A Proposed Method for Conducting Structural Assessment for Search & Rescue Operations

Macabuag J.; Brunsdon D.; Lizarzaburu O.; Goxharaj P.; Keogh M. · World Conference on Earthquake Engineering proceedings (2021)

Resumen

International Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) involves locating and extricating live people trapped in collapsed buildings overseas, for example after earthquakes (e.g. Nepal 2015, New Zealand 2011, Haiti 2010, etc). The Structural Engineer’s primary role within a USAR team is to provide technical engineering advise on the least-dangerous method to access and extricate those victims, whilst managing significant risks such as further collapse. They are also capable of undertaking a wide range of related tasks within the USAR team. This paper presents (1) a proposed overview of USAR Engineers' inputs and responsibilities at each phase of the international USAR response cycle (from preparedness, to operation, to post-mission), and (2) a proposed decision-model outlining the process that USAR Engineers can follow in order to provide engineering advice on the least-dangerous method to access and egress trapped victims. This decision-model is demonstrated on a partially-collapsed case-study building. Guidelines by the UN's International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) currently provide only a very brief outline of the Engineer’s responsibilities and required qualifications. The aim of this work is to expand on the notes in the INSARAG Guidelines to give international USAR teams guidance on the roles, responsibilities, and processes conducted by USAR Engineers, which are common across INSARAG teams around the world. This project has incorporated international workshops, exercises on live collapsed buildings and expert elicitation of over thirty USAR Structural Engineers and other technical participants from more than 15 countries over two week-long workshops in Old Poggioreale, Sicily, a town abandoned since it was partially destroyed by the Belice Valley Earthquake of 1968. The outcome of this work is to inform a Guidance Note to be used by USAR Engineers, as well as researchers looking to understand how knowledge of building collapse and casualty modelling can be applied to the practices of international USAR teams.