Development of a Structural Robustness Index against tsunamis for hospitals

ABSTRACT The structural robustness of buildings in a hospital contributes significantly to its overall robustness. This study describes the development of a structural robustness assessment tool with a focus on natural hazards using a Rapid Visual Screening method. First, robustness attributes were identified, along with well-defined assessment criteria. Then the relative importance of each attribute was obtained through expert opinion surveys using a pairwise comparison method following the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). This led to the defining of a Structural Robustness Index (SRI), using the well-established Papathoma Tsunami Vulnerability Assessment (PTVA) method as a guide, but deviating significantly from it when necessary. The tool was applied in a case study for assessing the tsunami robustness of buildings in six hospitals. Results showed that SRI is a better index of robustness compared to the PTVA, both because it yields a greater index range across the buildings assessed, and also because it signals as robust, structural forms that are well known to be so. The construction material and number of storeys were found to be the most significant building attributes responsible for variations in the SRI, while shielding from surrounding buildings and protection from natural barriers the most significant surroundings attributes.