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 is a single storey building with no floors above ground floor level, and the ground floor level is not elevated above grade.

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A plan irregularity, not defined as any of the other Plan Irregularity definitions in this table, that is likely to adversely affect the earthquake performance of the building.

Examples of such plan irregularities include discontinuous diaphragms, and vertical lateral load-resisting elements non-parallel to the major orthogonal axes of the lateral load-resisting system. Cantilevers supporting lateral load-resisting elements like infill walls that are likely to resist seismic forces that overhang the structure below are examples of out-of-plane offsets.

Discontinuous diaphragm (cutout) (FEMA 2006)

Discontinuous diaphragm (cutout) (FEMA 454)

Non-parallel lateral load-resisting system (FEMA 2006)

 

Non-parallel lateral load-resisting system (FEMA 454)

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Category: terms
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Concrete is a composite material consisting of Portland cement, coarse aggregate (crushed stone), fine aggregate (sand), and water. It is usually grey in colour. The following types of concrete are included in the GEM Building Taxonomy:

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Glass curtain walls, storefront glass systems, or any other exterior walls where glass windows cover more of the walls by area than any other material. Also includes solar panelled exterior walls, where photovoltaics modules are integrated directly into a building envelope by replacing curtain walls (Building Integrated Photovoltaics).

EWG_Chile_BrzevS_1

A highrise office building with glass curtain walls, Santiago, Chile (S. Brzev)

EWG_Canada_Brzev_1

A building with glass curtain walls, Vancouver, Canada (S. Brzev)

EWG_Canada_Brzev_1

Exterior walls in this building are mostly of glass and masonry, however glass is considered to be a prevalent material, Halifax, Canada (S. Brzev)

EWG_Canada_Stamenic_1

Solar (photovoltaic) modules as exterior walls, Vancouver, Canada (L. Stamenic)

EWG_UK_Stamenic_1

Solar (photovoltaic) modules as exterior walls, United Kingdom (L. Stamenic)

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Metal (except steel) is a material like aluminium or iron used as structural elements.

  1. Cast-in-place beam-supported reinforced concrete floor [FC2]
  2. Infilled frame [LFINF]
  3. Roof system type
  4. Floor system type

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