A lifeline vulnerability study in Barcelona, Spain

The term vulnerability is used as a measure of the damage suffered by a structure due to seismic activity. Vulnerability to ground movement is determined by the structure itself; therefore, the vulnerability of a system does not depend on the local seismic risk. This definition of vulnerability indicates that a structure may be vulnerable in spite of being located in a seismically safe area. Lifeline is an earthquake engineering term denoting those systems necessary for human life and urban function, without which large urban regions cannot exist. Lifelines basically convey food, water, fuel, energy, information, and other materials necessary for human existence from the production areas to the consuming urban areas. Prolonged disruption of lifelines such as the water supply or electric power for a city or urbanized region would inevitably lead to major economic losses, deteriorated public healt, and eventually population migration. Earthquakes are probably the most likely natural disaster that would lead to major lifeline disruption. The adequate operation of lifelines is vital for the economic development of regions under moderate to high seismic activity. After an earthquake, the proper operation of all vital systems is necessary, for instance hospitals for medical attention of the wounded and highways for communication and assistance for victims. In this work we apply the knowledge of pipeline vulnerability to the water supply system, telephone, gas, electricity, sanitary sewer pipelines (waste water), subway, and galleries systems in Barcelona.