The objective of this paper is to demonstrate how assessment of seismic vulnerability can be effective in protection against earthquakes.Findings are reported from a case study in a densely populated urban area near a...The objective of this paper is to demonstrate how assessment of seismic vulnerability can be effective in protection against earthquakes.Findings are reported from a case study in a densely populated urban area near an active fault,utilizing practical methods and exact engineering data.Vulnerability factors were determined due to technical considerations,and a field campaign was performed to collect the required data.Multi-criteria decision making was carried out by means of an analytical hierarchy process including a fuzzy standardization.Earthquake scenarios were applied through an implicit vulnerability model.GIS was utilized and the results were analyzed by classifying the state of vulnerability in levels as very low,low,moderate,high,and very high.Seismic resilience was evaluated as vulnerabilities below the moderate state,being about 40% in an intensity of 6 Mercalli and less than 10% in 10 Mercalli.It is concluded that seismic resilience in the area studied is not acceptable,the area is vulnerable in the expected scenarios,and due to the high seismicity of the region,proper crisis management planning is required in parallel with attempts toward retrofitting.In this regard,an emergency map was developed with reference to the assessed vulnerabilities.展开更多
In Ireland, in 2008, pig feed manufactured from recycled human food became contaminated with dioxin and this led to a global recall of all Irish pork products produced from 1st September to 6th December 2008. This cas...In Ireland, in 2008, pig feed manufactured from recycled human food became contaminated with dioxin and this led to a global recall of all Irish pork products produced from 1st September to 6th December 2008. This case study illustrates several points a) the food chain is only as secure as its weakest link, b) due to the complexity of the modern food chain, once pork is processed, precise traceability to a particular farm of origin is impossible, c) even with a single food agency, overseeing the policing of the food chain, things can go wrong, d) it demonstrated the benefits of having credible consumer protection agencies to undertake scientific risk assessment and communicate with the public, e) if risk management decisions are taken quickly, and communicated in an open and transparent manner to the public, adverse human health effects can be avoided and consumer confidence can maintained, f) in the EU the legal limit for dioxins in pork fat is 1 picogram per gram (10-12 ) and attempting to communicate the risks associated with this level of contamination plus the concepts of bioaccumulation and body burden and the need for continued exposure to result in adverse health effects is extremely challenging, g) there was a major economic impact and damage to the country's reputation as a food exporter and finally h) it illustrates that prevention is better that crisis management. Other countries can learn lessons from this incident that may prevent similar occurrences in their jurisdictions.展开更多
文摘The objective of this paper is to demonstrate how assessment of seismic vulnerability can be effective in protection against earthquakes.Findings are reported from a case study in a densely populated urban area near an active fault,utilizing practical methods and exact engineering data.Vulnerability factors were determined due to technical considerations,and a field campaign was performed to collect the required data.Multi-criteria decision making was carried out by means of an analytical hierarchy process including a fuzzy standardization.Earthquake scenarios were applied through an implicit vulnerability model.GIS was utilized and the results were analyzed by classifying the state of vulnerability in levels as very low,low,moderate,high,and very high.Seismic resilience was evaluated as vulnerabilities below the moderate state,being about 40% in an intensity of 6 Mercalli and less than 10% in 10 Mercalli.It is concluded that seismic resilience in the area studied is not acceptable,the area is vulnerable in the expected scenarios,and due to the high seismicity of the region,proper crisis management planning is required in parallel with attempts toward retrofitting.In this regard,an emergency map was developed with reference to the assessed vulnerabilities.
文摘In Ireland, in 2008, pig feed manufactured from recycled human food became contaminated with dioxin and this led to a global recall of all Irish pork products produced from 1st September to 6th December 2008. This case study illustrates several points a) the food chain is only as secure as its weakest link, b) due to the complexity of the modern food chain, once pork is processed, precise traceability to a particular farm of origin is impossible, c) even with a single food agency, overseeing the policing of the food chain, things can go wrong, d) it demonstrated the benefits of having credible consumer protection agencies to undertake scientific risk assessment and communicate with the public, e) if risk management decisions are taken quickly, and communicated in an open and transparent manner to the public, adverse human health effects can be avoided and consumer confidence can maintained, f) in the EU the legal limit for dioxins in pork fat is 1 picogram per gram (10-12 ) and attempting to communicate the risks associated with this level of contamination plus the concepts of bioaccumulation and body burden and the need for continued exposure to result in adverse health effects is extremely challenging, g) there was a major economic impact and damage to the country's reputation as a food exporter and finally h) it illustrates that prevention is better that crisis management. Other countries can learn lessons from this incident that may prevent similar occurrences in their jurisdictions.
