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TitleBenefits from expenditures on earthquake research at Natural Resources Canada
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AuthorSwan, N
SourceGeological Survey of Canada, Open File 3764, 1999, 45 pages, https://doi.org/10.4095/211071
Year1999
Documentopen file
Lang.English
Mediapaper; on-line; digital
File formatpdf
Subjectsengineering geology; miscellaneous; earthquakes; earthquake studies; earthquake resistant design; economic analyses; building codes
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Location
 
Natural Resources Canada Library - Ottawa (Earth Sciences)
 
Natural Resources Canada library - Calgary (Earth Sciences)
 
Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic)
 
Natural Resources Canada library - Vancouver (Earth Sciences)
 
ProgramNational Earthquake Hazards Program (NEHP)
LinksDescription
Released2000 01 01; 2008 08 26
AbstractThe study calculates benefits and costs of a key application of earthquake research in Canada. Modifications to building codes, flowing from that research, reduce losses from shaking and fire damage to buildings and their contents, caused by earthquakes, and reduce loss of life and injuries. Benefits are calculated, net of the cost of stronger construction to comply with the modified codes, at an annualized value of 42 million constant 1992 dollars. This is ten times the cost of the associated earthquake research. Two objections of principle to the analysis are considered. The possibility that Canada might "free-ride" on foreign earthquake research is one. That is discussed, and rejected as impractical. The other is the view that earthquake research is necessary for modifying building codes but not sufficient, so that its benefits are being overstated. This is found to be incorrect.
GEOSCAN ID211071