Invitation

Prof. Paolo Bazzurro, University Institute for Superior Studies (IUSS) Pavia, Italy

will give a talk with the title:

“Seismic hazard assessment: procedure, purposes and misunderstandings ".

Date: Friday, November 7, 2014

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Place: Telegrafenberg, building H, VR 1

All interested people are invited!

Dr. Stefano Parolai

Abstract:

The objectives of seismic hazard assessment go well beyond the one implicit in its name. Such studies are carried out, for example, for underpinning the definition of building code seismic provisions, for supporting the risk evaluation of specific structures or portfolio of structures for insurance purposes, and for providing the scientific basis to the issuance of catastrophe bonds for risk financing and mitigation.

The seminar will discuss some of the aspects of hazard assessment for some of these applications. Despite the pervasive use of this technique in a

variety of fields, the robustness of the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis approach is constantly put in question after the occurrence of every significant earthquake. The seminar will briefly touch upon some of the misunderstandings about the interpretation of seismic hazard analysis results.

Paolo Bazzurro

Paolo Bazzurro is Professor of Hazard and Risk Assessment at the University Institute for Superior Studies (IUSS) Pavia and Head of the Hazard and Risk Assessment Section at the EUCENTRE Foundation in Pavia. He earned his Italian M.S. in Civil Engineering at the University of Genoa and his M.S., Engineer Degree, and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at Stanford University. He is a consultant for the World Bank and Scientific Board member of the Global Earthquake Model (GEM). He is a member of the seismic branch of the Great Risks Committee appointed by the Italian Prime Minister office.