Post-earthquake Reconstruction Research Articles

Post-earthquake reconstruction: Managing debris and construction waste in Gorkha and Sindhupalchok Districts, Nepal

The 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha Nepal Earthquake had severely damaged buildings producing massive amount of debris. This paper assessed the amount of debris generated and construction waste during post-earthquake housing reconstruction in the earthquake most affected two districts. The study was carried out between April 2017 to December 2019, in Gorkha and Sindhupalchok districts of Nepal. The questionnaire survey were conducted in 17,814 households (Gorkha: 4896 and Sindhupalchok: 12,918) that were reconstructed after the earthquake. The sample household was selected randomly and the amount of debris and waste generated from each household was visually estimated. A z-test was performed to determine the quantity of debris and waste generated in each household at district as well as local administrative level. The result showed significant difference between the total amounts of debris generated in two districts - Gorkha (m = 17.03 m3/HHs; SD = ± 10.15) and Sindhupalchok (m = 21.61 m3/HHs; SD ± 8.92). Construction waste that was produced in construction sites in Gorkha and Sindhupalchok were 1.11 m3/HHs and 1.59 m3/HHs respectively. Proper management of debris and waste was lacking due to the absence of policies and guidelines on debris and waste in Nepal. However, individuals reused 57.96% of generated debris for housing reconstruction. The study recommends for preparation of debris and waste management plan for the future reconstruction activities.

The Ethnography of Collaboration: Navigating Power Relationships in Joint Research

We came together to write a paper on the devaluation of field researcher labor as an entry point into the broader domain of research ethics to unpack what collaboration may mean in settings of incommensurable inequality. These motivations were grounded in the materialities of our involvement within an international research project focused on post-earthquake reconstruction processes in Nepal since 2015. However, since we started writing this piece, some of us felt that the paper did not adequately reflect their experiences, others felt it put them in the hot seat too quickly, and some thought that it mimicked the faulty modes of collaboration we wanted to unsettle in the first place. Realizing the power dynamics within our own writing collective, we stepped away from a centralized narrative to make room for our diverse, sometimes complementary, sometimes contradictory experiences. The paper is a bricolage of reflections that focus on issues such as the division of labor, coauthorship, and community engagement. We use these reflections as a way to think critically about the current juncture of transnational, collaborative research and propose a series of open-ended reflections that prompt the problematization of the inequities, tensions, and emotional labor inherent in collaborative work.

Vulnerability Assessment of Buildings against Earthquake Case Study: Qadghoon Neighborhood, Borujerd, Iran

INTRODUCTION: The buildings, as the main and most abundant elements in cities, have great importance in two aspects of assessing and mitigating the vulnerability at disaster incidence. On the other hand, the emphasis of post disaster reconstruction engineers on the single-scale building has compounded the importance of building in terms of planning to reduce the damages of disaster incidence. METHODS: This quantitative-descriptive study was conducted documentary studies and extraction of priority indicators determining the degree of vulnerability. This research aimed to assess the vulnerability of Qadghoon buildings, one of the historical neighborhoods of Borujerd, Lorestan Province, Iran, which was damaged and reconstructed after the 2007 earthquake, for more than a decade. FINDINGS: The data obtained from the field study of this neighborhood were analyzed after entering into GIS software and weighted by Analytic Hierarchy Process-Delphi. The provided maps were evaluated and the vulnerability score obtained from indicators was weighted by the above method. Finally, the score of vulnerabilities in neighborhoods in the range of 0-5 Likert scale was calculated at 3.5208, which indicated a moderate increase in vulnerability. CONCLUSION: After the examination of actions taken in the post-earthquake reconstruction process, reduction of vulnerability evaluation was low. This result indicated the failure of operators to reduce the vulnerability on a scale of buildings, despite the large opportunities and resources. In addition to lessons from the present study, some suggestions were provided to improve the process of reconstruction after possible disasters in the future. Keywords: Borujerd; Earthquake; Qadghoon Neighborhood; Single-scale of Building; Vulnerability Assessment.

