Engineering and Industrial Sciences
Professor John Wilson The Australian Earthquake Loading Standard has been developed to ensure structures in Australia are designed for earthquakes that can be considered "low probability, high consequence events". Recognition of earthquake hazard in Australia is low amongst the general public, with many events occurring away from population centres and causing little if any damage. There have been exceptions with a 1968 Mn=6.8 earthquake causing significant damage to the township of Meckering, the 1988 Mn=6.8 earthquake near Tennant Creek rupturing the gas pipeline between Alice Springs and Darwin and the moderate 1989 Mn=5.6 Newcastle earthquake (such a magnitude event could be expected every 2-3 years and released only 1/250 the energy of a Mn=7.2 event) killed 13 people, injured 160 people and caused in excess of $2 billion damage. Earthquakes in Australia do occur and can be considered low probability but high consequence events. The largest earthquake recorded in Australia is around Mn=7.2 off the WA coast and Mn=6.9 onshore in WA with a Mn=6 earthquake expected every 5 years and a Mn=5 expected annually. The Australian insurance industry is very aware of the earthquake risk and annually transfers in the order of $200-300 million to re-insurance companies overseas in order to reduce their exposure. The reinsurance companies rate an earthquake in Sydney within their 20 top risk exposures worldwide. Most Australian cities are unprepared for earthquakes and the Australian Earthquake Loading Standard can be considered a risk management tool for protecting life whilst accepting damage from an earthquake event.
The Australian Earthquake Loading Standard has been developed to ensure structures in Australia are designed for earthquakes that can be considered "low probability, high consequence events".
Recognition of earthquake hazard in Australia is low amongst the general public, with many events occurring away from population centres and causing little if any damage. There have been exceptions with a 1968 Mn=6.8 earthquake causing significant damage to the township of Meckering, the 1988 Mn=6.8 earthquake near Tennant Creek rupturing the gas pipeline between Alice Springs and Darwin and the moderate 1989 Mn=5.6 Newcastle earthquake (such a magnitude event could be expected every 2-3 years and released only 1/250 the energy of a Mn=7.2 event) killed 13 people, injured 160 people and caused in excess of $2 billion damage. Earthquakes in Australia do occur and can be considered low probability but high consequence events. The largest earthquake recorded in Australia is around Mn=7.2 off the WA coast and Mn=6.9 onshore in WA with a Mn=6 earthquake expected every 5 years and a Mn=5 expected annually.
The Australian insurance industry is very aware of the earthquake risk and annually transfers in the order of $200-300 million to re-insurance companies overseas in order to reduce their exposure. The reinsurance companies rate an earthquake in Sydney within their 20 top risk exposures worldwide.
Most Australian cities are unprepared for earthquakes and the Australian Earthquake Loading Standard can be considered a risk management tool for protecting life whilst accepting damage from an earthquake event.
