SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UiTM SHAH ALAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

CASE STUDY PROJECT

COURSE : INTEGRATED DESIGN PROJECT

COURSE CODE : ECC 584
SEMESTER : MARCH-AUGUST 2023

“I hereby declare that all submission is based on my original efforts, not plagiarised from any
source(s), nor attempting to or communicating with any other person. I am fully aware that
candidates who are suspected of violating this pledge are liable to be referred to the
Disciplinary Committee of the College."

NAME : MUHAMMAD YUSZAIREE NABIQ BIN MOHD YUSUFF

UiTM NO. : 2019257206
GROUP : EC2208A3
LECTURER : IR. TS. DR ANIZAHYATI BINTI ALISIBRAMULISI

Level of WP/WKs ALLOCATION MARKS

CO PO
Difficulty MARKS EARNED

CO3 PO6 C5 WP1 25

WP4
WP5
CO3 PO6 C5 WK1 25
WK3
CO4 PO7 C5 WK4 25
WK5
WK6
CO4 PO7 C5 WK7 25

SDG 12
MARK A 100

TOTAL MARK= MARK A*0.1 10

 SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UiTM SHAH ALAM

CIVIL ENGINEER’S ROLES IN EARTHQUAKE DISASTER

RECOVERY
MUHAMMAD YUSZAIREE NABIQ BIN MOHD YUSUFF (2019257206) (EC2208A3)

1. Introduction
The "Earthquake and Liquefaction" case study, prepared by the University of California San
Diego, focuses on earthquakes, a natural phenomenon characterized by the sudden release of
energy in the Earth's crust, resulting in surface shaking. Earthquakes are highly destructive and
unpredictable, leading to loss of life, property damage, and infrastructure destruction. Numerous
factors influence the impact of earthquakes, including their magnitude, depth, type, geographic
location, and distance from the epicenter. Additional contributing factors involve the geological
composition of the affected area, population density, and adherence to building codes. A significant
earthquake issue is liquefaction, which refers to the temporary transformation of solid ground into a
liquid-like state when subjected to shaking. Liquefaction typically affects loose sediments or weak
layers containing substantial water content. Structures constructed on liquefiable soil lose stability
and are more prone to collapse during an earthquake than those built on solid rock formations.
Furthermore, liquefaction occurring in deeper layers can lead to sand and mud volcanoes forming,
where the liquefied material escapes to the surface through small openings.

2. Societal Concern
Civil engineers are responsible for analyzing a site's geological conditions, evaluating the risk of
liquefaction, and implementing appropriate measures to mitigate these risks. For instance, in Japan,
reinforced concrete buildings were constructed on ground that had not fully solidified into hard rock.
Despite being designed to withstand earthquakes like the Niigata earthquake Figure 1, the buildings
collapsed primarily due to the liquefaction of the underlying ground. Additionally, civil engineers must
comply with building codes, standards, and regulations that govern construction practices in
earthquake-prone regions. They ensure that structures meet or exceed the specified requirements
for seismic design, including factors related to mitigating liquefaction. Risk assessments are
conducted by civil engineers to evaluate potential hazards associated with liquefaction and other
earthquake-related issues. Collaboration with various stakeholders, such as geologists,
seismologists, architects, and construction professionals, is essential for civil engineers to adopt a
comprehensive approach to earthquake-resistant design and prevention of liquefaction.
 SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UiTM SHAH ALAM

3. Sustainable Solution

To address earthquake-related issues and mitigate liquefaction in civil engineering, there are
various sustainable materials, systems, and processes available. These include implementing
ground improvement techniques like soil cement mixing, deep soil mixing, or soil densification
using environmentally friendly additives such as lime or fly ash. Additionally, designing and
constructing sustainable retaining structures like retaining walls or earth embankments can
effectively prevent ground movement and liquefaction. The use of eco-friendly materials like
recycled concrete or geosynthetics contributes to the overall sustainability of these structures.
Incorporating sustainable seismic design practices that specifically consider liquefaction hazards is
also essential. This involves designing structures with suitable foundation systems. For example,
constructing deep piles in liquefaction-prone areas, as identified in the case study where buildings
that survived earthquakes in such areas had deep piles extending into stable layers beneath the
surface.

4. Evaluation of Impacts

Based on previous professional engineering experiences, the selected sustainable solutions for
addressing liquefaction and earthquake-related issues have several implications and consequences
in societal and environmental contexts. Implementing these sustainable solutions enhances the
safety of communities living in liquefaction-prone areas by reducing the risk of structural damage
and potential loss of life during earthquakes. By incorporating sustainable seismic design practices
and constructing resilient structures, communities become more resilient to seismic events,
minimizing the disruption caused by earthquakes and facilitating a faster recovery process. In term
of environmental implication, utilizing sustainable materials like recycled concrete or geosynthetics
reduces the demand for virgin materials, leading to a lower environmental footprint and resource
consumption. Furthermore, by implementing ground improvement techniques and retaining
structures, the need for extensive excavation and alteration of natural landscapes is minimized,
helping to preserve ecosystems and biodiversity.
 SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UiTM SHAH ALAM

Appendix

Figures

Figure 1 Liquefaction from the 16 June 1964 Niigata, Japan earthquake. Intact multy-story apartment buildings toppled over
on liquefying ground (Source: Berkeley, 2021)

References
Chapter 6 Study Guide and Case Studies: Earthquake Hazards. (n.d.).
https://geowiki.ucsd.edu/book/studyguide-chapter06.pdf
Liquefaction During the 1964 Niigata Earthquake. (2014). Geoengineer.org.
https://www.geoengineer.org/education/web-class-projects/ce-179-geosystems-engineering-
design/assignments/liquefaction-1964-niigata-earthquake
Berkeley, U. (2021). When the Ground Gives Way. Berkeley.edu.
https://seismo.berkeley.edu/blog/2008/09/24/when-the-ground-gives-way.html