Post-earthquake Recovery Research Articles

A Multi-Step Framework for Measuring Post-Earthquake Recovery: Integrating Essential Infrastructure System’s Serviceability in Building Functionality

Measuring and predicting the functionality of buildings is a core aspect of community resilience analysis, which is jointly dependent on structural integrity and essential services provided by critical infrastructure systems. A functional building is one that is used for its intended services. This paper develops a multi-step community-level functionality analysis framework by modelling: (1) building functionality that integrates the building’s structural performance, essential water and electric power service performance, and physical accessibility through road networks; (2) portfolio-level building recovery by aggregating functionality of buildings for an entire community; and (3) serviceability of infrastructure systems. Graph theory is applied to assess performance of infrastructure systems. The cascading effect of water pipe failure on the road network is modelled through geographic dependency analysis. Post-earthquake water demand changes due to household dislocation and return, and increased water service demand at essential facilities are captured to model the performance of the water network under stressed conditions. The framework also assesses household-level housing recovery and integrates results with physical damage repair to more holistically depict the functional recovery of buildings from the perspective that buildings must be occupied to be fully functional. The proposed framework is illustrated for a scenario earthquake for the virtual community of Centerville. Findings provide an up-to-date measurement of post-disaster functionality for buildings and critical infrastructure systems that can guide decision-makers during pre-disaster planning and post-disaster recovery. The example demonstrates that consideration of essential infrastructure services significantly alters the functionality of the built environment during the recovery process. For instance, power outages resulted in functionality loss for 30-75% of physically operable buildings for as much as 14 days. Consideration of physical accessibility loss to nearest road segments resulted in a portfolio functionality drop of up to 9% for 6 days, and partial water shortage significantly hampered the functionality of the impacted area, including the regional hospital. Approximately 3% of households were unable to repair their damaged homes and became homeless. The proposed framework enables risk-informed decisions regarding long-term recovery at the community scale with inclusion of those living at the margins and most susceptible to long-term negative consequences from disasters.

Vulnerability-based seismic resilience and post-earthquake recovery assessment for substation systems

The function of substation systems is significantly influenced by earthquakes. To assess the seismic resistance of substation systems and improve post-earthquake recovery efficiency, this study constructs a multi-module framework for seismic vulnerability assessment of substations. Based on the equipment functional status analysis module, a functional network model was established considering the structural function and electrical load of substation systems. The system functional state matrix was obtained through Monte Carlo simulation, and the seismic vulnerability was assessed from the aspects of electrical transmission reliability and the importance of power users. Subsequently, a substation functional index was established based on seismic vulnerability parameters. Post-earthquake functional recovery strategy analysis frameworks were constructed to quantitatively evaluate the recovery process. A stepped functional time-varying function was proposed through iterative analysis, thereby converting the probability parameters of functional status into seismic resilience deterministic indices. Through seismic resilience analysis of a typical 220 kV step-down substation, seismic vulnerability curves for both electrical transmission and power users were obtained. Furthermore, the seismic sensitive intervals of the substation and key equipment for post-earthquake recovery were clarified. Notably, the seismic resilience level and optimal recovery strategy of the typical 220 kV step-down substation were determined.

Seismic performance investigation of new buckling-restrained steel plate for resilient rocking column foot joint

Seismic damage-controllable components and design approaches are crucial for achieving the seismic resilience and post-earthquake recovery of building structures. To improve the seismic resilience of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures, this study proposed a novel assembled replaceable rocking column foot joint. The column foot joint is composed of a concrete foundation, short steel-tube concrete column in the center, and four new buckling-restrained steel plates (BRSPs) on the periphery. A detailed design method for the BRSPs was developed, and six BRSP specimens were designed with different core weakening forms and thicknesses. The specimens were cyclically tested and the failure mode and hysteresis behavior were examined. The test results confirmed that the proposed BRSPs exhibit satisfactory energy-dissipation capacity and achieve damage control. The refined numerical models were developed using ABAQUS and verified using the test results. Parametric analyses were conducted for the BRSPs to examine the influence of core plate thickness, gap size, and restraint plate thickness. A numerical analysis model of the column foot joint was established, and the influence of the axial compression ratio and BRSP bearing capacity on the seismic performance of the column foot was investigated. This study provides a reference for the construction of resilient RC frame structures.

