Application of the PTVA–4 Modeling in Assessment of Building Vulnerability to Earthquake and Tsunami: A Simple and Reliable Method for Preliminary Study of Tsunami-Prone Zones

Abstract

The earthquake and tsunami in Aceh Province, Indonesia, in 2004 caused the deaths of nearly 200,000 people and an economic loss of up to USD 4 billion. The recurrence period for the tsunami in Aceh is 250-400 years. Along the subduction zone between the Eurasia continental plate and the Indo-Australia oceanic plate, the southern region of Java Island is a vulnerable zone whose recurrence period is not known until nowadays. This zone is a densely populated area and the largest source of Indonesian economic income besides the north coast of Java. Therefore, a building vulnerability study is needed to minimize casualties and financial losses. The PTVA–4 modeling is a suitable method to be developed because it is reliable and does not require high costs. We conclude that this method is accurate by assessing the modelling results on the impact of the 2006 earthquake and tsunami in Cilacap, Indonesia.