Seismic Engineers in Canterbury

Seismic Engineers

Seismic engineering experts work with structures, including buildings, bridges and other infrastructure, to ensure they perform safely in an earthquake. Their area of expertise is in designing buildings and structures using methodologies that ensure damage is prevented in a seismic event. 

Some of the methods a seismic engineer may use to ensure a building does not collapse or incur damage in an earthquake include base isolation - where a building is built on structures that are isolated from the ground. Another way buildings are protected from the potential impacts of earthquakes is with the use of bracing systems or dampers, which are designed to disperse the energy from an earthquake.

A seismic engineer will also conduct structural analysis and assessments of existing buildings to ascertain how they will perform in an earthquake, and to design appropriate retrofit or seismic upgrades to bring a building up to an acceptable level of seismic resilience.

What do seismic engineers do?

• Earthquake engineering

• Seismic retrofit designs

• Damage assessment

• Seismic risk assessment - initial and detailed seismic assessment 

• Performance-based seismic design (including capacity and low-damage design)

• Building strengthening design (including cost benefit analysis of earthquake retrofit options and design plans)

• Strengthening of reinforced concrete structures, including seismic resisting systems

• Site-specific seismic hazard assessment

• Ground motion selection

• Non-linear time history analysis, pushover analysis and loss and downtime estimation.

Questions to ask a seismic engineer

1. What are your qualifications and areas of focus?

For engineering services such as seismic structural analysis and earthquake assessments, design and strengthening you will need to engage seismic engineering experts who will be chartered professional engineers working in the structural engineering sector with a focus on seismic strengthening.  

2. What experience do you have on similar projects or retrofit designs? 

Earthquake engineering is a diverse field so be sure to engage a professional with the appropriate experience and skill set for your project – and a proven track record of delivering successfully. This is especially important if the project requires an existing building to be brought up to current seismic standards.

3. Does my building require an initial seismic assessment or a detailed seismic assessment? 

A seismic engineer will look at what is required by the relevant council or regulatory body and offer advice as to what is required. 

4. Which quality assurance systems do you use?

It is vital for the specialists you engage to have robust quality systems in place to minimise issues and errors – and to detect them early should they arise. This will save what can be extremely costly rectification down the track and ensure the highest levels of project safety. 

Other professionals you might be interested in engaging include: Architects, Builders, Structural Engineers, Scaffolders and Shrink Wrap Installers