oq-gem

Glossary for gem taxonomy

Authors: Luke Allen, Andrew Charleson, Svetlana Brzev, and Charles Scawthorn

This online Glossary explains around 400 terms contained in the GEM Building Taxonomy v 2.0 and nearly 700 images.

The terms have been listed in alphabetical and numerical order. Text description of each term is accompanied by illustrations (photos and/or drawings) where possible.

We welcome contributions in the form of photographs or images, illustrating glossary terms. If you have any questions you can also contact us at buildingtaxonomy@globalquakemodel.org


Changes in vertical structure when the structural system and/or structural material changes up the height of the building. This also covers the irregularity referred to as "Offset Structure" in some building codes. The Offset Structure refers to a case when the lateral load-resisting system is not vertically continuous from foundation to roof, but has a horizontal offset somewhere up its height. These buildings may have two different lateral load-resisting systems at some floor levels, but not across all levels (vertically), or across the entire plan (horizontally).

Change in vertical structure (FEMA 2006)

Change in vertical structure (FEMA 454, 2006)

Out-of-plane offset: discontinuous shear walls (FEMA 2006)

Offset structure - discontinuous shear walls (FEMA 454, 2006)

CHV_USA_Brzev_5CHV_USA_Brzev_4

Transamerica Pyramid, the tallest skyscraper in San Francisco, California is characterized by a change in vertical structure (S. Brzev)

CHV_USA_Brzev_1

Change in vertical structure, Seattle, USA (S. Brzev)

CHV_China_Willms_1

Change in vertical structure, a temple in China (D. Willms)

CHV_Pakistan_Kashmir_Scawthorn_1

This building in Rawalpindi, Pakistan is characterized by a change in vertical structure and it suffered damage in the 2005 Kashmir earthquake (C. Scawthorn)

CHV_Morocco_Scawthorn_1

A Kasbah in Tanger, Morocco with a large overhang (C. Scawthorn)

CHV_USA_Brzev_2

Change in vertical structure, Seattle Central Library, USA (S. Brzev)

CHV_Hildebrand_Hall_Berkeley_USA_BrzevS_1

A building with large overhangs, University of California Berkeley, USA (S. Brzev)

CHV_India_Rawal_1

This building in India has large overhangs (People in Centre)

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