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A #
The expected annual average economic or human losses from disasters. The AAL is estimated by correlating the probable losses of multiple events and their annual probability of occurrence.
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B #
Broad engineering category assigned to a building based on the main material of the structural system, such as load-bearing masonry, reinforced concrete, steel, or timber. Each construction type may include one or more building types.
The series of changes a building undergoes over the course of its life. These may include design changes, construction, maintenance, and retrofitting, among others. Maintenance of the building is necessary to ensure its design lifespan is accomplished. Retrofitting can extend the lifespan, depending on the level of intervention.
The strengthening of structural elements so a building’s performance objective is the same as the one for which it was designed. Rehabilitation remedies damage to structural elements that may occur as the result of a disaster or with time.
The action or process of rebuilding a structure in a different location after it has been severely damaged and/or because the risk level is high in the original location.
Repair to a building’s structural and nonstructural components to restore or improve functionality. This type of intervention does not improve the building’s performance in the event of a disaster.
Engineering category assigned to a building based on its structural system, height range, and seismic design level. The structural system ensures the building’s stability with respect to gravity, earthquake, wind, and other types of loads. It comprises such elements as columns (posts, pillars) and/or load-bearing walls; beams (girders, joists); floor and/or roof systems (slabs); and foundations (mat, spread footings, piles).
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C #
Performance objective of a building expected post-disaster, in which the damage to the building is severe and there is high risk of fatalities. At this level of damage, repair of the building is not feasible. [1] Arup. 2017. Measuring Risk in Kyrgyz Republic, Seismic Hazard Assessment Report. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Broad engineering categorization of buildings with similar construction materials such as load bearing masonry, reinforced concrete frame, steel frame and timber frame. Each construction type might include different building types.
A short-term and low-invasive retrofitting strategy that aims to make a building safer until it can be replaced.
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D #
Risk assessment of infrastructure that analyzes its exposure and vulnerability to an individual event with a certain probability of occurrence.
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E #
The extent to which people, property, infrastructure systems, or other elements in an area are subject to impacts from natural hazard events. [2] UNISDR. 2009. Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction. UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Geneva.
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F #
A statistical function that associates the probability of exceeding a given damage level of an element or a system to a seismic demand, such as acceleration or displacement.
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H #
The potential occurrence of a natural physical event that may cause loss of life, injury, or other health impacts, as well as damage or loss to property, infrastructure, livelihoods, provision of services, or environmental resources. [2] UNISDR. 2009. Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction. UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Geneva. .
A map that shows the spatial distribution of the expected level of intensity of a hazard for a specific return period.
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I #
Performance objective of a building expected post-disaster, in which there is minor damage, and the building is safe to be occupied immediately after the event. The building may not, however, be fully operational because of damage to nonstructural components, contents, and/or equipment and lack of services (such as water or power). [1] Arup. 2017. Measuring Risk in Kyrgyz Republic, Seismic Hazard Assessment Report. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Retrofitting of a building in stages, with the aim of eventually bringing it into compliance with building regulations. Through incremental retrofitting, the minimum necessary performance improvements can be made to many buildings with the available resources. Planning is required for subsequent intervention phases.
Buildings chosen to be representative of the expected performance of a group of buildings with similar structural and nonstructural characteristics and assessed to identify structural deficiencies and develop retrofitting solutions that can be applied to other buildings in the group. Construction material, lateral load-resisting system, height range, construction quality, and floor/roof flexibility are among the characteristics considered in choosing index buildings.
refers to a strategy of articulated and prioritized interventions to meet progressive safety and functional targets for many existing school facilities.
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L #
Performance objective of a building expected post-disaster, in which there is extensive damage to structural and nonstructural elements, but the building’s stability is not compromised. Also, for occupants, the probability of expected fatalities is low. Repair of the building is possible but may be uneconomic. Typically, seismic design codes for new construction expect life safety as a minimum performance objective for a design level earthquake. [1] Arup. 2017. Measuring Risk in Kyrgyz Republic, Seismic Hazard Assessment Report. Washington, DC: World Bank.
