildings in Miyagi Prefecture, in Japan indicate that the station-intensity based trigger methods outperform the scenario-based trigger methods significantly. Incorporating seismic and tsunami hazard information from multiple recording stations results in smaller trigger errors. The station-intensity-based methods are applicable to building portfolios at both municipality levels and regional levels. The work is published in Earthquake Spectra (doi: 10.1177/8755293020981974).
Biography: Dr Katsuichiro Goda is an Associate Professor and a Canada Research Chair in Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. His research is focused on catastrophic earthquake-related multi-hazard risk management from economic and societal viewpoints. His research interests are broad and multidisciplinary, and cover a wide range of academic fields, including engineering seismology, earthquake engineering, tsunami engineering, and decision-making under uncertainty. In 2012, his professional expertise was recognized through a prestigious 2012 Charles F. Richter Early Career Award given by the Seismological Society of America and a Humboldt Research Fellowship Award for experienced researchers by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He received the 2017 IASSAR Early Achievement Research Award given by the International Association for Structural Safety and Reliability.