Direct calculation of the probability distribution for earthquake losses to a portfolio

Earthquake Spectra
By: , and 

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Abstract

We demonstrate a direct method for the calculation of the annual frequency of exceedance for earthquake losses (or the probability distribution for annual losses) to a portfolio. This method parallels the classic method of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis for the calculation of the annual frequency of exceedance for earthquake ground motions. The method assumes conditional independence of the random component of ground motions and losses at different sites for each earthquake, given magnitude, distance to the sites, and so-called interevent epsilon. Examples show that the method is realizable, and can take into account different loss functions and site conditions in the portfolio. The main advantage of this method is that it does not require a separate set of scenario earthquakes, as do Monte Carlo-based approaches, but can be calculated directly from the inputs used for hazard maps.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Direct calculation of the probability distribution for earthquake losses to a portfolio
Series title Earthquake Spectra
DOI 10.1193/1.3159475
Volume 25
Issue 3
Year Published 2009
Language English
Publisher Sage
Contributing office(s) Geologic Hazards Science Center
Description 20 p.
First page 687
Last page 706
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