9802151 Chang This project explores how user impacts can be incorporated into methods for assessing the cost effectiveness of seismic risk management measures for infrastructure systems. It seeks to demonstrate how user costs can be applied within the framework of life cycle costs analysis. Life cycle cost analysis, an approach related to benefit/cost analysis, considers maintenance and other long-term costs associated with an investment project in addition to the initial cost of construction. It has the advantage of allowing the assessment of seismic hazard mitigation in the context of routine infrastructure management practice. This is particularly important in the case of infrastructure systems where some types of seismic upgrading procedures (e.g., pipe replacement) may reduce normal maintenance costs as a collateral benefit. Specific tasks include establishing guidelines for consideration for user costs, developing a user cost methodology within the framework of life cycle costs analysis, and implementating two to three case studies using actual urban infrastructure systems in seismically vulnerable regions of the U.S. ***
