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Ethical Principles Underlying the Assessment of Indirect Losses Due to Earthquakes
Instituo de Ingeniería, Ingeniería Estructural,Edif 2, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, CDMX, México
National Institute of Criminal Sciences, Magisterio Nacional 113, Tlalpan, CDMX, México
- 1 Instituo de Ingeniería, Ingeniería Estructural,Edif 2, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, CDMX, México
- 2 National Institute of Criminal Sciences, Magisterio Nacional 113, Tlalpan, CDMX, México
Open Journal of Civil Engineering·Volume 11 (2021)·Pages 179–199·Published 20 May 2021·DOI10.4236/ojce.2021.112012
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Abstract
The reliability optimization process in earthquake engineering requires that the expected present value of the total cos t is mini mized, including the initial cost as well as the damage costs caused by earthquakes, which include indirect costs. One of these costs is concerned with how much society is willing to invest for preserving human life. Ethical principles, on which to base the assessment of this cost, are presented and discussed in this work. Individual and social values are analyzed. Finally, an optimal seismic design coefficient with the results obtained is calculated for a site with low seismicity.
KeywordsReliabilitiesUtilityIndirect LossesDecision-MakingSeismic Coefficients
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