Bayesian Updating of Damaged Building Distribution in Post-Earthquake Assessment

Abstract

This paper proposes a methodology to apply Bayesian inference in post-earthquake assessment to estimate damaged houses distribution. It uses a damage inspection report on limited areas as ’observation’ in Bayesian protocol for updating the error in parameters of fragility functions. A numerical study with the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake record is also presented so as to examine the characteristics of the presented method.