Venezuela and Colombia Seminar – Christchurch
October 27 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
NZSEE invites members to join us for a presentation on the 2026 Venezuela and Colombia earthquake reconnaissance.
Where: University of Canterbury, John Britton Conference Foyer
When: 27 October 2026, 12:00 – 1:00pm
Cost: Free
The 2026 earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia provided an opportunity to compare building performance under design approaches focused on life safety versus post-earthquake functionality. Reconnaissance of reinforced concrete (RC) frame and wall buildings showed that structures with well-distributed RC walls generally outperformed more flexible frame buildings, resulting in lower damage and better functionality after the earthquakes. Similar trends were observed in retrofitted buildings, where interventions that increased system stiffness through added RC walls were more effective than member-strengthening approaches alone. Nevertheless, stiffness alone was insufficient; satisfactory performance also depended on ductile detailing, adequate wall distribution, and the avoidance of critical irregularities. Through comparative case studies and damage statistics, this presentation explores how seismic design and retrofit strategies can move beyond collapse prevention towards improved post-earthquake functionality.
Presenters
Julian Rincon:
Julian Rincon is an Advisor in Risk Reduction at the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake, New Zealand. He obtained his BSc in Civil Engineering from Universidad del Valle, Colombia, and his PhD in Earthquake Engineering from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. His research and professional interests include the seismic behaviour of structures, the assessment and retrofit of reinforced concrete buildings, large-scale structural testing, and earthquake reconnaissance. In his current role at Toka Tū Ake he aims to bridge engineering research, natural hazard science, and decision-making to improve resilience and reduce disaster risk.
Santiago Pujol:
Santiago Pujol is Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Canterbury.
