Significant advances in earthquake engineering have been made but the expertise is too often confined to universities and government institutions. Bodies of knowledge which would significantly aid decision makers across all segments of society (business, inventors, planners, etc.) are not readily accessible. The technology is not being effectively transferred because: the knowledge is multi- disciplinary, its application requires expert integration of spatial data and an efficient transfer vehicle is not available. This project addresses the integration of earthquake knowledge from various domains such as earth science, geology, seismology, engineering, finance and social science, and the efficient transfer of the integrated product. The integration/transfer vehicle is an enhanced geographical information system, or IGIS, and implemented on microcomputers for wide commercial distribution. Spatial data are aggregated and analyzed by knowledge processes to infer earthquake hazard and structural vulnerability, which are then used in decision and management support systems. The Phase I program is designed to show the feasibility of integrating advanced geographic information systems and artificial intelligence technologies in earthquake risk assessment, and the synergism which results from the integration. End- users of this activity will include such commercial groups as insurance companies and banks.
