Post-processing HAZUS earthquake damage and loss assessments for individual buildings

Building damage probabilities are invaluable for assessing short-term losses from natural hazards. In many countries however, the individual building level data required for assessing reliable damage are usually unavailable. This paper shows how the post-processing of aggregate HAZUS earthquake damage assessments can yield building-level damage probabilities. On the basis of three plausible scenarios for Northern Israel, we generate and visualize a building-level combined damage probability index. We use the tools of exploratory spatial data analysis to purge any causal influences in the spatial pattern of these calculated damage probabilities. The costs and benefits of our approach are discussed.

Automated summary

This paper explores how post-processing of aggregate HAZUS earthquake damage assessments can provide building-level damage probabilities. By presenting three scenarios for Northern Israel, a building-level combined damage probability index is generated and visualized. The study discusses the tools of exploratory spatial data analysis used to eliminate causal influences, and considers the costs and benefits of the approach.