After Mexico - earthquakes and resilient cities
As the rescue efforts in Mexico City after the devastating earthquake of September 2017 draw to a close, comparisons continue to be drawn between how the city fared now and after a similar earthquake more than 30 years ago.
Many have pointed out that while both fatalities (fewer than 300 people) and damage (40 buildings collapsed and nearly 4,000 declared severely damaged) were considerably less, there are still questions that remain regarding the resilience of Mexico City’s infrastructure.
According to the New York Times:
‘Tighter building codes, better construction materials and a robust public awareness surely played a role in limiting the carnage this time around.
‘What spared this metropolitan area of 21 million was, at least in part, luck…In a 2016 study of a random sample of 150 buildings constructed after 2004, when the new codes were adopted … many failed to meet city standards. In many cases, the buildings reviewed did not even have enough necessary paperwork to conduct a full assessment’
With these concerns in mind, a collection of Building Research & Information articles has been assembled about earthquakes and reducing the risks to the built environment.
A key finding of one research article 'Evaluation of Building Code Compliance in Mexico City: mid-rise dwellings' was published in 2016 and found that the regulations (on paper) are fine, it is lack of enforcement which is the major problem.
The aim is that by contributing leading scholarship, help can be given to cities to heal, learn and become better prepared for future earthquakes.
This collection will be free to access until 31st October 2017.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- BREEAM Designing for durability and resilience.
- Earthquakes and the seismic strengthening of churches.
- Earthquake Design Practice for Buildings.
- Engineering in the 21st century.
- Engineers and hurricanes.
- How to rebuild using the debris from disasters.
- Hurricane design considerations.
- Managing and responding to disaster.
- The opportunity to build tomorrow’s cities.
- Two steps towards a more resilient world.
- Updated seismic hazard maps for the UK.
Featured articles and news
BSRIA Statutory Compliance Inspection Checklist
BG80/2025 now significantly updated to include requirements related to important changes in legislation.
Shortlist for the 2025 Roofscape Design Awards
Talent and innovation showcase announcement from the trussed rafter industry.
OpenUSD possibilities: Look before you leap
Being ready for the OpenUSD solutions set to transform architecture and design.
Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2025
Highlighting the continuing threat to trades persons.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Now available in Arabic and Chinese aswell as English.
The context, schemes, standards, roles and relevance of the Building Safety Act.
Retrofit 25 – What's Stopping Us?
Exhibition Opens at The Building Centre.
Types of work to existing buildings
A simple circular economy wiki breakdown with further links.
A threat to the creativity that makes London special.
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
The smart construction dashboard, as-built data and site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
An outline of the bill with a mix of reactions on potential impacts from IHBC, CIEEM, CIC, ACE and EIC.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.