Application Review of Container Building and Wood Building in Post-disaster Reconstruction

In recent years, China has encountered Wenchuan, Yushu, Taiwan earthquake and other major disaster events pushed the research of emergency building to the forefront. Judging from the present situation of post-earthquake reconstruction in China, it is not perfect in terms of emergency reconstruction and the design of buildings is also deficient to some extent. At present, the forefront of international research on post-disaster emergency measures is mainly focused on earthquake-prone countries, such as Japan and the United States. After the Wenchuan earthquake, the Chinese government quickly deployed post-disaster reconstruction and issued a series of regulations. The application of some light structures such as container and wood building in post-disaster reconstruction has gradually become the focus of scholars. R factor analysis method is adopted in this article, try to research on the design of the container and wood buildings combined with the practice of reconstruction, and has set up a variety of structure in the field of light structure architectural practice support as a case, a container and wooden buildings in the post-disaster reconstruction design strategies and explore possibilities for the future development, the application of the post-disaster reconstruction work after have a certain guiding significance.

Seismic retrofit solutions using base isolation for existing RC buildings: economic feasibilty and pay-back time

The existing reinforced concrete buildings typical of the Mediterranean area commonly have poor seismic performance and high vulnerability to the seismic events. As demonstrated by recent post-earthquake reconstruction processes, they commonly exhibited significant damage to structural components and to infills and partitions resulting in very high repair costs. This suggests that effective seismic strengthening interventions should aim at both improving the safety and reducing the expected annual losses. Nowadays, the seismic retrofitting of existing RC buildings by using base isolation is becoming popular because of the high effectiveness as seismic protection strategy. However, the high costs of installation are limiting the widespread in the common design practice. In this context, a unique design parameter capable of combining the increasing seismic safety, the cost of installation and the reduction of the expected losses can be useful to draw simple cost-benefits considerations. This research work proposes a PBEE-based methodology to quantify the Pay-Back Time (PBT) of seismic retrofit solutions for existing RC buildings. The non-linear response of base isolated building is assessed and a comparison with different strengthening solutions is proposed to show the applicability of the PBT as a unique design parameter to select the most effective retrofit solution. A database of 59 RC buildings retrofitted by using base isolation during the L’Aquila reconstruction process, where actual retrofit costs are available, is used for the validation. Finally, these data are used to calibrate a simple formulation of the PBT to be used in the design practice.

Analysis on the Spatiotemporal Characteristics of the Postearthquake Reconstruction Efficiency of the Extremely Earthquake-Stricken Areas by the Wenchuan Earthquake Based on the DEA-Malmquist Index

The Wenchuan earthquake, which occurred on May 12, 2008, caused a large number of casualties and substantial property losses. Postearthquake reconstruction is a complex and systematic project, the core of which is to enable the residents of the earthquake-stricken areas to resume normal productivity and life as soon as possible. This paper aims to evaluate the efficiency of postearthquake reconstruction in extremely earthquake-stricken areas. From the perspective of the inputs and outputs, the DEA-Malmquist index was used to construct a reconstruction efficiency evaluation model for the extremely stricken areas. Reconstruction efficiencies are analyzed for 10 areas that were severely impacted by the Wenchuan earthquake. Finally, three major disaster-pregnancy environmental factors, namely, including topography, fault zones, and river systems, are selected. Based on the temporal trend of reconstruction efficiency, the degree of correlation between the postearthquake reconstruction efficiency fluctuation and the three major disaster-pregnancy environmental factors is analyzed. The study results show that the overall reconstruction efficiency of the 10 extremely earthquake-stricken areas was relatively high. In 2011, the reconstruction efficiency basically returned the areas to preearthquake levels, and there was a small fluctuation in efficiency due to the effects of earthquake-induced hazards and the reduction of external forces. Spatially, the reconstruction efficiencies of the 10 extremely stricken areas do not show a “convergence effect,” and the reconstruction efficiencies were closely related to the characteristics of the resources in the extremely stricken areas. In terms of the main disaster-pregnancy environment, the terrain complexity is most closely related to fluctuation of reconstruction efficiency, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9975, followed by river network density and the lowest fault density. Therefore, to improve the reconstruction efficiency of the extremely earthquake-stricken areas, the adjustment measures that promote local advantages should be fully utilized to mitigate the lasting effects of earthquake-induced hazards.

