Geospatial Multi-Hazard Assessment for Gyeonggi-do Province, South Korea Subjected to Earthquake

Abstract

The increasing frequency of earthquake events worldwide, particularly in South Korea, necessitates detailed seismic hazard assessments to mitigate the risks to urban infrastructure. This study addresses this pressing need by developing a comprehensive multi-hazard assessment framework specific to the Gyeonggi-do Province. By leveraging advanced geospatial computation techniques and geographic information systems, this study integrated geotechnical data, terrain information, and building inventories to evaluate seismic site effects, earthquake-induced landslide hazards, and structural vulnerability. This method uses geostatistical methods to construct geotechnical spatial grids that correlate site-specific seismic responses to potential hazards. The key findings revealed significant variations in seismic site responses owing to local subsurface characteristics, emphasizing the importance of site-specific seismic hazard maps for urban disaster preparedness. The framework’s effectiveness was validated by analyzing the 2017 Pohang earthquake, which demonstrated a strong correlation between predicted and observed damage. This study highlights the importance of ongoing seismic hazard assessment methodology development and advocates interdisciplinary collaboration to improve urban resilience, ultimately protecting communities from the impacts of future earthquakes.