Web-Based Earthquake Risk Assessment System Incorporating Web-GIS and SOA Technologies

Abstract

Both engineering and insurance industries have long been making efforts to seek ways, through information means, to assess potential damages in buildings due to earthquakes in Taiwan, where earthquakes take place from time to time. The main purpose of this article is to discuss needs of evaluating earthquake risks in local government agencies, insurance industry, general business and individuals. The approach is based on a technological integration of Web-GIS and SOA, which is to develop a Web platform of integrated service-oriented technology for assessment of earthquake risks to provide all users with assessment information on earthquake risks. In the future, the system may be further integrated with other risk assessment engines (such as flood and debris, landslide and others), upgrading the effects of disaster risk assessment and management in Taiwan area.