The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Friday, July 16, officially launched the "How Safe is My House?" mobile application--an easy-to-use tool for evaluating the safety and vulnerability of one- to two-story concrete hollow block structures to strong earthquakes.
Science and Technology Undersecretary and Phivolcs OIC Renato Solidum Jr. said the app aims to increase the awareness of proper construction practices and standard design, and highlight the importance of structural integrity in building safer and resilient Filipino communities.
The mobile app was made available on Google Play and App Store in April 2021 and on July 12, 2021, respectively.
Solidum said the How Safe is My House? tool was based on verified field observations, earthquake damage surveys, and several experimental tests, including a full-scale shaking table test.
The application features a 12-point questionnaire.
- Who built or designed my house?
- How old is my house?
- Has my house been damaged by past earthquakes or disasters?
- What is the shape of my house?
- Has my house been extended or expanded?
- Are the external walls of my house six-inch (150-mm) thick CHB?
- Are steel bars of standard size and spacing use in walls?
- Are there unsupported walls more than three meters wide?
- What is the gable of my house made of?
- What is the foundation of my house?
- What is the soil condition under my house?
- What is the overall condition of the house?
"If the structure is not properly designed, constructed, and it did not use the right materials, then it can be affected by a strong earthquake, whether it is one story, two stories, or higher," Solidum said.
"This (app) will not only benefit the house owner. But if you are a local disaster manager, if you want to really prepare for an earthquake and anticipate its impacts, we can use this questionnaire to survey all of the houses and buildings that we have in our community," he added.
The "How Safe is My House?" mobile app is adapted from the 2014 print information material, which was a major output of the collaborative project with the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Japan Science and Technology, and the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines.
On Friday, Phivolcs also kicked off the Department of Science and Technology-funded 3D Philippines (3DPH) Program.
The initiative is led by Phivolcs and participated in by the De La Salle University to provide different stakeholders an integration and collaborative platform for the management, access, and analysis of surface and sub-surface information.
It aims to help the engineering and scientific sectors design structurally sound buildings that can better withstand earthquakes.
"Through 3D Philippines, national and local governments, and the public may formulate data-driven plans and prepare for possible effects of natural hazards," Phivolcs said.