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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


It is clear that the structural material is masonry, but the type of masonry is unknown. The build-up of the wall may be hidden, as in the case of a plastered wall, or information about it is unavailable.

MUN99_Chile_Brzev_1

MUN99_Chile_Brzev_2

Walls in masonry buildings are usually covered by plaster at the exterior and it is difficult to identify type of masonry unit used in such cases - like in the case of the masonry building in Constitution, Chile shown in the top photo; however, a closer inspection of the walls and the building interior revealed the adobe construction, as shown in the bottom photo (S. Brzev)

MUN99_Canada_Brzev_1

This is likely a masonry building, but the type of masonry unit is not known, Halifax, Canada (S. Brzev)

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