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


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Polygonal, solid (e.g. trapezoid, pentagon, hexagon) [PLFP]

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The shape of the building plan is approximately polygonal, with only minor variations from a polygonal shape. Polygon is a plane figure bounded by a finite number of straight lines (called sides), which connect up and form a closed shape. This term refers to shapes that can be approximated as regular convex polygons (see the drawing below for illustration). Polygon is regular when its side are of equal length. The following polygonal shapes are included in this category: trapezoid (4 sides), pentagon (5 sides), hexagon (6 sides), heptagon (7 sides), octagon (8 sides), etc. Note that square and triangle are also polygons, however they have been identified as separate items in the table.

PLFP_Wikipedia_Salix Alba_1

Any line drawn through a regular convex polygon meets its boundary exactly twice - the example shows a pentagonal shape (adapted from Salix Alba for English Wikipedia)

PLFP_Japan_Scawthorn&Googleearth_1

A building with trapezoidal plan, Shiraikan Building, Kyoto University, Japan (left: Map data ©2013 Google, ZENRIN; right: C. Scawthorn)

PLFP_Chile_WHE6_1_1

A reinforced concrete high-rise building in Chile with hexagonal plan shape (O. Moroni, C. Gomez, and M. Astroza, Chile, World Housing Encyclopedia Report 6)

PLFP_USA_San Francisco_Googleearth_1

The Octagon House in San Francisco, California has octagonal plan  shape (Map data ©2013 Google, DigitalGlobe, U.S. Geological Survey, USDA)