Seismic Code Decisions under Risk: The Wasatch Front Illustration
Regions of low-to-moderate seismicity but high catastrophic earthquake loss potential pose special issues with respect to seismic design codes as well as other significant policy decisions. These seismic design code decisions hinge on the amount of initial costs and on the size and certainty of benefits from increased design requirements. Since these decisions are made by government officials, these costs and benefits are distributed among various stakeholders in the community. This paper explains this perspective and clarifies earthquake risk methods needed to address these seismic design force level decisions in the Wasatch Front, Utah and, as a point of comparison, to the City of Los Angeles. These applications strengthen the case for a seismic zone 4 designation along the Wasatch Front but also raise issues about the roles of life-safety protection and certainty of benefits in seismic code decisions.