Committee on Earthquakes

The responsibilities and objectives of the Committee on Earthquakes are to identify seismic design needs for dams and to study, research or assemble updated information and disseminate to those responsible for dam design and operation.

These responsibilities include collection of information on earthquake instrumentation, recorded data and performance of dams during earthquakes; evaluation and development of guides for modern methods of design of dams and reservoirs to withstand earthquakes and to identify needs for new knowledge and research on designing dams.

The Committee objectives are:

• Develop Report on Guidelines on Design Features of Dams to Effectively Resist Seismic Ground Motions (Complete by end of 2002).
• Update USSD Earthquakes Committee Report on Strong Motion Records.
• Develop report on Earthquake Deformation Analysis of Embankment Dams.
• Develop a Report on a Probabilistic Approach to Seismic Hazards.
• Provide assistance to the ICOLD Committee on Earthquakes in general, but specifically with respect to USSD input to compatible reports.
• Be responsive to U.S. earthquake activities as they affect U.S. dams, such as was the case with the Northridge Earthquake in California. (Earthquake articles in USCOLD Newsletter)
• Publish Earthquake Committee activities in the USSD Newsletter.

Further information may be obtained by contacting the Committee Chairperson: