The year had barely begun when the sad news of a magnitude 6
earthquake in Japan made headlines in the world's major newspapers. The tremor off the coast of the Sea of Japan occurred on the first day of the year and left
200 people missing and 94 dead . The tragedy brought a very important issue among urban planners and engineers back to the fore: the need for
solid, resistant structures to provide more stability to buildings at times like these. Despite the problem faced, Japan is a reference in the creation of
Anti-Seismic buildings , that is, in creating structures that can remain standing even with tremors, which minimize financial losses and protect lives.
How are building structures earthquake resistant?
There are different types of construction designed to provide greater safety against earthquakes. In addition to Japan,
Chile is also investing in techniques to reinforce buildings with
super-resistant walls , rich in iron and concrete to withstand tremors. In very tall buildings, super-resistant walls are not the best option. In these cases, the ideal solution is to have
shock absorbers below the building , capable of absorbing the impact and shaking during an earthquake.
In Taiwan, another method was used for a 508-meter-high building. It involves a
660-ton pendulum positioned between the 87th and 92nd floors. The equipment is electronically controlled to compensate for the oscillations caused by tremors, moving in the opposite direction to the earthquake.
Challenges
The costs of building the entire earthquake-resistant building infrastructure are among the main challenges. Despite the high investment, in the long run, the value pays for itself – not to mention the potential to save lives. In 2015, a
magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami were responsible for destruction that represented a loss of more than
R$300 billion and
25 thousand people missing or dead. With the adoption of anti-earthquake methods and investment in new technologies (in which Japan is one of the leaders in investments in the area worldwide), there is greater hope of preserving lives and the infrastructure of cities.
* With information from Facci Engenharia 
