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


All types of metal cladding and wall materials. Includes aluminum planks, corrugated steel sheets (CGI) or aluminium sheets, aluminium composite sheets, copper sheets, wire mesh and perforated sheet metal.

EWME_Canada_BrzevS_1EWME_Canada_BrzevS_2

A building with exterior walls made of aluminum sheets, Vancouver, Canada (S. Brzev)

EWME_Canada_BrzevS_3EWME_Canada_BrzevS_4

Corrugated steel sheets, Canada (S. Brzev)

EWME_Kenya_Jaiswal_1

Exterior wall made of corrugated metal sheets, Kenya (K. Jaiswal)

EWME_India_Brzev_1

Corrugated metal sheets used as exterior cladding, India (S. Brzev)

EWME_Sweden_Scawthorn_1EWME_Sweden_Scawthorn_2

HSB Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden has aluminum exterior walls (C. Scawthorn)

EWME_USA_Scawthorn_1

Stainless steel exterior walls in a high-rise building, New York City, USA (C. Scawthorn)

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