Simple Method to Develop Seismic Microzonation Maps for Cities in Northern Haiti and Elsewhere

Many developing nations are situated in zones of high seismicity where earthquakes can lead to widespread property loss and loss of life.  Similar-sized earthquakes are not nearly as devastating in developed nations because of access to state-of-practice engineering methods.  Earthquake engineering to reduce property loss and loss of life includes geotechnical engineering to predict likely amounts of ground shaking.  Herein, a simple geotechnical approach was implemented in four cities in northern Haiti, including Port-de-Paix, Cap-Haitien, Fort Liberte, and Ouanaminthe based.  The approach was based on the use of a simple geophysical technique and the application of International Building Code criteria to calculate design levels of ground shaking.  The Spectral-Analysis-of-Surface-Waves (SASW) method is a geophysical technique that was employed in the four test cities during a five-day test period utilizing three workers and a backpack full of equipment.  As a result of this investigation, microzonation maps depicting design ground surface shaking parameters were rapidly and inexpensively developed, which can be used by structural engineers for guidance in designing earthquake-resistant structures.  This method can be easily deployed in other developing nations to provide these populations with nearly the same level of knowledge and protection against earthquakes that is realized in developed nations.