Challenges in construction material supply for post-disaster transport infrastructure recovery: a case study of the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake in New Zealand

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the challenges faced by the transport infrastructure sector in its civil construction material supply processes, following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake in New Zealand.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach was adopted, which included on-site observations, semi-structured interviews and literature-based desktop reviews.FindingsThe research findings show that there were supply problems for aggregates, concrete, stormwater pipes and some specialised products for the repair and rebuild of transport facilities. Those supply problems were largely caused by (1) difficulty in predicting material requirements, (2) constrained supply capability, (3) inadequate local freight capacity, (4) legal, cultural and/or environmental considerations on resource exploitation and utilisation, (5) impacts of COVID-19 and (6) ineffective communication and coordination.Research limitations/implicationsFor future research, it is recommended that a comparative analysis of multiple disaster cases be undertaken to further explore the generalisability of the research findings.Originality/valueThe research findings will inform the development of post-earthquake recovery policies and material supply chain operation strategies, in order to expedite the recovery of transport networks if a future earthquake strikes.

The seismic resilience-based methodology of regional building function recovery assessment

Regional assessment of the functional recovery time of urban buildings is critical for decision-making after an earthquake, both as a key indicator of seismic disaster risk and for evaluating urban resilience. However, existing studies are insufficient for assessing the functional recovery time of buildings at the city scale. To address this issue, this study proposes a new methodology for predicting the functional recovery time of an area. This approach comprehensively considers performance-based repair objectives, various damage states, and the affected building area. It offers two improvements over traditional methods based on the assumption of unlimited restoration resources within the disaster area. First, the method establishes a standard for categorizing damaged buildings into repairable and reconstructive buildings using the building damage level parameter. The existing moderate damage states are considered rough and are further divided into three detailed damage states. The distribution functions of the three new states relative to the existing moderate damage are derived from actual earthquake cases. Second, a new parameter, the reconstruction rate, which characterizes the rate of reconstruction time per unit area of a building, is proposed. The repair time per unit area of a house in a repairable state, i.e., the repair rate, is discounted based on this new parameter using the damage state as an indicator. To illustrate the methodology in more detail, we constructed an earthquake scenario for the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and then provided a detailed assessment of the postearthquake recovery time of Zhangye under the earthquake scenario. This study aims to provide valuable insights for the government to formulate appropriate predisaster prevention policies and rational postdisaster recovery and reconstruction.

Early Period Assessment of the Nutritional Status of Child Patients in the Earthquake Zone

Objective:The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of earthquakes on the nutritional status and infection rates of children in the early stages of post-earthquake recovery. Material and Methods: Following the earthquakes on February 6, 2023, 80 out of 504 patients who presented to the pediatric examination tent in Hatay province were included in the study. Reasons for patient visits and weight loss compared to pre-earthquake measurements were examined. Results: A total of 80 patients were examined across three different age groups [1 month-5 years (29 patients), 5-10 years (34 patients), and 10-18 years (17 patients)]. In all three age groups, a statistically significant decline was observed in body weights, weight percentiles, and age-specific standard deviations when compared to their pre-earthquake measurements (p<0.001). Besides, frequently occurring illnesses were respiratory tract infections (51.25%) and acute gastroenteritis (38.75%). Conclusion: Ensuring appropriate and adequate nutrition for children in the aftermath of a disaster is of critical importance for sustaining normal growth and preventing of diseases. Therefore, emergency plans should include expert pediatricians and prioritize children.

