Seismic vulnerability and loss assessment of buildings using mobile technology

Seismic vulnerability and loss estimation is an essential initial step toward taking appropriate actions for disaster mitigation and requires computational tools. Mobile technology has now become an integral part of human life. The present study proposes a user-friendly and multipurpose Android app, SVLA_IND, for Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) and estimating the seismic losses of existing buildings. A step-wise procedure is described, considering India's common building typology. However, it can be modified for other building typologies used worldwide. It was observed that the Android app gives vulnerability and loss estimation during a walk-down survey to a premier educational institute campus in India with different building inventories within a few minutes to a fingertip.