Events Calendar

Astani CEE Department Seminar - EERI

Speaker: Dr. Farzad Naeim, S.E., Esq., Vice President and General Counsel John A. Martin & Associates, Inc

Talk Title: Realtime Post-Disaster Performance Evaluation and Damage Detection for Buildings

Abstract: This presentation discusses the need for and utility of a new system developed for real-time performance evaluation and damage detection for buildings. First we establish the need for such as system and then proceed with describing the technological breakthroughs that have made development of such a system possible. Finally we wrap up by presenting the results that may be obtained by using such a system.

While the general public usually associates natural disasters with the visual spectacle of fallen buildings, in reality even during most severe disasters in many modern metropolitan areas, most buildings remain standing and relatively a small percentage of buildings collapse. This has been observed in the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge, 1995 Kobe Japan, 1999 Taiwan, 2010 Chile, and 2011 Japan earthquakes. The dif􀏐icult question, however, is what is the status of these apparently standing buildings? As my friend Dr. Mustafa Erdik has quite ably stated in a recent New York Times article: “To say that a building is in bad condition is easy. To say that one is safe is hard.”

For building owners and facilities managers— particularly those responsible for structures such as hospitals, emergency centers, utilities, senior living facilities, universities, and high rise apartments and hotels – the ability to detect and assess building damage in real-time is invaluable.

The technology for real-time post-disaster performance evaluation and damage detection is not a fantasy. It is here and useable today as will be demonstrated in this presentation.

Biography: Dr. Farzad Naeim is the Vice-President and General Counsel for John A Martin & Associates. He is also the past President of Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI). He has won numerous awards and published many journal papers on earthquake engineering. He also taught several classes at his alma mater, USC.



Host: USC-EERI Student Chapter

Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209 Conference Room

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Evangeline Reyes