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An Important Tool to Test Earthquake Tolerance

‘Reality Capture’ an Important Tool to Test Earthquake Tolerance




3-dimensional point cloud technology is increasingly being used to help assess the earthquake tolerance of buildings.

“Point cloud scanning” uses laser scanning to produce an extremely accurate 3-dimensional point cloud model to assist engineers and architects during all stages of construction.

Jonathon Dutton, Building Information Modelling (BIM) Manager at structural and civil engineering company Structex says this ‘reality capture’ technology represents an important advance on traditional methods.

“It allows us to paint the most accurate picture possible which will aid in analysing the building and making decisions when it comes to the strengthening required. Having such an accurate model helps with speeding up design and construction as you know exactly where the original structure is located,” he says.

Structex, which has completed detailed engineering evaluations at a number of port and main street buildings in Timaru, is applying the new technology as a tool to assess unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings locally.

URM buildings are the focus of recent changes to the Earthquake Prone Buildings Amendment Act, following submissions from Ann Brower, the sole survivor of a bus crash caused by falling masonry in Christchurch’s February 2011 earthquake.

Under the amendments, approximately 2,000 URM buildings nationwide will be classed as ‘priority buildings’, particularly if they have unreinforced masonry such as a parapet or a veranda, which could fall into a public road. These buildings have had their assessment times and upgrade requirements halved.

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Practically this means that in a high risk area, assessments will need to be completed in two and a half years, instead of five and upgraded within seven and a half years rather than 15. In a medium risk area, the assessments would need to occur in five years instead of 10 and the repairs within 12.5 years, rather than 25.

“Of obvious concern are with main street buildings with unsupported masonry walls which tend to fall outwards in earthquakes. These could certainly benefit from modification to catch falling debris from walls and unsupported parapets above,” says Dutton.

“South Canterbury is not considered a high risk area, but the advent of new technology and innovations is making it easier for local authorities and property owners to ensure their buildings are up to standard well ahead of deadline.”

Ends


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