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Benefits from Expenditures on Earthquake Research at Natural Resources Canada |
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Geological Survey of Canada Open File 3764
by Dr. Neil Swan
Abstract
The study calculates benefits and costs of a key application of earthquake research in Canada. Modifications to building codes, flowing from that research, reduce losses from shaking and fire damage to buildings and their contents, caused by earthquakes, and reduce loss of life and injuries. Benefits are calculated, net of the cost of stronger construction to comply with the modified codes, at an annualized value of 42 million constant 1992 dollars. This is ten times the cost of the associated earthquake research. Two objections of principle to the analysis are considered. The possibility that Canada might "free-ride" on foreign earthquake research is one. That is discussed, and rejected as impractical. The other is the view that earthquake research is necessary for modifying building codes but not sufficient, so that its benefits are being overstated. This is found to be incorrect.
Résumé
Commentary on the Open File by
John Adams, Earthquakes Canada, GSC, Ottawa.
Summary: The economic return of NRCan's earthquake program is of the order of $43 million per year, about 15 times the current cost of the program. All Canadians share in the benefits.... more
The Value of Future NRCan Work
Some Beneficiaries of NRCan's Earthquake Program.
Provisos (the fine print) and References
DOWNLOAD Geological Survey of Canada Open File 3764
pdf document, 45 pages, 0.3 Mb
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