Fragility Analysis and Resilience Assessment of the Single-Column Pier Steel-Concrete Composite Bridge Subjected to Seismic Loads

Abstract With the advantages of a small footprint, wide under-bridge view, and beautiful appearance, single-column pier bridges are widely used in urban bridge networks. However, single-column pier bridges are prone to damage during earthquakes or heavy vehicle use, which can seriously affect normal operations and postdisaster recoveries. Therefore, there is an urgent need to carry out seismic resilience assessments of single-column pier bridges and formulate disaster prevention and mitigation measures from the aspects of design, maintenance, and postearthquake recovery. This paper first establishes a resilience assessment framework for the single-column pier bridge and optimizes a functionality recovery model after an earthquake. Then, a numerical model of a sample bridge is built for resilience fragility analysis. Nonlinear dynamic time history analysis is performed to build a probabilistic seismic demand model, and moment–curvature analysis is performed to build a probabilistic seismic capacity model. Finally, a seismic resilience assessment of the single-column pier bridge is obtained based on the seismic fragility, and a sensitivity analysis is carried out for the pier height, pier section dimension, span and vehicle load level to improve the resilience of the single-column pier bridge.

Reappraisal of the 2012 magnitude (MW) 6.7 Negros Oriental (Philippines) earthquake intensity and ShakeMap generation by using ESI-2007 environmental effects

The macroseismic intensity of the February 6, 2012, Negros Oriental earthquake (MW 6.7), which affected the islands of Negros and Cebu, central Philippines, has been reassessed in this study using the Environmental Seismic Intensity Scale (ESI-2007). This earthquake caused a ∼75-km-long surface rupture along a previously unmapped fault and resulted in extensive landslides, localized liquefaction, lateral spreading, a tsunami, and widespread damage to infrastructure near the epicentral area. Considering the widespread earthquake environmental effects (EEEs), ESI-2007 intensities were evaluated for 324 locations covering an area of approximately 1000 km2 within the Negros and Cebu Islands. A systematic comparison was conducted between the ESI-2007 scale and the traditional intensity scales (PHIVOLCS earthquake intensity scale (PEIS) and Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (MM) along with the generation of an ESI-2007 shake map, which is solely based on site-specific ESI-2007 intensity values. According to the ESI-2007 scale, the epicentral intensity I0=X is assessed. This is two degrees higher than the intensity of the PEIS, and three degrees higher than the modified MM intensity provided by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The intensity difference may also be due to the lack of suitable observations of building damage data in this sparsely populated region of the Philippines. Comparison of the ShakeMap that was constructed using the ESI-2007 intensities with the PHIVOLCS and USGS ShakeMap suggests that the instrumental or structural damage-based intensity maps underestimate the seismic intensity for the 2012 Negros Oriental earthquake. The ESI-2007 ShakeMap presented in this work is pertinent for the assessment of future seismic risk associated with other earthquake generators in the vicinity of the islands of Negros and Cebu. It can be integrated with the PEIS or MM intensity scale to improve disaster management and planning, post-earthquake recovery efforts, and damage estimation.

Seismic performance investigation on self-centering friction frames: Collapse capacity and post-earthquake recovery

Self-centering technology is a promising approach to enhance seismic resilience of frame structures. Despite extensive experimental and theoretical research on various self-centering components, there has been relatively limited quantitative study on the collapse and post-earthquake recovery capabilities of self-centering frame structures. Therefore, this paper introduces a self-centering friction beam-column joint (SCFJ) and develops a simplified analytical model for the joint. Then a series of RC frames with SCFJ are designed, and their seismic resilience and post-earthquake recovery performance are conducted. Finally, this study quantitatively investigates the contribution of SCFJ to the seismic safety and post-earthquake recovery capabilities of RC frames with varying stories. The results indicate that under maximum considered earthquake, the peak floor accelerations and inter-story drift ratio of self-centering friction frames (SCFF) are comparable to those of ordinary RC frames (ORCF). However, the overall residual deformation of the SCFFs can be reduced by 85%–94%. Furthermore, their seismic collapse resistance is improved by 8%–23%. Immediate occupancy and reparability of SCFFs are enhanced by 41%–72% and 29%–35%, respectively. Notably, the enhancement in collapse capacity and post-earthquake recovery performance of SCFFs becomes more pronounced as the number of stories increases.

