MANILA – The Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-Phivolcs) will launch and turn over the Spectral Acceleration Maps of the Philippines (SAM PH) Atlas to the Department of Public Works and Highways and to the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines on Tuesday.
SAM PH Atlas supports the “Build, Build, Build” program of the government as it can serve as a reference for engineers, building designers, and urban planners in the design of essential and critical structures and facilities such as hospitals, dams, power plants, roads, bridges, and railway systems to withstand intensity VIII earthquakes.
It can also be used for the assessment and retrofitting of existing structures to conform to the building standards.
The launch and turnover will be held through the InfoSentro sa Phivolcs on March 23 at 9 a.m. via Zoom.
Along with the Earthquake Model Atlases for the Philippines, Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao published from 2018 to 2019, the SAM PH Atlas can provide science-based information for urban development, risk assessment, and site-specific insurance rates and coverages.
“We firmly hope that this latest atlas will be utilized by all stakeholders for decision-making in building safer structures and facilities, and for strengthening the resiliency of our communities,” DOST Undersecretary and Phivolcs officer in charge Renato U. Solidum, Jr.
Aside from the national and regional scale spectral acceleration maps, the atlas contains maps of historical earthquakes from 1619 to 2015, and active faults and trenches in the country.
The spectral acceleration maps may be adopted in the 8th Edition of the National Structural Code of the Philippines planned for release in 2022.
A digital copy of the atlas will be made downloadable for free from the DOST- Phivolcs website www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph. (PR)