Seismic Fragility and Risk Assessment of Waterfront Structures at the Port of San Francisco

A $5B program is underway at the Port of San Francisco to strengthen or replace the three mile long seawall that protects the San Francisco waterfront, from Oracle Park to Fisherman’s Wharf. Part of the program is a multi-hazard risk assessment, evaluating the consequences of flooding due to sea level rise and earthquake damage to port infrastructure, such as the seawall, bulkhead wharves, over twenty finger piers, and buildings and businesses on those marine structures, including the iconic Ferry Building. The assessment also identifies key utilities and emergency response facilities, addressing concerns with financial loss, life safety, emergency response function, loss of historical architecture, and other factors. This paper describes key factors pertaining to the seismic portion of the risk assessment, including development of seismic fragilities for the marine structures and overwater buildings and describing how this will be used for prioritizing repairs and upgrades. This paper is one of a group of papers presented in a special session specifically dedicated to this program.