Seismic Resiliency of Airports: the known and the unknown

Abstract: Several areas within the United States are prone to seismic hazards. There are airports of all sizes within the highest hazard areas and have experienced seismic events and related damages in the past. In response to these seismic events several changes have been made to buildings and vertical infrastructure over the last decades. Preparation, response, and recovery are all important during a seismic event. The resilience of individuals, communities, physical infrastructure, operational and communication technologies, and related agencies and their partnerships can save lives and minimize economic and infrastructure damage. Resilience improvement requires appropriate policies, plans, programmatic efforts, investments and concerted efforts. The value of resilience improvement is seen in increased preparedness, less chaos, and rapid response and recovery. The guidance and practice of seismic resiliency of airport vertical infrastructure, horizontal infrastructure, and operations are in differing degrees of maturity. The myths and realities of location, prevalence, and severity of impacts of seismic events to airports will be highlighted. Using examples of airport impacts due to past seismic events, the presenters would identify and categorize impacts to the vertical infrastructure, horizontal infrastructure, and the airport operations. This presentation would then discuss the state and gaps in airport seismic resiliency and identify challenges and strategies needed to improve it.