Philippine Earthquake Model Atlas for Designing Earthquake Resilient Buildings to be Launched

The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) will launch the Philippine Earthquake Model (PEM) Atlas today (17 January 2018) at the 2/F Auditorium of PHIVOLCS Building, C.P. Garcia Avenue, UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City.

This atlas is a handbook of probabilistic seismic hazard maps that will aid engineers in designing earthquake resilient buildings and structures. It can also be used as a tool for land use and urban planning, and disaster risk management plans of LGUs, government agencies, and other stakeholders.

The PEM Atlas aims to promote and enhance the existing National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP), a referral code of the National Buildling Code (NBC). This will serve as basis for designing earthquake resilient structures like residential and commercial buildings, critical facilities such as dams, bridges, and hospitals, and hazardous installations such as nuclear, biological, and chemical facilities.

PEM Atlas contains the Peak Ground Acceleration Maps and Spectral Acceleration Maps. These maps were generated from the Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis (PSHA) through the collaborative efforts and expertise of seismologists, geologists, engineers, and researchers from DOST-PHIVOLCS in consultation with Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), University of the Philippines Diliman – Institute of Civil Engineering (UPD-ICE), DOST- Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), De la Salle University (DLSU), National Housing Authority (NHA), Insurance Commission (IC), Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association, Inc (PIRA), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and Metro Manila local government units (LGUs).

Copies of PEM Atlas will be distributed to partners. Stakeholders may request a CD containing a digital copy of the PEM Atlas to DOST-PHIVOLCS. (PHIVOLCS)