PDPGR (PROGRAM DAERAH PEMBERDAYAAN GOTONG GOYONG) SEBAGAI INOVASI DALAM PENANGANAN PERCEPATAN REHABILITASI DAN REKONSTRUKSI PASCA GEMPA BUMI DI KABUPATEN SUMBAWA BARAT

This study aims to determine the role and success indicators of PDPGRas an innovation in handling accelerated rehabilitation and reconstruction after the earthquakein West Sumbawa district. This research uses a qualitative approach. Techniquedata collection using observation, interviews, and documentationWest Sumbawa district government regulations and policies related to PDPGR.Informants were selected by purposive sampling. The selected informants were 7 peoplewhich is a steering team at the district level, PDPGR agents, traditional leaders, leadersreligion, and community leaders. The data obtained were analyzed using three pathsnamely reduction, presentation of data, and drawing conclusions made at the timedata collection in progress. The validity of the data was tested using triangulation techniquessource. The results showed that the role of PDPGR as a treatmentacceleration of post-earthquake rehabilitation and reconstruction, among others; 1) Make it easy andaccelerating the formation of community groups which are the basic rules in the processpost-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction. 2) Assisting the community data collection processaffected by the earthquake quickly and completely. This is due to the PDPGR agentstructured and massive up to the block level incorporated in Pokmas Plus. 3)Help speed up the administrative process such as making RAB, disbursing funds,management to the BPBD, and making LPJ. This is because PDPGR agents haveexperience with the home rehabilitation program over the past 2 years. 4)Provide space for the community to actively participate in acceleratingthe rehabilitation and reconstruction process. PDPGR success indicator in acceleratingThe rehabilitation and reconstruction process includes a shorter processing timerather than the time given by BNPB and the quantity of work completed.From the data, it was found that more than 95% of the people's houses were affected by the earthquakeresolved quickly both for the category of Light Damage (RR), Moderately Damaged (RS),and Heavy Damage (RB).

A review of research status of failure modes of base-isolated structures under long-period ground motions

As a relatively mature and effective passive damping technology, isolation technology is mostly used in engineering structures in high-intensity areas and post-earthquake reconstruction projects. In recent years, with the deepening of performance-based seismic engineering research, the study of damage failure of isolated structures under strong earthquakes has become one of the hot-spots in the field of seismic engineering research. This paper summarizes the research results of domestic and foreign scholars on the failure of the base-isolated structure under the action of long-period ground motions, and summarizes its main failure modes. Based on the main failure modes, it systematically analyzes the failure mechanism and finally points out there are still some issues to be studied.

Dynamic Vulnerability Analysis of Mountain Settlements Exposed to Geological Hazards: A Case Study of the Upper Min River, China

The upper reaches of Min River (The upper Min River) is located in Southwest China with significant mountain settlements, which are vulnerable to frequent geological hazards. Based on a field investigation, collation of yearbook data, and analysis through the use of SPSS statistical software, a vulnerability evaluation index system of geological hazards was devised. According to the actual field situation and the acquired data of the study area in 2006, 2009, and 2015, 16 indicators were selected as settlement vulnerability evaluation indexes of geological hazards. The indexes included population density, building coverage, and economic density. Based on the comprehensive evaluation model of entropy value, the dynamic change in the settlement vulnerability of geological hazards was analyzed. The results showed that population density, building coverage, economic density, and road density were the factors that affected the settlement vulnerability of geological hazards the most—Wenchuan earthquake caused considerable damage to the upper Min River, making the area the most vulnerable in 2009. However, its vulnerability decreased in 2015, which indicated that postearthquake reconstruction achieved significant results. Thus, the vulnerability has emerged as an important indicator reflecting the safety and healthy development of mountain settlements.

