News of the Institute
William R. Lettis to Deliver 2017 Joyner Lecture at EERI’s Annual Meeting
The William B. Joyner Lecture is jointly awarded by the Seismological Society of America (SSA) and EERI to those who have provided outstanding earth science contributions to the theory and practice of earthquake engineering or outstanding earthquake engineering contributions to the direction and focus of earth science research - together with demonstrated skills of communication at the interface of earthquake science and earthquake engineering.
The lecture honors the distinguished career of William B. Joyner at the U.S. Geological Survey and his abiding commitment to continuing communication and education at the interface between research findings of earthquake science and the practical realities of earthquake engineering.
We are pleased to announce that William R. Lettis (M. EERI, 1990) will deliver the 2017 William B. Joyner Lecture in Portland at EERI’s 69th Annual Meeting on Friday, March 10, 2017. Registration and full program details are now available on the 2017 Annual Meeting website. This year’s theme is The Really Big One: Road to Resilience.
Bill Lettis is the founder of William Lettis & Associates, Inc. (1990) and Lettis Consultants International, Inc. (2011). These firms provide consultancy at the interface of earthquake science and earthquake engineering. Dr. Lettis has characterized seismic sources for probabilistic seismic hazard analyses for more than 100 high-risk facilities at locations throughout the world, and in a range of seismic environments. His paleoseismic research on active faults has resulted in over 100 publications, and in guidance documents for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Dr. Lettis is a current member of the National Seismic Hazard and Risk Assessment Steering Committee and the California Geological Survey Mapping Committee. From 1996-2008, Dr. Lettis also served as co-chair for the American Nuclear Society Working Group Committee 2.27 to develop evaluation criteria for assessing seismic hazards for nuclear materials facilities. He has performed post-earthquake reconnaissance of numerous earthquakes worldwide, including as co-leader of the EERI 2001 Bhuj Earthquake Reconnaissance Team.
Dr. Lettis’ current interest is in developing models to capture uncertainty in earthquake behavior and ground motion parameters for seismic hazard assessment, including implementation of procedures from the Senior Seismic Hazard Analysis Committee (SSHAC).
For more information about the Joyner Lecture Award, visit the EERI website at www.eeri.org/about-eeri/honors-awards/william-b-joyner-lecture-award/.
For full annual meeting program, logistics, and registration details, visit the 2017 Annual Meeting website.
EERI 69th Annual Meeting Registration Now Open
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EERI 69th Annual Meeting Registration Now OpenJoin Us in Portland March 7-10 We are excited to announce that registration is now open for The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s 69th Annual Meeting to be held March 7-10, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. Sign up early to receive the best discounts
Registration, full program details, and fees are now posted on the 2017 Annual Meeting website. Highlights of the program include: KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
PLENARY SESSIONS:
CONCURRENT SESSIONS:
WORKSHOPS:
TOURS:
The deadline to submit poster abstracts and registration grants has been extended to Tuesday, January 10, 2017! REGISTRATION GRANTS: Thanks to support from FEMA, several registration grants are available to assist EERI student and young professional members to attend the 2017 Annual Meeting by waiving registration fees. Grants will be contingent upon participation in one of the poster sessions, either through the applicant's own research project, or as a representative of a student chapter with a poster depicting the chapter's activities. For full program, logistics, and registration details, visit the EERI 69th Annual Meeting. http://2017am.eeri-events.org/ Submit Poster Abstracts here: https://www.eeri.org/cohost/registration/2017-eeri-am-poster-abstract |
EERI Projects and Members Featured at the 16WCEE in Chile
EERI will be hosting four special sessions during the 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, from January 9-13, 2016 in Santiago, Chile. Members attending the conference are encouraged not to miss these sessions where they will learn more about recent EERI activities with Learning from Earthquakes (LFE) resilience reconnaissance, the World Housing Encyclopedia (WHE), the Confined Masonry Network, and the School Earthquake Safety Initiative (SESI). Members are also invited to visit us at the EERI Booth (S6) in the exhibition area.
