Commissioners of Public Works Building Upgrade
Charleston, South Carolina

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 Services:

• Structural inspection
• Seismic and wind evaluations
• Design
• Preparation of construction documents

Tasks:

• Evaluation and strengthening of existing facility
• Construction of new facilities
• Develop and maintain operating procedures

Project Description:

Lindbergh & Associates assisted the City of Charleston Commissioners of Public Works (CPW) establish a Natural Hazards Mitigation Program, developed to mitigate earthquakes and high wind hazards. Water and wastewater treatment and storage and distribution systems are particularly vulnerable to earthquakes when liquefaction occurs in regions like Charleston Low Country. The water system must continue to effectively service in the aftermath of a damaging natural disaster, especially in support of fire fighter activities.

L&A conducted a computer-assisted assessment of the seismic vulnerability of the Hanahan Water Treatment Plant for the Charleston CPW.  The direct physical damage potential was estimated using HAZUS, the standardized methodology based on a geographic information system (GIS) for earthquake loss estimation. Testing and Analysis of the site were conducted in the areas of:

• Regional geology and seismicity
• Soil test boring
• Geotechnical earthquake modeling in a GIS framework
• Ground motions
• Liquefaction potential 
• Ground deformation 

Facility fragility models were used to determine the potential damage effects to buildings, tanks, pipelines, and other real property components. A computerized database was developed to conduct improved:

• Earthquake vulnerability assessment
• Loss estimation
• Privatization
• Emergency response planning and management