SEISMIC ISOLATION OF WHOLE CITY QUARTERS FOR AN EFFECTIVE AND PRESERVATIVE RECONSTRUCTION

The post-earthquake reconstruction should solve the problem to rebuild with safety but preserving the historical aspect of buildings and landscapes. This paper proposes a particular application of seismic isolation for the reconstruction of entire urban quarter or entire small centers with integral seismic protection. This involves the construction of large floating slabs having the size of entire compartments supported by seismic isolators and/or dampers, above which to construct buildings that can present the aesthetic and constructive characteristics of the collapsed traditional ones. The solution is suited for the reconstruction of villages or quarters collapsed or damaged. Buildings of any type (masonry, stone, r/c, steel, wood) and of different characteristics also significantly irregular can be freely built above slabs and all of them will be fully protected from the consequences of future expected quakes. Paper illustrates a case study related to a quarter of a historic town in Central Italy.

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF NAVELLI (ITALY) IN THE RECONSTRUCTION PLAN: HYPOTHESIS OF ADAPTIVE REUSE

Abstract. This study is aimed at identifying adaptive design strategies applied to the particular contexts of the Abruzzo Region during the post-earthquake reconstruction. The area affected by the calamitous event present material and immaterial issues to be interpreted and managed according to integrated and interdisciplinary intervention methods. In this context, the Reconstruction Plans (PdR) provide the guidelines for a coherent territorial development, proposing design solutions that call for sustainability and resilience. The village of Navelli, which 10 years after the earthquake is still in a serious state of damage and abandonment, is identified in the 2013 PdR as an area to be converted into an archaeological park. The Plan prescribes by specifications on the basis of identifying values of the area whilst inspections carried out reveal a stratified, vast and remarkably heterogeneous building fabric both as regards to the level of damage and the values to be protected. From the analyzes carried out, the case study provides the opportunity for an ad hoc design methodology, identified by specific interventions that are at the same time inter-dependent and included in a complex project. The work highlights how the overall design of a public space can find an easier resolution in the integration of adaptive and reversible technologies, coherent with the sustainable development suggested by the PdR.

Liquidity and Consumption: Evidence from Three Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Programs in Italy

In Italian regions hit by earthquakes, homeowners typically receive public funds to finance reconstruction. While these funds are strictly tied to reconstruction work, they are in part disbursed up front, leading to significant variation in cash on hand. We exploit this variation to study the effects of liquidity on relatively wealthy households’ consumption. We find a large and significant response in the first year that homeowners receive the cash and provide evidence that this response is driven by illiquid households with bank debt. Instead, we find no evidence that consumption responds to funds paid directly to firms, thus leaving households’ liquidity unaffected. (JEL E21, G51, H76, Q54, R31)

Post-Earthquake Reconstruction in Nepal: Conformance the Assumptions, Actions, and Achievements

Post-earthquake reconstruction works is a consequential mission. The principal premises of the mission are the goal of speedily rebuilding, well-structured plans, extensive local resources mobilization, and commissioning leadership in the reconstruction and rehabilitation works. Nepal’s pluralistic character, political upheavals, and shortcoming of resources are real-time challenges to mission accomplishment. Congruence of the assumptions, actions, and achievements concerning physical, socio-psychological, cultural, and financial dimensions of vulnerabilities is of foremost significance because the social acceptance and/or rejection is a critical determinant of the mission accomplishment. This study aims to determine the congruence level of assumptions, actions, and accomplishments concerning the managerial process activities of the National Reconstruction Authority, which are addressing the concerns of reconstruction work, national interest, and social justice. An exploration on the Authority’s attention to the reciprocal eco-cultural resiliency measures has also been made to find a balance among the concerns. The study begins with reviewing the Acts, policies, directives, standards, and working procedures concerning the reconstruction works. The Authority’s annual reports and decisions of the Appellate Committee are taken as the sources of information. A matrix form of NRA’s process activities, key assumptions, major actions, and notable accomplishments is prepared for analysis. Matchmaking of the assumptions with the actions and achievements has been made, and the level of their congruence assessed. The level of congruence among the assumptions, actions, and achievements concerning the consequential mission is found unsatisfactory. There is an absence of process activities concerning the reciprocal eco-cultural resiliency, national interest, and social justice. Partially adapted the process activities and corresponding assumptions, actions, and achievements seems insufficient to achieve the envisioned transformation in the disaster-affected districts. Deeply rooted self interest of the people and institutions associated with the consequential mission stands as a major challenge in the process of reconstruction.