EERI Hosted Special Sessions:
72SS: New Approaches for Conducting Resilience Reconnaissance
Session Chair: Rob Olshanksy
Monday January 9, 15:00 - 17:00
Parque Room
32SS: Non-technical Strategies to Improve the Seismic Safety of Housing in Developing Countries
Session Organizer: Andrew Charleson
Monday January 9, 17:30 - 19:00
Farellones I Room
36SS: Global Implementation of Confined Masonry Construction Technology for Seismic Risk Reduction: Challenges and Opportunities
Session Organizer: Svetlana Brzev
Wednesday January 11, 15:00 - 17:00 & 17:30 - 19:00
Terraza Manquehue II Room
74SS: Advocating for Improved School Earthquake Safety
Session Chair: Lelli Van Den Einde
Friday January 13, 10:30 - 12:30
Farellones II Room
EERI Papers:
LFE/Resilience Observatory:
I. Almufti, C. Kroll, M. Mieler, H. Tremayne, A. Wein, Y. Xiao, 2017. “Measuring the Resilience of Businesses Following the 2014 South Napa Earthquake in California,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 2359, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
S.B. Miles, L.A. Ritchie, C.D. Poland, Y. Xiao, N.R. Hedley, 2017. “A Case Study of Earthquake Resilience Data Practices :2010-2011 Canterbury Earthquake Disaster,” Proc.,16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 2397, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
C. Welton-Mitchell, R. Awale, L. James, S. Khanal, 2017. “Investigating Community Resilience in Bhaktapur District and Surrounding Areas in Nepal following the 2015 Earthquake,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 2243, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
B. Lizundia, H. Kaushik, J. Kupec, S. Shrestha, C. Welton-Mitchell, 2017. “Investigating Community Resilience in Chautara, Nepal,” Proc.,16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 2522, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
J. Mitrani-Reiser, M. Mieler, H. Kumar, S. Shrestha, M. Germaraad, K. O’Conor, T.D. Kirsch, 2017. “Investigating Community Resilience in Nepal: A Healthcare Focus,” Proc.,16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 2124, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
H. Tremayne, M. Mieler, D. Martinelli, R. Olshansky, J. Berger, 2017. “Development of a Framework for Resilience Reconnaissance,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 2230, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
SESI:
L. Van Den Einde, S. Fatima, T. Anagnos, H. Tremayne, B. Welliver, Y. Wang, L. Tobin, 2017. “Creating an Advocacy Network for Improved School Earthquake Safety,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 1338, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
Z. Saiyed, S. Fatima, K. Izumoto, I. Robertson, B. Welliver, H. Tremayne, 2017. “Advocacy for Tsunami Mitigation and Preparedness of U.S. Schools along the Pacific Rim,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 4924, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
Housner Fellows:
C.D. Bou-Chedid, L. Maclise, S. Ali, C. Ash, D. Hutchings Mieler, H. Mdala, V. Rawal, K. Stillwell, 2017. "Improving the Earthquake Safety of Ghana’s Schools," Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 4924, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
L. Arendt, A. Hortacsu, K. Jaiswal, S. Shrestha, J. Bevington, F. Lanning, G. Mentor William, G. Naeem, K. Thibert, 2017. “Strengthening Building Code Implementation and Compliance in the Developing World: A Case Study of Nepal,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 2591, Santiago Chile, January 2017.