A Bayesian approach for estimating the post-earthquake recovery trajectories of electric power systems in Japan

ABSTRACT Post-disaster recovery modelling of engineering systems has become an important facet of catastrophe risk modelling and management for natural hazards. The post-disaster recovery trajectory of a civil infrastructure system can be quantified using (a) the initial post-disaster functionality level, Q o ; (b) rapidity, h (i.e., the rate of functionality restoration); and (c) recovery time, R t . This study uses a Bayesian estimation approach to derive a set of probabilistic models to estimate Q o , R t , and h of electric power networks (EPNs) using post-earthquake recovery data from 16 large earthquakes in Japan between 2003 and 2022. The considered predictor (explanatory) variables include earthquake magnitude, year of occurrence, seismic intensity, and exposed population (PEX). Apart from being a simple and efficient stand-alone tool, the proposed data-driven models can be a useful benchmarking tool for simulation-based approaches for EPN recovery modelling.

Sleep quality and mental health differences following Syria-Turkey earthquakes: A cross-sectional study.

This study explores the lasting mental health impact of the Syria-Turkey earthquakes in 2023 on a population affected by conflict and trauma. It analyzes pre- and post-event mental health and sleep quality differences, identifying predictors of outcomes. Studying the 2023 Syria-Turkey earthquakes' enduring mental health impact on conflict-affected individuals, this research informs better support and interventions for disaster survivors. This longitudinal, cross-sectional study examined the enduring mental health impact of the Syria-Turkey earthquakes. The present study involved N = 1,413 Syrian survivors, aged 18 years or older, who actively participated by contributing both pre- and post-earthquake data. A meticulously designed digital questionnaire with established metrics assessed sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, and anxiety levels. Stratification variables (age, gender, education, marital status) were used for subgroup analysis. Arabic versions of PHQ-9, PSQI, and GAD-2 proved reliable for measuring depression, sleep quality, and anxiety. The majority of participants were female (73.6%) with tertiary education (83.3%). Post-earthquake, a higher percentage reported poor sleep quality (67.7% vs. 59.7%, p < .001) and increased prevalence of MDE (66.1% vs. 56%, p < .001). GAD did not differ significantly. Post-earthquake, women had a higher likelihood of poor sleep quality (OR: 1.58, 95% CI [1.19, 2.10], p < .001) and MDE (OR: 1.55, 95% CI [1.18 to 2.04], p = .003). Predictors varied before and after earthquakes; age and education were significant predictors of poor sleep quality, MDE, and GAD. This study reveals higher rates of poor sleep quality and major depressive episodes among earthquake-affected individuals, especially women. Age, education, and gender contribute to these outcomes. Targeted interventions and comprehensive mental health support are crucial for post-earthquake recovery.

Surrogate model-assisted seismic resilience assessment of the interdependent transportation and healthcare system considering a two-stage recovery strategy

In this study, a two-stage post-earthquake recovery strategy optimization model is proposed for determining resource inputs and obtaining the optimal restoration sequence after earthquakes. An artificial neural network-based surrogate model for predicting the functionality of the interdependent transportation and healthcare system (ITHS) is established to avoid the significant time consumption arising from traffic assignment and path selection in functionality evaluation and recovery optimization. It is applied to the two-stage optimization and resilience assessment under different seismic scenarios, which can greatly improve computational efficiency. The resilience-based two-stage optimization decision-making method assisted by the surrogate model is applied to a real example and provides practical support for recovery strategies of the ITHS.

Mechanical performance study of coupled partially encased composite shear walls with double replaceable fuse components

