Historic Planning and Zoning “Codes” to Avoid Tsunami Deaths

The 4/21/11 New York Times includes this article concerning “tsunami stones.”  It describes an interesting example of how we remember lessons from rare but extreme events, and how we pass on what we learn to our descendants.

Tsunami, Japan, March 11, 2011

This disturbing video (linked here) shows destructive effects of the inward flow of the tsunami, perhaps the first major flow of the 3/11/11 event at this location. The video doesn’t go on long enough to record the corresponding outward flow, or any subsequent flows.  Thanks to David Venable of GGASHI (ggashi.com) for sharing that link.

“Seizing the Seismic Moment” from www.daily5remodel.com

Click on this link:  Seizing the Seismic Moment to download a .pdf version of an article about engineering and construction for seismic retrofits from Daily 5 Remodel (www.daily5Remodel.com).  (Reprinted with permission of Leah Thayer, daily5Remodel.)

“I35-W Bridge Collapse: Standard of Care Questioned”

The Building Failures Forum posted an article citing a paper written by Joshua B. Kardon concerning the standard of care of the engineers who investigated the I35-W bridge in Minneapolis before it collapsed in 2008.  Read the Building Failures Forum article here, and the original paper can be obtained here

Amature video of liquefaction as it occurs, Japan 3/11/11

This video was recorded during the Sendai earthquake on 3/11/11, and shows ground effects observed in Chiba, Japan (near Tokyo), about 250 miles from Sendai.

EERI’s Learning From Earthquakes Program is sending a team to New Zealand

EERI (Earthquake Engineering Research Institute) is sending a team to Christchurch, New Zealand to learn from the recent earthquake there. The team will be posting information and photos on their blog page.

ARCHnews March 2011 Firm Profile

Joshua B. Kardon + Co is the featured Allied Member in the March 2011 issue of the newsletter of the East Bay Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Read the profile here.