An Approach to Introduce Earthquake Mitigation Through Urban Redevelopment


This project identified a range of seismic urban mitigation measures that could effectively and smoothly be integrated into an existing or planned urban development/redevelopment process. The research investigated land use patterns; behavior of adjacent buildings; exterior cladding and glass damage; levels of disruption caused by lifeline systems in the urban grid; and the performance of public spaces in emergency functions (after the occurrence of an earthquake).

A case study approach was utilized, in which the earthquake disaster experiences and recovery plans of Charleston, S. C.; Memphis, Tennessee; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Orange County, California were examined and discussed. The resulting publication, Urban Redevelopment and Earthquake Safety, has been requested by more than a two-dozen agencies from as far away as Australia and South America.

Sponsor:
National Science Foundation

Principal Investigators:
Milagros Nanita-Kennett
Ronald Shaeffer

Duration:
May '92 - August '93

External Funding Level:
$128,873

Resulting Publications:
Urban Redevelopment and Earthquake Safety, Florida A&M University