Taehui Kim

Predicting hurricane wind damage by claim payout based on Hurricane Ike in Texas

ABSTRACT The increasing occurrence of natural disasters and their related damage have led to a growing demand for models that predict financial loss. Although considerable research on the financial losses related to natural disasters has found significant predictors, there has been a lack of comprehensive study that addresses the relationship among vulnerabilities, natural disasters, and the economic losses of individual buildings. This study identifies the vulnerability indicators for hurricanes to establish a metric to predict the related financial loss. We classify hurricane-prone areas by highlighting the spatial distribution of losses and vulnerabilities. This study used a Geographical Information System (GIS) to combine and produce spatial data and a multiple regression method to establish a wind damage prediction model. As the dependent variable, we used the value of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) claim payout divided by the appraised values of the buildings to predict real economic loss. As independent variables, we selected a hurricane indicator and built environment vulnerability indicators. The model we developed can be used by government agencies and insurance companies to predict hurricane wind damage.

Reinforcing Method for the Protective Capacities of Dispersal and Combat Facilities using Logistic Regression

This study provides the numerical model to assess retrofit and strengthen levels in the dispersal and combat facilities. First of all, it is verified that direct-hitting projectiles are more destructive to the structures rather than close-falling bombs with explosion tests. The protective capacity of dispersal and combat facilities, which are modeled with soil uncertainty and structural field data, is analyzed through finite element method. With structural survivability and facility data, the logistic regression model is drawn. This model could be used to determine the level of the retrofit and strengthen in the dispersal and combat facilities of contact areas. For more reliable model, it could be better to identify more significant factors and adapt non-linear model. In addition, for adapting this model on the spot, appropriate strengthen levels should be determined by hands on staffs associated with military facilities.

An Assessment of Safety Education Contents Propriety Analyzing Accident Types by Work Classification in Construction Sites

As defined by the experts, safety education is the basic method through which people can protect themselves from the dangers in workplace. Therefore, safety education is an important safety measure that can be effectively utilized in disaster prevention without any certain limit. However, some construction sites do not implement the safety education by rule and have shortfall in reducing construction accident by education. One of the reason is improper safety education contents. Therefore, this study suggested to improve an education contents focused on high risk level accident types with figure risk level out. This study drew an occurrence intensity and management importance by survey. With this result, this study aims to analyze the propriety of education contents used in construction sites.

Life Cycle Costing: Maintenance and Repair Costs of Hospital Facilities Using Monte Carlo Simulation

During the administration of a construction project, various types of participants are engaged in the project. From the design phase to the maintenance phase, these participants may confront many risks. To avoid these risks, participants should utilize an insurance company or a bond company. The types of risks and liability that a construction manager may face are listed in the construction law or contract. But there are some arguments related to risk transferring and the content of risks. For this reason, construction managers must carefully consider any possible risks in the contract and the construction law. Therefore, for construction managers to deal with risks appropriately, the introduction of a legal requirement to carry professional liability insurance, a defined compensation range for damages, a method of guarantee in the event of defects, a defined compensation claim period for damage, and a method of damage claim were suggested in this study.

Development of a Maintenance and Repair Cost Estimation Model for Educational Buildings Using Regression Analysis

The aim of this study is to identify key performance indicators as well as the correlations among these indicators to develop a maintenance and repair cost estimation model for educational buildings based on actual payment records. The importance of financial estimation for facility management systems has increased. Especially, the estimation of maintenance and repair costs is essential to facility management for educational buildings considering the long-life cycle of a building. However, data regarding facility management is still limited. This study adopts payment records related to maintenance and repair work from educational institutions to develop a quantitative approach. Statistical analyses and a multiple regression analysis are conducted to examine the record and generate a cost estimation model. The findings and results of this study provide a guide for maintenance and repair cost estimation of integrated facility management and could be used as a guideline for budgeting for school maintenance.

Revealing building vulnerability to windstorms through an insurance claim payout prediction model: a case study in South Korea

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to develop regional vulnerability functions of buildings to estimate the loss from windstorms. Windstorms trigger critical financial damage to assets around the world. Insurance companies assess the financial risk of their exposures by employing windstorm risk assessment models. The vulnerability function in the risk assessment model is generally based on the analysis of actual damage records from insurance companies. However, the absence of detailed loss data is an obstacle to developing vulnerability functions. To fill this gap, this study provides a methodology to develop a function using an insurance companys loss data associated with windstorms. Vulnerability functions are generated based on the wind speed, line of business, and value of the property. The findings and methodology of this study offer a practical way of reflecting the real economic losses and regional vulnerability of buildings and help to develop vulnerability functions for insurance companies and emergency planners.

Insulation Level Assessment on the Military Residential Facilities Considering the Investment Payback Period

Purpose: This study, which is based on the investment payback periods, aims to suggest the proper insulation level which can be adapted to the Defense Military Facility Criteria regarding the military residential condominiums. For the energy performance simulation, it is required to collect the residential data regarding the military condominiums and climatic data concerning the regions they belongs to. The estimates through energy performance simulation are the regional heating loads and the heating transmission coefficients of building components. Method: With the heating loads, the annual heating cost saving per square meters is assessed. With the heating transmission coefficients of building components, the additional insulation installment cost per square meters is evaluated. With two outcomes, one as an annual value and the other as a present value, the investment payback period is calculated. Result: In result, it could be concluded that 55~70% insulation ratio can lead a superior residental environments as well as be contributed to the national policy associated with zero-energy buildings because the estimated investment payback period is shorter than the life span of the military residental condominiums. This upshot can be used as a foundation to enactment the Defense Military Facility Criteria associated with military residential condominiums.

Development of Safety Training Delivery Method Using 3D Simulation Technology for Construction Worker

Construction worker safety and safety training continue to be main issues in the construction industry. In order to promote safety awareness among workers, it is imperative to develop a more effective and efficient safety training. This study compared two methods in construction worker safety training: 1) a conventional lecture and 2) 3D simulation through Building Information Modeling. Both training methods included the same contents, a selection of safety standard and guide suggested by Occupational Safety and Health Agency and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency; the contents were then produced into two types of training methods. A survey was conducted targeting on safety managers, in which the managers evaluated lifelikeness, active learning and enjoyment that each of training methods can promote. The results of the survey showed that innovative method using 3D simulation was more effective than conventional lecture method in terms of its lifelikeness, active learning and enjoyment. This study will provide implications that innovative method using the virtual reality is more effective than conventional lecture method.

Assessment of the Educational Effects through the Building Information Modeling for the Establishment of the Wartime Relocatable Military Facilities

The re-locatable military facilities are significant in combat zones with limited infrastructures. Military tents are particularly one of the most essential components in the battlefields, During the offensive operation. This study assesses educational effectiveness of the 4D Building Information Modeling (BIM), which is used to deliver educational information with considering re-locatable military facility construction. Furthermore, the real time for constructing temporary concentration camp was measured, By using analysis of variance associated with the educational effects of the 4D BIM. Statistically, understandability of facility construction using 4D BIM was found to be higher than the conventional educational materials with field manual.