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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Category: terms
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The building has a fabric roof. Fabric is defined in this case as a textile material, woven or otherwise bonded into a thin flexible sheet. Examples of fabric roofs include tensile membranes, inflatable roofs, and other types of fabric roofs such as plastic sheet, tarpaulin, canvas sheeting.

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The slope of the ground is input where the building is located on a sloping site, where the height of the ground floor above grade varies by more than 1 m. The slope of the building is measured across the length of the building footprint, in the direction where the greatest difference in level is observed. The slope is measured as an angle from horizontal (expressed in degrees), where a flat site would be zero (0) degrees.

For flat sites, where the variation of height of ground floor level above grade is less than 1m, the default value is zero (0) degrees.

The slope of ground can be specified as follows:

HD:a                       (where a denotes slope in degrees)

Example: HD:10 (the slope is 10 degrees)

HD_diagram_-_1

The slope of the ground is calculated from the length of the building footprint (in the direction where the greatest difference in level is observed), and the change in level of grade across this length.

HD_USA_Brzev_1

The slope of ground for these buildings in San Francisco, California is around 12 degrees, that is, HD:12

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The number of storeys of the building below ground is unknown. It is impossible to determine the number of storeys within an estimated range, or to an approximate number. Information is unavailable, or the building has not been inspected sufficiently to determine its number of storeys above ground.

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The type of stone is known, but its type is not listed in the table. For example, metamorphic rocks, e.g. gneiss, marble, quartzite, etc. Gneiss is a common type of metamorphic rock used for wall construction in Europe (e.g. Southern Switzerland, Italy, etc.).

SPO_Switzerland_Schacher_1SPO_Switzerland_Schacher_2

Gneiss stone wall residential construction, Ticino, Southern Switzerland (T. Schacher)

SPO_Switzerland_Schacher_3

SPO_Switzerland_Schacher_4

Gneiss stone walls, a 12th century church, Ticino, Southern Switzerland (T. Schacher)

SPO_Italy_Benedetti_1

Heterogeneous (mixed) masonry wall uses a combination of limestone and limestone, as well as clay bricks for arching lintels, L'Aquila, Italy (A. Benedetti)

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Mortar provides a uniform bed for laying the masonry units, and to bond the units together to produce a structurally sound and weatherproof construction. The following types of mortar are included in the GEM Building Taxonomy:

  1. Wood-based sheets on rafters or purlins [RWO3]
  2. Stucco finish on light framing for exterior walls [EWSL]
  3. Floor material, unknown [F99]
  4. Heavy Industrial [IND1]

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