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Japan’s Earthquake-Resilient Building Designs - Coggle Diagram
Japan’s Earthquake-Resilient Building Designs
Case Study & Disaster Type
Case Study: Mori Tower
Disaster Type: Earthquakes (Seismic Hazard)
Japan experiences ~1500 earthquakes yearly due to tectonic plate boundaries
Location (Map + Context)
Country: Japan
Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire
Lies between 4 tectonic plates
Highly earthquake-prone region
Disaster Risk
Frequent earthquakes (daily minor tremors)
Risk of:
Building collapse
Fires after earthquakes
Tsunami threats
Soil liquefaction in some areas
Major Event (Year + Impact)
Event: 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake
Magnitude: 9.0
Impact:
Massive destruction + tsunami
Thousands of deaths
Triggered improvements in building design
Resilient Infrastructure Used (Design/Features)
A. Base Isolation
Building placed on rubber/steel pads
Reduces ground vibration transfer
B. Damping Systems
Shock absorbers (like in cars)
Absorb earthquake energy
Includes tuned mass dampers
C. Deep Foundations
Buildings anchored deep into bedrock
Prevents collapse during shaking
D. Flexible Materials
Steel + reinforced concrete
Allows buildings to bend instead of break
E. Strong Building Codes
Strict laws (1981 onwards)
Buildings must withstand strong earthquakes
Impacts and Benifits
Reduced deaths and damage
Buildings remain functional after earthquakes
Faster recovery after disasters
Japan seen as global leader in disaster resilience
Challenges and Limitations
Very expensive technology
Older buildings still vulnerable
Cannot fully prevent:
Extreme earthquakes
Tsunami damage
Maintenance of systems required