Applied Technology Council A Nonprofit Corporation Advancing Engineering Applications for Hazard Mitigation California - Washington, DC Area

NEWS RELEASE March 6, 2000

For More Information, Contact: A. Gerald Brady, 650/595-1542 Charles Scawthorn, 510/817-3153

ATC and the Department of Building Inspection, City and County of San Francisco, are to Perform an Initial Planning Study for Earthquake Risk Reduction

Intent: The Department of Building Inspection of the City and County of San Francisco has contracted with the Applied Technology Council to perform an Initial Planning Study for Earthquake Risk Reduction. The study is intended to reflect community concerns.

Purpose: The purpose of the Initial Planning Study is to develop a Work Plan for a multi-year program of action by the City and County of San Francisco, leading to earthquake risk reduction. The purpose of the program of action is to develop a foundation for comprehensive earthquake risk reduction and for decision-making policy on the repair of earthquake damage by the City and County of San Francisco, reflective of community needs and concerns. This program of action will be referred to as the Community Action Program for Seismic Safety. In addition to several specific tasks, potential actions envisioned in the program include a technically sound estimate of the risk facing San Francisco, and exploration of means to reduce this risk, using, for example, building and infrastructure improvement programs and public education.

Statement of Tasks: ATC will perform the following:

1. Research: ATC will confer with City staff, meet with concerned community representatives, review available literature, review existing selected seismic risk reduction programs of other cities, and identify selected experts for consultation, in order to develop a plan for a series of studies and projects to be performed over the next several years. These studies and projects will consist of:
   1. a project to research and develop requirements for post-earthquake repairs, specific to the needs of the City and County of San Francisco,
   2. a review of current requirements and development of retrofit standards (both public policy and the necessary code provisions),
   3. a project to adapt and enhance the ATC-20 post-earthquake evaluation of buildings to the specific needs of the City and County of San Francisco,
   4. development of a comprehensive estimate of the risk facing San Francisco due to earthquakes—this risk estimate will form the basis for decision-making in the reduction of earthquake risk,
   5. plans and programs for those near-term actions which will demonstrably reduce earthquake risk in San Francisco.
      Product: The product of this task will be a draft Community Action Work Plan.
2. Workshop: ATC will confer with City staff to identify stakeholders (for example, representatives of professional organizations and neighborhood groups) to invite to three half-day workshops consisting of approximately 20 persons per workshop. The purpose of each workshop is to present the draft Community Action Work Plan and to receive comments on it.
3. Final Work Plan: ATC will prepare a final Community Action Work Plan, presented in a written report consisting of:
   1. A technical plan for a series of studies and projects, and technical analysis, in support of an Integrated Seismic Risk Reduction Program for San Francisco.
   2. A package of Scopes of Services for the studies and projects to guide City staff in the performance of the studies and projects.
   3. A management plan for the studies and projects.

The Project Manager for ATC is Christopher Rojahn. The Project Director is Dr. Charles Scawthorn, who will perform this work as a consultant to ATC. The project will benefit from advice of a Project Expert Panel (PEP) of approximately six persons to be identified during Task 1, Research. The PEP shall serve without compensation, and shall include representatives of the community and the design professions.

For more information and feedback on the Community Action Program for Seismic Safety, click here.

			Comments or suggestions are welcome: webmaster@atcouncil.org
					Information on how to read our PDF documents