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N #
Elements of a building that are not part of its load resistance system, such as facades, dividing walls, ceilings, and service lines, among others. Nonstructural elements must be designed to withstand the seismic demand of the main structure.
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O #
Performance objective of a building expected post-disaster, in which there is very light damage to nonstructural components, and the building’s functionality is not disrupted. The building can very likely be economically repaired, if any repairs are required. [1] Arup. 2017. Measuring Risk in Kyrgyz Republic, Seismic Hazard Assessment Report. Washington, DC: World Bank.
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P #
Defines how a building should perform during an event in terms of the expected damage level and loss of functionality. It is typically defined in codes and regulations according to engineering parameters. In general, there are four types of performance objectives: collapse prevention, life safety, immediate occupancy, and operational.
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R #
The action or process of rebuilding a structure or part of a structure that has been destroyed or for which risk of collapse is high or repair is uneconomical.
The maximum acceptable ratio of the intervention cost (including improvement of functional and structural components) to the replacement value of a building at which intervention is no longer economically feasible. [3] FEMA. 2018. Seismic Performance Assessment of Buildings. Volume 1 – Methodology. 2nd ed. FEMA P-58-1. Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, DC.
The cost of demolishing a building and constructing a new one to replace it.
The ability of a system, community, or society exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate to, and recover from their effects rapidly and efficiently. PreventionWeb. 2019. “Hazard.” March 19. https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/hazard.
The addition of new structural components to or the strengthening of existing components of a functional building to improve its resistance and performance in the event of earthquakes and other hazards.
The probability of damage to or loss of elements exposed to hazard. Risk analysis is a process that seeks to comprehend the nature of risk and determine its extent. Risk is a function of exposure, vulnerability, and hazard.
Framework for estimating the impact of a hazard on exposed elements in terms of economic and/or human losses. It integrates the hazard model, which comprises all possible events with their probability of occurrence; the exposure model, which correlates spatially characteristics of the elements susceptible to damage; and the vulnerability model, which relates the expected damage to intensity levels.
A map that shows the spatial distribution of the expected losses (human, economic, etc.) due to a hazard event. It combines spatial data on hazard, exposure, and vulnerability in a certain location, and can represent the losses for a single or multi-hazard event.
The effort to intervene in infrastructure to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters. The investment strategy for infrastructure should be risk informed, prioritizing the critical facilities, to support the long-term well-being of the community. Effective risk mitigation requires that action be taken now—before the next disaster—to reduce human and financial consequences later. [5] FEMA. 2018. “What is Mitigation?” Federal Emergency… Read More
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S #
A building that is part of a school facility.
The community of stakeholders in a school, including teachers, parents, administrators, community councilors, and students, among others.
The group of functional spaces that comprise a school, including classroom buildings, gymnasiums, dining halls, libraries, and others.
Inventory of the current condition of school infrastructure in a given study area prior to any intervention. It includes information on the location, occupancy, and structural and functional characterization of the buildings, among other attributes. The baseline provides an important reference for understanding the need for investment to meet costs.
The geographical distribution of schools throughout a study area.
The buildings and/or spaces in which school activities take place. School infrastructure includes classrooms, playgrounds, and libraries, among others.
Degree of resistance to earthquakes of a building’s structural system. It considers the implementation of the best engineering design and construction practices.
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T #
A long-term retrofitting strategy carried out in one stage, that aims to bring a building permanently into compliance with building regulations. This type of retrofitting is more expensive and more invasive than contingent retrofitting, so the functionality of the building is usually disrupted for a longer period of time.
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V #
Susceptibility of specific exposed components to impacts from a particular hazard. This susceptibility is represented by a vulnerability function, a statistical function representing the expected damage ratio of a building subjected to a given hazard intensity level. The damage ratio is estimated as the relationship between the total direct and indirect losses and the replacement value of the building.