The value of seismic structural health monitoring for post-earthquake building evacuation

Abstract In the aftermath of a seismic event, decision-makers have to decide quickly among alternative management actions with limited knowledge on actual health condition buildings. Each choice entails different direct and indirect consequences. For example, if building sustains low damage in mainshock but people are not evacuated, casualties may occur aftershocks lead structure fail. On other hand, evacuation structurally sound could unnecessary financial losses due business occupancy interruption. A monitoring system can provide information about after an earthquake that support between several competing alternatives, targeting minimization This paper proposes framework for quantifying benefit installing permanent structural (S 2 HM) operations event. Decision-makers use this procedure preventively evaluate SHM worthiness its installation.