Integrated knowledge system of seismic vulnerability and risk for engineered facilities

This paper describes an integrated knowledge system for the assessment of the seismic vulnerability and risk of engineered facilities. The system integrates knowledge from many fields including earth science, seismology, geology, risk management, structural engineering, planning, the insurance/banking profession, and facility management. It uses state-of-the-art methodologies in earthquake engineering, data management, graphics and artificial intelligence to provide the following desirable features: user-friendliness, easy access, flexibility, dynamic updating, and adaptation to diverse environments. An immediate result of this system is that advance technology in seismic risk management is now available to government agencies and the insurance/investment banking industries. In the long run, the system will help revolutionize technical communication among engineering/science disciplines and between the knowledge producers and users.