World Housing Encyclopedia:
A. Charleson, S. Brzev, K. Jaiswal, M. Greene, 2017. “Improving Housing Seismic Safety in Developing Countries: The World Housing Encyclopedia,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 1239, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
M. Ortiz-Millan, D.H. Lang, K. Jaiswal. 2017. “The World Housing Encyclopedia Online Database: A Resource on Housing Construction Practices in Earthquake Regions,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 2678, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
H. Imai, T. Narafu, K. Sakoda, Y. Ishiyama, Y. Kamemura. 2017. “A Study on Approach for Risk Reduction of Non-engineered Houses in Japan through Building Regulation System,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 1407, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
K. Mitra, 2017. “Improving Seismic Safety in Developing Countries: the Case of Urban Housing in India,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 1244, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
R. Spence. 2017. “The Contribution of Post-Earthquake Field Reconnaissance Missions to Improving Seismic Safety,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 341, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
Confined Masonry Network:
S. Brzev, T. Hart. 2017. “Confined Masonry Network: An Overview of Guidelines and Initiatives,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), 1825, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
M. Astroza, F. Andrade, M.O. Moroni. 2017. “Confined Masonry Buildings: The Chilean Experience,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 3462, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
J. Perez-Gavilan, A. Pérez G., L.E. Flores, R.Jean, J. Cesin, O. Hernández. 2017. “Relevant Aspects of the New Mexico City’s Code for the Design and Construction of Masonry Structures,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 449, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
D. Quiun, P. Santillan. 2017. “Development of Confined Masonry Seismic Considerations, Research and Design Codes in Peru,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 2883, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
T. Hart, J. Pazdon, L. Blaisdell, E. Hausler Strand. 2017. “Case Study: Design and Construction of Confined Masonry Homes in Indonesia,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 694, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
I. Bartolini, T. Schacher. 2017. “Introducing Confined Masonry in a Fragile State: The Case of Haiti after the 2010 Earthquake,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 4477, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
C. Davy, M. L. Blaisdell, K. M. Sinclair, E. Hausler Strand. 2017. “Seismic Retrofit of Confined Masonry Houses in Haiti: Lessons from Implementation,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 3888, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
D. Nacif Hartley, M. L. Blaisdell, J. Caballero, E. Hausler Strand. 2017. “Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit for Reducing the Vulnerability of Housing in Colombia: Development and Implementation,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 4200, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
J. Varela-Rivera, D. Navarrete-Macias, L. Fernandez-Baqueiro. 2017. “Experimental Study on the Behavior of Confined Masonry Walls Subjected to Out-of-Plane Concentrated Loads,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 295, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
L.E. Flores, J.J. Pérez-Gavilán, S. M. Alcocer. 2017. “Displacement Capacity of Confined Masonry Structures Reinforced with Horizontal Reinforcement: Shaking Table Tests,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 436, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
M. Diaz, C. Zavala, J. Gallardo, L. Lavado. 2017. “Experimental Study of Non-Engineered Confined Masonry Walls Retrofitted with Wire Mesh and Cement-Sand Mortar,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 2950, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
D. Quiun, P. Mamani. 2017. “Cyclic Load Behavior of Confined Masonry Walls of Horizontally-Hollow Bricks Retrofitted with Wire Meshes,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 3099, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
L. G. Quiroz, Y. Maruyama, C. Zavala. 2017. “Experimental Assessment of the Cyclic Behavior of Peruvian Confined Masonry Walls and Numerical Modeling Using Genetic Algorithms,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 642, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
C. Porst, S. Brzev, J. Ochsendorf. 2017. “Confined Masonry for Resilient Low-Cost Housing in India: A Design and Analysis Method,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 3876, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
G. Torrisi, F. Crisafulli. 2017.”Computational Implementation of an Improved Masonry Panel Element,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 501, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
V. Singhal, D. C. Rai. 2017. “Strut-and-Tie Model for Predicting the Shear Capacity of Confined Masonry Walls with and Without Openings,” Proc., 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16WCEE), Paper 4605, Santiago, Chile, January 2017.
More about the 16WCEE can be found at: http://16wcee.com/index.php
Save the Date: 11th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, June 25-29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California
Mark your calendar! The 11NCEE and 70th EERI Annual Meeting will be held June 25-29, 2018, at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
The Eleventh U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, on the 70th Anniversary of the forming of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, will provide an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to share the latest knowledge and techniques to better understand and mitigate the damaging effects of earthquakes and tsunamis. With the theme “Integrating Science, Engineering and Policy,” the conference will bring together professionals from across the entire spectrum of the earthquake community to debate a multitude of issues related to seismic hazard, risk, mitigation and public policy.
This conference is being planned by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) in collaboration with the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC). With numerous ongoing efforts in risk mitigation in the region that poses the largest seismic risk in the United States, Los Angeles and Southern California will form an ideal setting for the conference. The conference will provide a unique environment to facilitate synergy between earthquake scientists, engineers and policy professionals from the U.S. and around the world. This conference brings together professionals from a broad range of disciplines, including architecture, structural engineering, seismology, geology, geophysics, geotechnical engineering, business, public policy, social sciences, regional planning, emergency response planning, and regulation.
