Vulnerability Assessment Model for Cost Efficient Anti-terrorism Design of Super High-Rise Buildings

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to select architectural design elements of super high-rise buildings to protect them from terrorism using explosives and to develop a vulnerability assessment model which can take into account the relative importance of each design element in anti-terrorism and the supplementary effects among them for achieving cost efficient architectural design.Four layers of defense and 27 architectural design elements were selected and the design elements were categorized into 7 supplementary groups based on their purpose and function. Then, design guidelines for each element were classified into 5 grades on the basis of its protection or risk level.Weights of each element were extracted through an AHP survey by anti-terrorism specialists. The results imply that the vulnerability of high-rise buildings to terrorism would be affected the most by the circumstances of the building and neighborhood, and the modification of heavily weighted design elements for separating unauthorized vehicles from a tower and blocking them outside of the site could be the most efficient design measures to counter terrorism.As a vulnerability assessment model, a bottom-up formula was suggested. To reflect the supplementary effects among design elements in the same group, an evaluation level integration methodology was included.