seismically induced hazards in balzers , liechtenstein: why ancient balzers was safer
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Seismically Induced Hazards in Balzers, Liechtenstein: Why Ancient Balzers was Safer
Dr. Maria E. Brunhart-LupoDr. John Lupo
Mr. Werner Brunhart
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Dörrbecker, 2013
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Balzers, Liechtenstein
• Town in southwestern Liechtenstein• Area inhabited since the Hallstatt culture – Early
Iron Age• Town has been officially recognized since the early
800s• The castle, Gutenberg, has been the center of
town since the early to mid 1200s• Total area of historic town was ~ 7 sq miles• Total area of modern town is 7.6 sq miles
Seismic History
• Area is noted as seismically active for all of human history
• No record kept for Balzers, but kept for the Swiss side of the Rhine Valley
• Record shows earthquakes and associated hazards are known for the area from Roman times to modern
• Average is two earthquakes a day, usually under M2.0
http://www.seismo.ethz.ch/eq_swiss/Erdbeben_1975-2011.png?hires
Location of historic and modern Balzers
http://www.seismo.ethz.ch/eq_swiss/Erdbeben_1975-2011.png?hires
Seismic Hazards
http://www.seismo.ethz.ch/silva_ethz/ETH/erdw/seismo/seismo/research/groups/gbilder/hazard_map_475y_500px.png?hires
Seismic Hazards Affecting Balzers
• Landslides• Rockfall• Avalanches• Soil Liquefaction• Floods• Fires
Building Codes
• Within the past five years, particularly after a M5.4 hit the Rhine Valley in 2012, building codes have been rapidly updated
• All new buildings must be built to code, but older buildings are not subject to upgrade
• Need for updating of codes was raised due to the percentage of damage found in buildings constructed under ‘modern’ code
• Discrepancy lies in the relative lack of damage recorded in ‘historic’ structures
Damage Assessment
• 68% of modern buildings affected• Under 10% of ‘historic’ (1800s or earlier)
buildings affected• Modern building damage = cracking in walls and
foundations, broken glass, balcony detachments• ‘Historic’ building damage = settlement of
foundation footings, micro-cracking of exteriors
Construction Differences
• Modern codes versus older methods of construction
• Modern houses/resort housing versus farm houses
• Example of Gutenberg – 12th century style construction
Thank You
• Thank you for attending this presentation
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