Abstract

GARCIA PEREZ, Jaime  and  GARCIA LOPEZ, Eric. Calculation of indirect losses due to seismic motions. Ing. sísm [online]. 2019, n.100, pp.71-84. ISSN 0185-092X.

In order to obtain seismic design coefficients, the total cost minimization criterion considers initial costs as well as costs of losses due to earthquakes. In the latter, we find indirect losses known as intangibles, which include human lives. This paper presents methods to calculate the value in which society should be willing to invest for saving lives. We analyze both individual and social problems. However, we pay attention to individual problems where the value of human life can be inferred by what the person should be willing to accept or to pay to reduce the risk of dying. As long as these methods use utility curves we pay special attention to them and discuss the requirements that they must meet. Moreover, the cases of personal impact, legacies and bequests when using utility curves are discussed. Finally, we present some examples.

Keywords : total cost; optimum coefficients; intangibles; losses; willingness to pay.

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