Rapid Inventory of Earthquake Damage (RIED)

The 25 January 1999 Quindío earthquake in Colombia was a major disaster for the coffee-growing region in Colombia. Most of the damage occurred in the city of Armenia and surrounding villages. Damage due to earthquakes is strongly related to topographic and subsurface geotechnical conditions underneath structures and houses. The RIED project used aerial photographs to obtain a rapid inventory of the earthquake damage right after the seismic event. This inventory was subsequently used to identify any existing relation with subsurface- and topographic conditions. Hazard zonation maps were made on the basis of seismic response analysis of a three-dimensional model of the subsurface that has been created in the GIS. Also indicative zonation maps were created outlining potential areas where topographic amplification may occur. These seismic zonation maps delineate those areas that are most likely affected by subsurface and topographic resonance effects during a future and similar earthquake. The maps have been presented to the city planning authorities of Armenia so that reconstruction of the damaged areas can be carried out in such a way that high risk areas will be avoided or that structures and houses will be built according to the standards for high seismic risk areas.