Disaster resilience assessment based on the spatial and temporal aggregation effects of earthquake-induced hazards

Since the "5.12" Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, frequent geologic hazards along the Longmenshan fault zone have had significant impacts on the socioeconomic conditions in the earthquake-stricken areas. Therefore, from the perspective of earthquake-induced hazards, this paper focuses on analyzing the change rules of disaster resilience under the spatial and temporal aggregation effects of earthquake-induced hazards, and this analysis provides an important basis for understanding the developmental characteristics of earthquake-induced hazards and disaster prevention, and mitigation after earthquakes. This paper takes Wenchuan County as an example. By collecting the 2008-2018 landslide geological hazards data, the global autocorrelation coefficient and local autocorrelation coefficient are adopted to analyze the temporal trends and spatial patterns of earthquake-induced hazards. At the same time, from the socioeconomic perspective, two disaster resilience indexes, the compatibility coefficient of industrial and employment structure and per capita GDP growth rate, were constructed to analyze the disaster resilience under the spatial and temporal aggregation effect of landslide geological hazards. The results show that, on the temporal trend, the temporal aggregation effect of earthquake-induced hazards has periodically decayed with time; in the spatial distribution, the spatial clustering effect as a whole increases first and then decreases, and the scope of the aggregation effect tends to narrow spatially. Disaster resilience (Hxy and RGDP) showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing, and could not recover to the level before the earthquake in 2017, indicating that Wenchuan County was greatly affected by earthquake-induced hazards in the post-earthquake reconstruction process.

2015 Nepal earthquake: seismic performance and post-earthquake reconstruction of stone in mud mortar masonry buildings

The residential building typology of Stone in Mud Mortar (SMM) masonry contributed significantly to the seismic losses caused by the 2015 Nepalese seismic sequence, also known as the 2015 Gorkha earthquake. SMM masonry is the most common construction type in Nepal, and notwithstanding the extensive damage, this has persisted in the post-earthquake reconstruction. This paper provides first an overview of the extent of damage and typical failure modes suffered by this typology. Some pressing issues in the ongoing post-earthquake reconstruction, such as building usability, construction quality are then discussed. The results of seismic analyses on both the pre-earthquake (PRE-SMM) and post-earthquake built (POST-SMM) typologies, using the applied element method employing a modelling strategy that accounts for the random shape of stone units, are then presented and discussed in terms of capacity curves and failure mechanisms. As per the seismic design code of Nepal, seismic performance assessment is conducted to understand the seismic design levels of these constructions. Finally, seismic fragility and vulnerability functions for both the PRE-SMM and POST-SMM typologies, considering the uncertainty in ground motions and material quality, are presented and discussed. Considering the seismic hazard in Nepal, the PRE-SMM typology is found to be highly vulnerable and seismic strengthening of these buildings is urgent. On the other hand, the POST-SMM typology has adequate seismic capacity and performs within the serviceability limit, given the quality of both the construction materials and workmanship are not compromised.

Disasters, Memory and Liturgy

Seismic events demonstrated the high level of structural vulnerability of Italian ecclesiastical heritage. This paper investigates liturgical reordering applied (or not applied) in the post-earthquake reconstruction of churches. The aim is to analyze if the tragic circumstance of a post-earthquake reconstruction has been taken as an opportunity to renovate the sacramental space as a whole, and above all, to evaluate in which way the memory of the disaster and mourning may have influenced the celebratory aspects. The paper focus on the several criteria that may support choices for churches reconstruction, with or without the assimilation of the liturgical modifications introduced by the Second Vatican Council.If fifty years later, the process of the liturgical modification continues to be problematic in churches with a high heritage or historical value, the issue is event more complex for those buildings affected by catastrophic event and where communities are wounded by traumatic event as an earthquake.

