About this programme
Following the 2011 Canterbury and 2016 Hurunui/Kaik?ura earthquakes, the focus on seismic risk and associated seismic assessment process led to the rapid closure of several public buildings throughout the country. The introduction of the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act in 2016 has reinforced risk perceptions through the legal requirement for certain buildings to have seismic assessments undertaken. This research will investigate the key drivers leading to earthquake-prone building use decisions (closure/non- closure) and understand how earthquake-prone engineering risk information is interpreted, evaluated and acted upon. It will evaluate the socio-economic impacts of rapid closure of public buildings and decisions to continue the use of public buildings designated as earthquake-prone. It will then identify and develop tools, resources and processes to help public authorities to confidently and transparently make earthquake-prone building decisions. The outcomes will help territorial authorities to better identify and understand risk scenarios and inform their decision making related to earthquake-prone buildings. Local authorities will have the evidence base to communicate their decision-making logic to the public, potentially ensuring greater community buy-in and support. (NB: TEXT FROM LIA2020) (Note: this research proposal has been shortlisted for the EQC Biennial Contestable Grants Programme and a detailed proposal was submitted to EQC on Friday 16 August, 2019. For this project we are seeking $60,000 from EQC in addition to funding from the B