Risk Management and a Rapid Scoring Technique for Collapse Vulnerability of RC Buildings

It is emphasized that Turkey experiences frequent earthquakes, on the order of one damaging earthquake of magnitude 6.0-7.0 at almost every two years, causing extensive losses to economy, life and limb. Every strong earthquake leaves behind poverty and tens of thousands of homeless people. In order to mitigate the losses due to earthquakes, a number of issues are identified to be studied and managed properly on a national scale. Firstly, the importance of education and research about earthquakes and earthquake preparedness, from cradle to grave, is stressed. Secondly, for a successful solution of the risk mitigation problems, the legislative and financial structures as well as the social and technical organizations are presented. Recommendations are given, concerning the disaster management, dealing with emergency matters during and after the earthquake, and also the risk management, dealing with preparations before the earthquake. Finally, the problems related to inventory of buildings, repair and retrofitting issues, earthquake insurance, supervision of design and construction of buildings are discussed. A reference is made to the project of "zero" loss of life during future strong earthquakes which eliminates the necessity for large scale retrofitting of the existing building stock and saves lives. A rapid scoring technique called "P25- Assessment Method" is also introduced for determining the collapse vulnerability of RC buildings.