The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute released a report on Soil Liquefaction During Earthquakes that called for more research and study of the issue. What is at stake is how we mitigate against future earthquakes. When and how to mitigate is a question that needs to be answered. Do you spend hundreds of millions of dollars to address a problem that doesn't really pose that big of a risk?
Right now the National Research Council is trying to launch the more detailed study of the issue that was requested in the report above. A very brief synopsis of what they want to do is below:
Assessment of the potential for and consequences of earthquake induced soil liquefaction is a critical aspect of geotechnical earthquake engineering that informs the likelihood and extent of soil deformation and ground failure of saturated (or nearly saturated) soils during an earthquake. Correctly quantifying liquefaction potential and the associated impacts of liquefaction are essential to design as it is used to identify the soil liquefaction hazard and appropriate mitigation options for buildings, roads, bridges, dams and levees, and other infrastructure and lifelines.
Studies like the one above are not cheap in tight budget times, maybe $800K will be needed. But, when you think about the investments that might be made inappropriately without good science the amount begins to look like a good return on investment. Now, how do we come up with $800K? Bake sale anyone?
