PHIVOLCS launches handbook of probabilistic seismic hazard maps

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Wednesday launched a handbook of probabilistic seismic hazard maps to serve as guide on designing earthquake resilient buildings and structures.

The Philippine Earthquake Model (PEM) which is a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis of the Philippines, shows the evaluation of the "probability of occurrence of a certain earthquake ground motion integrating combined uncertainties in magnitude, location and intensity measure."

Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary and PHIVOLCS officer-in-charge Dr. Renato Solidum, Jr. said the atlas could serve as an aid for engineers, a tool for land use and urban planning, and disaster risk management plans of the local government units as well as other government agencies and stakeholders.

The PEM atlas which was created for three years also aims to "promote and enhance" the existing National Structural Code of the Philippines, a referral code of the National Building Code.

"Kailangan mo itong mapa na 'to para madesign ng tama ang bahay o building, dito naka estimate kung anong most likely na paguga ng lupa at dapat ang disenyo mo ay hindi dapat mababa doon sa mangyayaring lindol, yung ground acceleration or shaking intensity," Solidum said.

"Tsaka yung disenyo ng building mo, yung vibration kasi magkakaibang vibration depende 'yan sa bigat, sa taas, sa disenyo eh dapat hindi magkapareho doon sa vibration ng ground habang lumindol kasi pag sabay sila magreresonate or amplify, mas madaling masira yung bahay o building," he added.

PHIVOLCS launches the Philippine Earthquake Model atlas @gmanews pic.twitter.com/7ZRPvgbGsM

— Marlly (@marllybondoc) January 17, 2018

More than 58,000 instrumental records of earthquakes in the country from 1900 to 2015 and 333 historical earthquake accounts from 1600 to 1900 were used to form the initial database of the atlas.

The PEM atlas also has peak ground acceleration maps and spectral acceleration maps. — MDM, GMA News