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
The footprint of the building when viewed in plan resembles the shape of the letter L; that is, the building is a single unit (no seismic gap) with two ‘wings’ near to or at right angles to each other.
This building in San Francisco, California has a L-shaped plan (Left: S. Brzev; right: Map data ©2013 Google, DigitalGlobe, U.S. Geological Survey)