An improved method of Newmark analysis for mapping hazards of coseismic landslides

Abstract. Coseismic landslides can destroy buildings, dislocate roads, sever pipelines, and cause heavy casualties. It is thus important but challenging to accurately map the hazards posed by coseismic landslides. Newmark's method is widely applied to assess the permanent displacement along a potential slide surface and model the coseismic response of slopes. This paper proposes an improved Newmark analysis for mapping the hazards of coseismic landslides by considering the roughness and effect of the size of the potential slide surfaces. This method is verified by data from a case study on the 2014 Mw 6.1 (the United States Geological Survey) Ludian earthquake in Yunnan Province, China. Permanent displacements due to the earthquake ranged from 0 to 122 cm. The predicted displacements were compared with a comprehensive inventory of landslides triggered by the Ludian earthquake to map the spatial variation in the hazards of coseismic landslides using the certainty factor model. The confidence levels of coseismic landslides indicated by the certainty factors ranged from −1 to 0.95. A hazard map of the coseismic landslide was generated based on the spatial distribution of values of the certainty factor. A regression curve relating the predicted displacement and the certainty factor was drawn, and can be applied to predict the hazards of coseismic landslides for any seismic scenario of interest. The area under the curve was used to compare the improved and the conventional Newmark analyses, and revealed the improved performance of the former. This mapping procedure can be used to predict the hazards posed by coseismic landslides, and provide guidelines for decisions regarding the development of infrastructure and post-earthquake reconstruction.

Lucrative Disaster: Financialization, Accumulation and Postearthquake Reconstruction in Nepal

abstractThis article investigates long-term processes of financialization unfolding in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal, engaging with literatures on financialization and political economy of disaster and development. The article probes the evolving financialized social relations in Nepal in the context of humanitarian relief and reconstruction, paying particular attention to processes through which wide-scale political economies enter into the daily lives of disaster victims and play key roles in transforming their economic practice and subjectivity. In the name of relief and reconstruction, foreign investment combined with urban surplus capital has circulated within Nepal as finance in rural, earthquake-affected areas—making the earthquakes a truly lucrative disaster. The article deploys a conjunctural approach to understanding disaster financialization as a multiscalar process constituted through geoeconomic logics, state–market complexes, and economic subjectivity. Each of these dimensions of disaster financialization is elaborated in separate sections of the article. We conclude by cautioning against both celebrations and outright rejections of finance as a viable and desirable modality for disaster reconstruction—calling instead for a more nuanced understanding of disaster financialization and its implications for affected populations.

Gibellina, Salaparuta, Poggioreale and Montevago: about built environment underutilization and possible urban future

Disasters like earthquakes affect dramatically the construction of place identity. Urban settlements generate complex social structures that are not just scenarios where the functioning of city takes place. “Interrupted landscapes” cannot be merely reconstructed. Post-earthquake reconstruction lies in between community social identity protection and urban planning approaches to renewal or rebuilding. This paper focuses on the four urban centres of Gibellina, Montevago, Salaparuta and Poggioreale that were reconstructed in a different place after the Belice’s earthquake (Western Sicily), occurred in 1968. After a brief review of the planning events that characterized the post-earthquake reconstruction, this paper analyses the built environment of these four settlements with regard to built up volumes, land uses and inhabitants. The most relevant outcome is an impressive underutilization of the reconstructed dwellings and evident trends of depopulation and ageing. Literature and data analysis suggest some critical consideration about the urban strategies adopted, the choices that managed the reconstruction, and the long-term effects caused by the 1968 event. The case studies presented here discuss the directions for the revitalisation of these area from a town planning perspective, taking into account the present and future challenges for resident communities and local authorities, encountering the risk of progressive abandonment of these settlements.

The disaster relief and social work after the Wenchuan earthquake in Mainland China

ABSTRACT This paper mainly focuses on the development of disaster social work in Mainland China and the intervention of social work in disaster relief. Before the Wenchuan earthquake and in the initial stage of post-earthquake, disaster social work was mainly based on individual psychotherapy; from the earthquake to the year of 2012 in which post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction was completed, the disaster relief began to emphasise community building and integration, while the basic framework for disaster social work was also established. Social workers begin to explore the new mode of developmental and localised disaster social work. By combining with the practical experiences from disaster social work, this paper tries to highlight the dilemmas confronting disaster relief in Mainland China and put forward some corresponding countermeasures and suggestions, which could improve the future disaster relief system in Mainland China.