Cost of Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Repairing Earthquake Damage

Abstract

Extending existing performance-based initiatives, this paper provides a richer understanding of how earthquakes affect the environment and human health. Utilizing a detailed structural model, a host of emissions is predicted. Subsequently, the cost of environmental damage, such as climate change, and the cost of damage to human health, such as respiratory diseases, are calculated as a monetary value measured in dollars. A shear wall and a 6-story building serve as case studies to demonstrate the methodology and to provide quantitative insights into the effect of earthquakes on the environment and human health. The building is subjected to an earthquake ground motion, and wood, steel, and reinforced concrete options are compared for the load bearing system. The results suggest that the wood option has the lowest cost of emissions associated with repairs. The results provide a detailed account of emissions-related costs during the ground shaking and for different ground shaking intensities.