The Call for Papers is being prepared and scheduled for release at the start of 2017. Paper options will include both Extended Abstracts and Full Papers. As with the 10NCEE, the community will have an opportunity to propose Special Sessions.
Please Don’t Forget to Renew your EERI Membership for 2017!
If you’ve not already renewed your EERI membership for 2017, now is the perfect time!
All EERI members (except student and honorary members) received an email renewal notice on December 28, 2016. The email provided a link to your personal renewal page with options for selecting chapter membership and making a voluntary contribution to the EERI Endowment Fund.
You can also renew for 2017 on the membership website.
If you did not receive an email reminder or cannot login to your membership record, please e-mail Membership Coordinator Juliane Lane at juliane@eeri.org.
We hope you will continue to support EERI and renew your membership for 2017.
Together, we can reduce earthquake risk for our communities.
Learning from Earthquakes
New EERI Briefing Video on the Japan Earthquake, “Damage to Highway Bridges,” Now Available for Viewing Online
The EERI Learning from Earthquakes Briefing Series on the April 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake is a series of 15-minute video presentations on various aspects of the earthquake. A new video has just been added, Damage to Highway Bridges, by Denis Istrati, University of Nevada, Reno.
After Mw6.2 and Mw7.0 earthquakes struck on April 14 and 16, 2016, 182 bridges sustained structural damage in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県). The bridge damage mostly occurred along the Futagawa Fault Zone, with a few reported total collapses.
In this video, Denis Istrati (University of Nevada, Reno) examines seven of the damaged bridges, constructed between 1971 and 2001, and ranging from 47 to 867 meters long. While the earthquakes’ intense shaking was to blame for some of the damage, landslide-induced ground deformation also played a significant role in some of Istrati’s examples. 
The Kumamoto Earthquake video series also includes:
Ground Motions and Early Warning, by Masumi Yamada, DPRI Kyoto University
Soil and Structure Damages under Extreme Ground Motion, by Hiroyuki Goto, DPRI, Kyoto University
Societal Impacts: Sheltering & Volunteers, by James Goltz, DPRI, Kyoto University.
The briefing video is hosted by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s Learning from Earthquakes program.
The briefing video is hosted by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s Learning from Earthquakes program.The reconnaissance survey was sponsored by the United States Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with support from:
- Sheila Duwadi (FHWA)
- Ron Bromenschenckel (Caltrans)
- Jim Cuthbertson (WashDOT)
- Ian Buckle (UNR)
- David Sanders (UNR)
- Denis Istrati (UNR)
- National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management of Japan (NILIM)
- Public Works Research Institute (PWRI)
Watch all the videos by clicking here
Back to top >News of the Profession
Links to Recent News and Views
10 recent stories, reports, or opinions from around the Web:
Report Calls for Improved Methods to Assess Earthquake-Caused Soil Liquefaction (National Academy of Sciences) A new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, evaluates existing field, laboratory, physical model, and analytical methods for assessing liquefaction and its consequences. Read More 
2017: When Christchurch Finally goes from Recovery to Rebuild (The Press) 2017 is looming as the year Christchurch may finally break out of earthquake-recovery mode as major roadworks near completion and key rebuild projects get under way. Read More
One in Ten Wellington Businesses Closed After Earthquake (NewsHub) New Zealand: A survey of more than 700 companies across the region by Wellington Chamber of Commerce found 62 percent were impacted in some way, with almost a quarter shut at some stage for building inspections. Ten percent, or 70 businesses, are still closed. Read More
Oklahoma’s New Fracking Guidelines Aim to Reduce Quake Risk (Reuters) Oklahoma is imposing guidelines to reduce the risk of earthquakes caused by hydraulic fracturing in its oil-rich shale formations, the first rules in the state to target the controversial production technique... Read More
Swiss RE Estimates 2016 Cat Insured Losses at $49B (Claims Journal) Earthquakes, hail, thunderstorms and Hurricane Matthew resulted in the largest insurance losses in 2016. Total economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters in 2016 are estimated to be $158 billion, according to figures released by Swiss RE. Read More