The partially encased composite (PEC) shear wall is a promising resistance structure. To focus structural post-earthquake damage on replaceable components and facilitate convenient repair after an earthquake, this paper introduces replaceable footings and replaceable coupling beams into the coupled PEC shear wall, forming a double replaceable component coupled PEC (RCPEC) shear wall. The design methodology for the replaceable components is presented, emphasizing theoretical analysis to control the bearing capacity and ensure equal stiffness after replacement. The validity of the coupled PEC (CPEC) shear wall is verified through ABAQUS. Additionally, based on the coupling ratio (CR) theory, three six-story CPEC shear walls and three six-story RCPEC shear walls are designed for pushover analysis. This paper investigates the influence of the coupling ratio and replaceable components on mechanical and seismic performance. Furthermore, the post-earthquake rehabilitation of CPEC and RCPEC shear walls is evaluated, specifying the evaluation method. Based on research results, the installation of replaceable coupling beams and replaceable wall footings effectively controls damage, with the RCPEC shear walls exhibiting earlier coupling beam yielding compared to wall limb yielding. As the CR increases, the inter-story drift ratio of all shear walls gradually decreases. To ensure satisfactory structural post-earthquake recovery performance, the CR for CPEC shear walls to be 0.35, and for RCPEC shear walls to be within the range of 0.35 to 0.45 are recommended.

SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS IN POST EARTHQUAKE DISASTER AREAS CARIU VILLAGE, CUGENANG CIANJUR

The natural disaster earthquake that occurred in Cianjur, West Java on November 21 2022 caused 331 deaths and 593 injuries. This earthquake resulted in loss of productivity and the death of small businesses, including household businesses. According to data from the Cianjur Regency Industrial and Trade Cooperatives Service, there are around 4,547 MSMEs and community groups affected, one of which is Karang Taruna, where Karang Taruna has a role in society to realize the social responsibility of the younger generation as a civic movement. As an effort to restore the economy, an economic recovery assistance program has been implemented, especially for youth organizations, including entrepreneurship training, capital assistance, policy support and increased understanding of disasters to assist post-earthquake recovery. This collaborative effort is part of economic resilience and part of mitigation in society. This activity was realized by providing business motivation and providing three complete sets of business equipment for selling chicken noodles, meatballs and chicken porridge as well as providing assistance with one laptop unit for youth youth activities. This community service was attended by around 30 members of the youth organization and 70 mothers. This assistance is still very small in the hope that there will be sustainable activities for the recovery of the community's economic sector after the earthquake.

Post-earthquake recovery and its driving forces of ecological environment quality using remote sensing and GIScience, a case study of 2015 Ms8.1 Nepal earthquake

Natural hazards always have significant impacts on the regional ecological environment, causing huge damages to biodiversity, soil erosion, and impoverishment. This study aimed to analyze the variation of ecological environment quality in Nepal from 2014 to 2018, with a specific focus on the impact and recovery of the 2015 Ms8.1 Nepal earthquake. We utilized Google Earth Engine (GEE) and remote sensing based ecological index (RSEI) to evaluate the ecological environment quality. Moreover, Moran’s I and Geodetector model were employed to explore spatial clustering and driving forces of post-earthquake recovery. The results indicate that after the 2015 Nepal earthquake, there was a decrease of 0.0225 in the mean RSEI in Nepal. The monitoring of the severe-affected areas showed that the regional environmental quality gradually improved within three years after the earthquake. After a span of three years, the ecological environment managed to recover to its pre-earthquake level. In terms of spatial distribution, there is a notable correlation in Nepal, with the ecological environment exhibiting higher quality in the southern regions and lower quality in the northern regions. By examining the driving forces behind the changes in ecological environment quality during the post-earthquake recovery period, it has been determined that altitude, precipitation, and their interaction serve as influential factors. These findings provide valuable insights into the state of ecological environment recovery after the 2015 Nepal earthquake. Furthermore, this study establishes a robust theoretical foundation for local decision-makers to develop ecological protection measures and enhance local disaster risk management.

A multi-model probabilistic framework to evaluate seismic resilience of UHV converter stations

Ultra-high voltage converter stations are significant electric power infrastructures with a high electric energy load. To quantitatively evaluate the seismic and recovery capability of a UHV converter station, this paper proposes a multi-model probabilistic resilience assessment framework divided into four analysis modules for hierarchical evaluation. The conditional probability set of the functional state between network nodes is determined using a matrix-based approach. Taking connectivity and power transmission capacity into account, the functional reliability model was built through the improved Bayesian network. A multi-parameter quantification of the post-earthquake recovery process was carried out by constructing the stepped functional recovery function as well as the time-varying seismic resilience function. The economic loss assessment model was built from multiple aspects. Taking a typical ± 800 kV UHV converter station as a case study for seismic resilience analysis, the probabilistic resilience assessment was realized, and variation trends of the multi-parameter expected value were obtained by mathematical expectation. This article shows that taking measures to postpone the sensitive interval of the system helps to avoid the seismic active area. This avoidance of seismic activity is the objective of optimization. The proposed framework can serve as a reference for the operation and optimization of power systems.

