Earthquake insurance pricing: a risk‐based approach

Flat earthquake premiums are ‘uniformly’ set for a variety of buildings in many countries, neglecting the fact that the risk of damage to buildings by earthquakes is based on a wide range of factors. How these factors influence the insurance premiums is worth being studied further. Proposed herein is a risk‐based approach to estimate the earthquake insurance rates of buildings. Examples of application of the approach to buildings located in Taipei city of Taiwan were examined. Then, the earthquake insurance rates for the buildings investigated were calculated and tabulated. To fulfil insurance rating, the buildings were classified into 15 model building types according to their construction materials and building height. Seismic design levels were also considered in insurance rating in response to the effect of seismic zone and construction years of buildings. This paper may be of interest to insurers, actuaries, and private and public sectors of insurance.     

利用神经网络技术对华东地区进行地震预测

用BP神经网络技术研究华东地区(29°～37°N,114°～124°E)地震时间序列的规律,在大量实验的基础上得出,对于华东地区当输入层节点数目为12、隐层的节点数为16、输出层节点数为1时可以得到较好的收敛结果。根据选取的参数采用两种方法对华东地区进行地震预测,结果表明利用BP神经网络处理华东地区的地震时间序列有较强的容错性,进而认为将该方法用于华东地区地震时间序列的短临预测有较好的效果。     

Nature's impartiality, man's inhumanity: reflections on terrorism and world crisis in a context of historical disaster

This paper compares the terrorist outrages of 11 September 2001 in New York City and Washington to the Lisbon earthquake of 1 November 1755. Both events occurred, literally out of the blue, at critical junctures in history and both struck at the heart of large trading networks. Both affected public attitudes towards disaster as, not only did they cause unparalleled destruction, but they also represented symbolic victories of chaos over order, and of moral catastrophism over a benign view of human endeavour. The Lisbon earthquake led to a protracted debate on teleology, which has some parallels in the debate on technological values in modern society. It remains to be seen whether there will be parallels in the reconstruction and the ways in which major disasters are rationalised in the long term. But despite the differences between these two events--which are obviously very large as nearly 250 years of history separate them and they were the work of different sorts of forces--there are lessons to be learned from the comparison. One of these is that disaster can contribute to a perilous form of self absorption and cultural isolation.     

A survey of international urban search-and-rescue teams following the Ji Ji earthquake

On 21 September 1999, the Ji Ji earthquake killed 2,347 people. In the immediate aftermath the international community, mobilised rapidly and sent urban search-and-rescue (US&R) teams to the scene. This paper will present an annotated survey of the expertise and standard of equipment of international US&R teams following that earthquake which could serve as a blueprint for the establishment of US&R teams elsewhere at risk from earthquakes.     

从重复重力测量资料中用场论方法提取孕震信息的探讨

根据重力场非潮汐变化的波长特征讨论了由重复重力测量结果中提取地震前兆场信息的可能性。文中提出并应用场论理论中重力梯度场变化的二维散度可突出与地震有比较直接关系的孕震信息。通过对北祁连河西地区几次强震的分析研究，认为重力散度较好地反映了地震发生前震源区的孕震特征，是一种值得进一步研究的方法。     

Restoring sanitation services after an earthquake: field experience in Bam, Iran

A powerful earthquake hit the city of Bam in southeast Iran on 26 December 2003. In its aftermath, a number of international relief agencies, including Oxfam, assisted in providing emergency sanitation services. Oxfam's programme consisted of constructing and repairing toilets and showers in villages located outside of the city. In contrast with other organisations, Oxfam opted for brick-work structures, using local materials and human resources rather than prefabricated cubicles. The choice illustrates the dilemmas faced by agencies involved in emergency sanitation: responding to needs in a manner consistent with international standards and offering assistance in a timely fashion while involving beneficiaries. Following a preliminary survey, Oxfam concluded that the provision of showers and latrines, in addition to utilisation of local materials and human resources, was essential for ensuring well-being, empowerment and dignity among members of the affected population, thereby maximising the benefits.     

地震救援能力的一项指标--地震灾害发布时间的研究

地震救援能力一般很难给定.本文提出利用地震死亡人数的报出时间作为衡量指标来评价地震的救援能力.首先,需要指出,地震发生后存在"黑箱"时间,即地震发生至灾情报出时间;其次,报出灾情后救灾进入"灰箱"状态,而地震死亡人数报出时间长度与总死亡人数有关;再次,死亡人数基本报出时间的长短,反映了救援能力的强弱.     

The changes of T-PAH levels and health status of mussels in Izmit bay (Turkey) after Marmara earthquake and subsequent refinery fire

As is well known, a powerful earthquake along the North Anatolian Fault struck the eastern part of the Marmara region on August 17, 1999. Izmit Bay, which is known as one of the most polluted sites of Turkey, was also affected by the quake and the subsequent refinery fire. The measurements performed just before and after the earthquake showed that T-PAH levels increased significantly after the event [Okay OS, Tolun L, Telli-Karako? F, Tüfek?i V, Tüfek?i H, Morko? E. Izmit Bay (Turkey) ecosystem after Marmara earthquake and subsequent refinery fire: the long-term data. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2001;42:361-9]. In the framework of ecotoxicological studies, the Bay ecosystem was continuously monitored for T-PAH levels in seawater, sediments and mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) to find out whether change occurred during the 2-year period following the earthquake. For that purpose, after the earthquake, the samples were collected six times between the period of September 1999 and March 2001 at coastal stations of the Bay situated away from the mouth of main discharges. The responses of the mussels were also measured by means of the lysosomal stability of the blood cells and feeding rate biomarker techniques at two different sites of the bay. Although the T-PAH levels in all matrices generally showed a decreasing trend, they were found to be still high especially at stations near the refinery. Both biomarker results showed that the health status of the mussels is very poor in the Bay ecosystem, based on the results obtained from the two sites monitored.     

震时有毒有害气体泄漏危险性分析模型的研究

进行了震时有毒有害气体泄漏危险性分析模型研究。简述了传统的评估方法,并指出了其不足。通过对有毒物质毒性分级、泄漏危险参数定义以及泄漏概率的计算分析,并配合易损性矩阵,确定了最大可能泄漏点。     

Needs assessment of the displaced population following the August 1999 earthquake in Turkey

In August 1999 a major earthquake struck north-western Turkey. An assessment followed to identify the immediate needs of the displaced population. A random cluster sample of displaced families living in temporary shelter outside of organised relief camps was designed. Representatives of 230 households from the four communities worse affected by the earthquake were interviewed. Most families lived in makeshift shelters (84 per cent), used bottled water (91 per cent), obtained food from relief organisations (61 per cent), had access to latrines (90 per cent), had a member on routine medication (53 per cent) and obtained information by word of mouth (81 per cent). Many respondents reported having family members who were over the age of 65 (32 per cent) or under age three (20 per cent), who were pregnant (6 per cent), or who had been ill since the earthquake (64 per cent). The greatest immediate need reported by most families was shelter requirements (37 per cent), followed by food (23 per cent) and hygiene requirements (19 per cent). Ten days after the earthquake, basic environmental health needs of food, shelter and hygiene still predominated in this displaced population. Significant portions may have special needs due to age or illness.