41,311 Houses Rebuilt in Quake Hit District (myRepública) Kathmandu: When there are no more than four months left for the country to observe the completion of two years of the Gorkha earthquake, the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), the government body formed to carry out the post-earthquake reconstruction works, has said so far… Read More
Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Hits off Chilean Coast (CNN) A magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurred off the coast of southern Chile Sunday, December 25, 2016, 40 km (about 25 miles) southwest of Puerto Quellon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Read More
Vancouver To Oversee Seismic Retrofits For Private Buildings (Times Colonist) A “dedicated” seismic project manager will be hired in the new year to oversee an earthquake retrofit initiative for private buildings, says the City of Vancouver. The project will “undoubtedly” involve multiple phases of work, suggestions from stakeholders across various disciplines and engagement efforts across the city. Read More
Thousands of Vancouver’s Poorest Living in Buildings Listed at Risk in Earthquake (Vancouver Sun) In the past several years, a buildings in the Downtown Eastside managed by non-profit organizations have had seismic improvements thanks to a $143-million upgrade program led by B.C. Housing. Read More
Where Risk and Resilience Meet (DJC Oregon) Architect Jay Raskin makes the case that seismic resilience is as important as other peripheral goals of affordable housing – and that as a matter of public policy, affordable units should be built to be habitable after a major earthquake beyond what building code requires. Read More
Publications
Earthquake Spectra: Preprint Manuscripts
One preprint manuscript has been posted to the Earthquake Spectra website prior to formal publication. The paper to be published is:
- Using Open-Access Data in the Development of Exposure Data Sets of Industrial Buildings for Earthquake Risk Modeling by Luis Sousa (M.EERI,2015), Vitor Silva (M.EERI,2014) and Paolo Bazzurro (M.EERI,2000).
To read all current preprint manuscripts posted, visit Earthquake Spectra preprints. 
Welcome new members
Welcome New EERI Members
EERI welcomes members who have recently joined the Institute. If you wish to connect with your fellow members, you can locate their contact information in the EERI online membership directory, which requires logging in to the Member Resources Area of the EERI website.
REGULAR MEMBERS
Manuela Davi, CH2M, Geotechnical
Ciro Del Vecchio, University of Napoli Federico II
Marius Vassiliou, Institute for Defense Analyses, Geophysicist
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
Curtis Siegfried, Degenkolb Engineers
Ricardo Roldan, Englekirk Structural Engineers, Structural
E-AFFILIATES
Nakhorn Poovarodom, Thammasat University, Geotechnical
Govind Sangwai, Government Polytechnic Jalna, Civil
Gaurav Verma, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Civil
STUDENTS
Hanen Alkadhally, McMaster University, Civil
Paul Genyk-Berezowsky, University of Toronto, Civil
Alexander Lee, UCLA, Civil
Anjali Mehrotra, University of Cambridge
Milad Souri, Portland State University, Geotechnical
Nour Al-Huda Tabieh, McMaster University, Civil
Student Spotlight January-1-2017
New Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Student Chapter
EERI is pleased to introduce the new student chapter established at Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile in Santiago, Chile. The chapter has been formally endorsed by the University’s Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering. The chapter's faculty advisors are Matías Hube (M. EERI, 2005), Associate Professor, and Christian Ledezma (M. EERI, 2012), Assistant Professor. The professional contact is Juan Carlos de la Llera (M. EERI, 1997). Student officers include Patricio Zavala (Co-President, M. EERI, 2016) and Sebastián Aedo (Co-President, M. EERI, 2016).
Back to top >Donations
EERI Endowment Donors
EERI would like to thank donors to the Endowment Fund and acknowledge their recent contributions. EERI’s Endowment supports innovative projects that assure the Institute’s continuing leadership in the earthquake engineering profession.
The list below reflects recent donations to the Institute.
| $1,000 John Coil $500 Robert Bachman James Jirsa Anshel Schiff L. Thomas Tobin |
$100 - $250 |
Other Amounts |
Thank you for your support!
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