Creating GIS-ready building inventory dataset for seismic risk assessment and management

Abstract

We describe the creation of a building inventory database developed for Wellington, whose ultimate aim is to assist the generation of research on the risks, impacts, and viable solutions for reducing the seismic risk of existing multi-story concrete buildings in city’s Central Business District (CBD). The database’s primary purpose is to inform a multi-disciplinary project whose aims are: (1) to provide best scientific knowledge about the expected seismic performance of concrete buildings; (2) to assess the impact of multiple building failures including the downstream consequences of associated cordoning; (3) to provide a path for seismic retrofitting that includes prioritization of retrofits and (4) to inform the design of a regulatory structure that can facilitate the reduction of risk associated with earthquake vulnerable concrete buildings as described in aims (1)-(3). In addition, the various information associated with each building within project's scope area (for example, structural system, number of stories, age, occupants, building use etc) is GIS-ready and allows users access all the information directly on mapping applications and perform queries in a GIS viewer developed specifically for the project.