Earthquake Design for Uncertainty

Managing uncertainty in earthquake engineering has always been a key challenge for New Zealand structural and geotechnical engineers. This uncertainty has been recently reiterated in the 2022 update to the National Seismic Hazard Model and potential for subsequent revisions and incorporations to building design regulatory instruments. This advisory reinforces the importance of design practices which recognise and allow for the significant challenges in defining earthquake hazards. It encourages Engineers and Clients to discuss the incorporation of these principles as a primary focus in responding to hazard uncertainty.