Seismic Hazard Assessment by Preparing S1 and Ss maps for Baluchistan Province, Pakistan.

Seismic Hazard assessment is essential component for seismic risk analysis, mitigation and emergency management. Researches assessed hazard in the selected parts of Pakistan including Baluchistan province. Seismic Hazard Assessment for Khyber Pukthunkhwa (KPK) province has been previously done on large scale, however no such work has been carried out for Baluchistan province. The seismicity and frequency major earthquakes in Baluchistan province, require detailed Seismic Hazard Assessment. This paper presents the Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) of Baluchistan Pakistan, emphasizing on spectral acceleration parameters. Earthquake loading is defined in terms of 0.2sec and 1.0sec spectral acceleration. Seismic hazard is estimated in terms of Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) using Earthquake Risk Assessment (ERA) framework. This Framework is developed using Ambarasey's 2005 Ground Motion Prediction Equation for the assessment of hazard. A maximum Peak Ground Acceleration of 1.21 g, occurs in the district of Sibi, while minimum was found in Chaman of 0.03g using 1.0sec (S1) spectral acceleration and 0.65g at Quetta using 0.2sec (Ss) spectral acceleration. Seismic hazard mitigation strategies are recommended depending on the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]