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Course Outlines

https://courseoutline.auckland.ac.nz/dco/course/CIVIL/745/1255

CIVIL 745 : Seismic Assessment of Existing

Buildings
Engineering
2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription
Principles of assessing the response of buildings to earthquakes and identification of vulnerabilities for different
building types. Example buildings will be assessed using these advanced methodologies and independent
research conducted on appropriate forms of retrofit.

Course Overview
This course will introduce students to advanced concepts of performance-based earthquake engineering and
their applications to detailed seismic assessment of existing masonry and concrete buildings.

Following closely the NZ Seismic Assessment Guidelines, and using examples of structural failures from past
earthquakes and laboratory testing, students will learn how to identify critical vulnerabilities for a range of
existing building types. Students will apply concepts learned in class to the seismic assessment of real
buildings. Students are expected to have some knowledge on the fundamentals of reinforced concrete
structural design.

Course Requirements
Prerequisite: STRCTENG 303 or equivalent

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

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Graduate Profile: Master of Earthquake Engineering

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Conduct a seismic assessment of an existing building, from initial evaluation to detailed assessment.
(Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
2. Model the seismic response of existing buildings. (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
3. Identify and evaluate critical vulnerabilities and assess strength and deformation capacities for
components of existing masonry and concrete buildings. (Capability 4.2)
4. Consider the uncertainties in seismic response and capacity in the assessment of existing buildings.
(Capability 2.1 and 3.1)
5. Apply theoretical concepts taught in class to a real building. (Capability 3.1 and 5.1)
6 . Complete a field activity plan and risk assessment for an engineering site visit, including consideration for
the concerns of building owners, tenants, and pedestrians (Capability 8.1 and 8.2)

Assessments
Assessment Type Percentage Classification
URM Quizzes 10% Individual Test
URM Project 40% Individual Coursework
RC Quizzes 10% Individual Test
RC Assignments 20% Individual Coursework
RC Project 20% Individual Coursework
5 types 100%

Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed

1 2 3 4 5 6
URM Quizzes    

URM Project      

RC Quizzes    

RC Assignments    

RC Project  
This course is divided into two equal halves, with the rst half of the course focussed on UnReinforced Masonry
(URM) buildings and the second half of the course focussed on Reinforced Concrete (RC) buildings. 50% of the
course grades are assigned to URM and 50% of the course grades are assigned to RC. Students must
demonstrate satisfactory understanding in each of the two halves of the course. The total grade is the sum of
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the two scores.

To pass the course, it is necessary to achieve at least 25% (half of 50%) in each of the two halves of the course.
A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy. Late submissions will be graded if received no
later than 1 week after the deadline, but a percentage reduction in score will be applied dependent on how late
the assignment is received.

Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in
each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 5
hours of work on assignments and/or quiz preparation.

Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities will be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes
reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Health & Safety

It is expected that students will undertake a site inspection of an actual URM building in their home city. A Risk
Assessment is required for the visit, and the appropriate Health and Safety protocols will be discussed in class.
Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the
university's Health and Safety policy

Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a
tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with
summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
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Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty sta-student consultative
committees.

Course content will be regularly updated based on student feedback.

Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in
coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic oence. The work that a student submits for grading
must be the student's own work, reecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be
properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source
material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to
provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the
wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to
raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written
form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible
and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the
Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is aected by illness or other personal circumstances outside
of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances signicantly aect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible
written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-
exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

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In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and
learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has
contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not
compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your
course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about
how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process
and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The
University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other
students and sta so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit
Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-
and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for
enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the
right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or
other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements
may be used. The nal decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation
arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the
assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

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