Assessment of Advanced Technologies for Loss Estimation

David M. Tralli

MCEER-00-SP02 | 12/31/2000 | 97 pages

Keywords: Remote sensing.  Earthquake hazard mitigation.  Aircrafts.  Unmanned aerial vehicles.  Satellites. Data  storage systems.  Data delivery systems.  Image processing.  Visualization.  Telecommunications.  Loss estimation.  Seismic hazard assessment.  Urban areas.  Damage models.  Vulnerability models.  Buildings.  Lifelines.  Model calibration methodologies.  Post-earthquake damage assessment.  Seismological monitoring systems.  Global Positioning System (GPS).

Abstract: This describes the current state of advanced airborne and spaceborne remote sensing and ground-based technologies applicable to earthquake hazard mitigation.  The advanced technologies discussed in this report include sensors; instruments and their platforms such as aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and satellites; data; data storage and delivery systems; image processing; visualization; display capabilities; and telecommunications.  The benefits of using these new technologies in loss estimation include the development of: Innovative procedures for assessing the seismic hazard potential of large urban regions; Alternative approaches for developing regional damage or vulnerability models for buildings and lifelines; Cost-effective procedures for creating building and lifeline inventories; Rapid loss estimation and model calibration methodologies for post-earthquake damage assessment.  The report reviews three advanced technologies in detail: seismological monitoring systems, the Global Positioning System (GPS) and remote sensing.  This report is on CD-ROM describes and contains many links to Internet sites, numerous references to additional resources on the topic, two LiDAR fly-throughs and recommendations for future research. The CD requires Acrobat Reader 4.0 to view.