Why does Japan frequently experience earthquakes?
Japan, a country renowned for its rich cultural heritage and technological advancements, also faces a unique natural challenge: it is one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the world. The…
AGING DAMS, CLIMATE CHANGE AND EARTHQUAKES – HOW CAN MONITORING HELP TO PREVENT DISASTERS?
Devastating climate change, including killer heat waves and severe flooding, adversely affects the infrastructures our communities rely on. Dams in particular become increasingly more vulnerable to climate change due to…
DAM FAILURES IN MIDLAND, MICHIGAN – WHEN A DISASTER HITS, WILL YOU BE PREPARED?
When disaster strikes, we are all at risk! But the unprepared ones get hit the hardest. The Edenville Dam collapsed and the Sanford Dam was breached in Midland, Michigan on…
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING TUNNELS FOR PROPER SEISMIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Monitoring tunnels for vibrations and deformations is not only critical during the construction phase but also their service life. In 2012, the Tokyo-bound Sasago Tunnel suffered significant damage when nearly…
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PROPER MONITORING OF BRIDGES FOR EARLY DAMAGE DETECTION AND INTERVENTION
There are about 56,000 structurally deficient bridges in the U.S., and these bridges accommodate on average 188 million trips each day according to data from the Federal Highway Administration. The…
PROPER MONITORING CAN PROVIDE EARLY DAMAGE DETECTION AND INTERVENTION FOR DAMS
When disaster strikes, we are all at risk! The unprepared ones will get hit the hardest. Today, at least 1,680 dams across the U.S. rated in poor or unsatisfactory conditions.…
COMPARING EXPECTED EARTHQUAKE SHAKING IN ISTANBUL WITH THE 1999 M7.6 IZMIT EARTHQUAKE
In 1999, the magnitude 7.6 quake devastated part of northwest Turkey, not far from Istanbul [~70 km (43 mi) away from the earthquake's epicenter]. The 37 seconds shaking killed about…
EVACUATE OR NOT—A DILEMMA OF HOSPITALS AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE AND HOW CAN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HELP?
After a strong shaking, hospitals may face pressing challenges including whether to utilize or evacuate structures, restore interrupted operations and repair damaged facilities or equipment. Accurate information is immediately needed…
HOW STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING CAN MAKE ISTANBUL A SMART CITY?
Istanbul—the largest populated city in Europe—is considered to be a likely candidate to experience a major earthquake during the next few decades. The recent earthquakes are a reminder for potential…