Optimum Seismic Zoning Using An Artificial Neural Network

Abstract

The Kohonen artificial neural network is employed to divide a region of known seismicity into zones. Optimum boundaries and seismic design coefficients for each zone are determined by computing the expected present value of the total cost, including the initial cost of structures and damages due to earthquakes. The region is discretized into cells containing information on seismicity and the number of structural types. Then regionalization is performed, first without considering jurisdictional limits and later including this restriction. Up to four different types of structures are considered simultaneously in the regionalization. The results are presented in maps showing both zones and corresponding seismic design coefficients.