Quantitative assessment framework for seismic resilience of petroleum depots

Petroleum depots are an important part of the national strategic reserve base and should maintain functionality during an earthquake or recover immediately after an earthquake; this is known as seismic resilience. To quantify the seismic resilience and functionality of a petroleum depot, a quantitative assessment framework is proposed. First, the influence of the components on the function and seismic resilience is quantified from the perspective of the system by establishing a component–subsystem–system model. Second, the relationship between the damage index and functional loss and the corresponding relationship between recovery time and seismic resilience level are established using functional loss and functional recovery as quantitative indicators. A petroleum depot case study is presented, in which the functional loss and recovery time are explicitly expressed to verify the applicability of the proposed resilience assessment framework. The framework is also applicable to industrial complexes such as chemical plants and refineries, and can help determine the optimal location and design, allowing decision-makers to better formulate emergency and post-earthquake recovery plans.

Lumped Plasticity Model and Hysteretic Performance of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Rocking Pier.

Rocking piers using ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) have high damage-control capacity and self-centering characteristics that can limit the post-earthquake recovery time of bridges. To study the hysteretic behavior of UHPC rocking piers, a lumped plasticity model is proposed that comprises two parallel rotational springs and which can accurately calculate their force-displacement hysteretic behavior. Three states of the rocking piers, decompression, yield, and large deformation, are considered in this study. The model is verified based on existing experimental results, and the hysteretic characteristics of the UHPC rocking piers, such as strength, stiffness, and energy dissipation, are further analyzed. The research results show that the lumped plasticity analysis model proposed in this study can predict the force-displacement hysteretic behavior of the rocking piers accurately. Moreover, the hysteretic performance of the UHPC rocking piers is better than that of rocking piers using normal-strength concrete. An increase in the energy dissipation reinforcement ratio, pre-stressed tendon ratio, and initial pre-stress improves the lateral stiffness and strength of the UHPC rocking piers. However, the increase in the pre-stressed tendon ratio and initial pre-stress reduces their energy-dissipation capacity.

A probabilistic framework for post-disaster recovery modeling of buildings and electric power networks in developing countries

Post-disaster recovery is a significant challenge, especially in developing countries. Various technical, environmental, socioeconomic, political, and cultural factors substantially influence post-disaster recovery. As a result, methodologies relevant in developed nations may not be directly applicable in Global South contexts. This study introduces a probabilistic framework for modeling the post-disaster recovery of buildings and electric power networks (EPNs) in developing countries. The proposed framework combines an asset-level assessment of individual buildings with a community-level assessment of EPNs to evaluate a building portfolio's post-event functionality state. As part of the framework, a stochastic network analysis is proposed to estimate the recovery time of damaged buildings while accounting for technical, environmental, socioeconomic, political, and cultural factors, quantified using empirical data gathered from past events. A probabilistic modeling approach is proposed to quantify the EPN's initial post-event outage levels. Empirical formulations for estimating the recovery time of an EPN as a function of its initial post-event outage levels are calibrated using post-event data from developing countries. A case study is presented to illustrate the application of the proposed framework to model the post-earthquake recovery of a synthetic low-income residential community. The analysis shows that negative technical, environmental, socioeconomic, political, and cultural factors could amplify the reconstruction time of damaged buildings by a factor of almost three. The proposed framework can support decision-makers in disaster planning and management strategies for vulnerable low-income communities.

Post-earthquake recovery monitoring and driving factors analysis of the 2014 Ludian Ms6.5 earthquake in Yunnan, China based on LUCC

Post-earthquake recovery monitoring and driving factors analysis of the 2014 Ludian Ms6.5 earthquake in Yunnan, China based on LUCC