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Risk can be thought of as a combination of exposure and vulnerability. WAI uses the most up-to-date hazard models and data to assess the exposure of a given building, based on its location and structural properties. To estimate the building’s vulnerability or potential performance, WAI depends on a combination of advanced analytical modeling and engineering judgment. The risk analysis can be performed and presented in many different formats, according to the needs of the client, ranging from probable maximum loss (PML) studies for potential earthquake events to 3-D nonlinear analysis and animated visualization for assessing seismic shaking on buildings. In addition to quantifying risk, WAI helps clients understand exposure, vulnerability and the resulting risk as it applies to individual buildings and portfolios, so that they can make critical risk management decisions with the information. These decisions concern the purchase of insurance or alternative financial risk transfer methods, options for conventional and advanced technology rehabilitation, plans for disaster response and recovery, and portfolio modification. WAI has performed seismic risk assessments of single buildings and multi-property real estate portfolios for several types of structures in seismic locations throughout the world. For most assessments, published Federal guidelines for the seismic evaluation of buildings (e.g., FEMA 310) are utilized; however, those guidelines are often augmented with additional site-specific operational information depending on client needs. The results of the assessment are reported in terms that the client can understand and readily use and typically include: expected performance in future earthquakes, a priority ranking of facilities to retrofit, and design alternatives for retrofit with associated costs. Representative
projects include: Kaiser Permanente Hospitals, Los Angeles, CA: Seismic risk assessment to prioritize upgrading of facilities based on expected performance. U.S. Naval Facilities, San Diego, CA: Screening study of 127 buildings plus detailed study of 32 buildings to identify needed strengthening based on future seismic performance. DoDDS, Roto, Spain: Evaluation of 20 campus buildings and design of phased renovations based on expected seismic performance. U.S. Naval Facilities, Naples, Italy: Seismic risk analysis of all buildings at Agnano Naval Base. |
