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 exact number of storeys above ground is clear from survey or drawings. The exact number of the floors above ground includes the ground floor and floors above. It also includes storage and mechanical plant levels only if these cover over 50% of the plan area, but does not include basements below ground. If the building is stepped in height, then record the highest part.

HEX:n    
where n= maximum number of storeys above ground level
Example: HEX:2 (exactly two-storey high building)

HEX_Morocco_Scawthorn_1

This is an eight storey building in Morocco (C. Scawthorn)

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Category: terms
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Panels are supported on beams or bearing walls (possibly stressed-skin).

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Category: terms
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Apartments, condominiums, townhouses of 3-4 units. Residential units are structurally connected.

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Category: terms
Hits: 458

The building is used for commercial or retail at the ground floor, with residential  or office accommodation above. Choose this attribute if the proportion of the commercial and residential occupancies are approximately equal. Otherwise for mixed occupancy choose the dominant occupancy. For example, choose ‘mixed occupancy’ for a two story building with a single-family dwelling above a shop, but choose multi-family dwelling for a ten-story apartment building with shops at ground floor.

Details
Category: terms
Hits: 425

The building is mixed use, a mixture of commercial and industrial. The majority of the floor area is for commercial use.

  1. Precast concrete floor with reinforced concrete topping [FC3]
  2. Wattle and daub [WWD]
  3. Earthen exterior walls [EWE]
  4. Exact number of storeys below ground [HBEX]

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