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The Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation’s OpenQuake Engine is becoming a key tool for seismic risk assessment and planning in Canadian cities. Notable applications in Burnaby and Vancouver illustrate how this tool is helping communities mitigate risks and prioritise resilience measures tailored to local needs.

Burnaby’s B-SAFER Initiative

Burnaby, British Columbia, is leveraging OpenQuake as part of its Burnaby Strategies and Actions for Earthquake Resilience (B-SAFER) initiative. The engine enables the city to model potential earthquake scenarios and evaluate their impacts on critical infrastructure, housing, and emergency response capabilities. Charmaigne Pflugrath, Burnaby’s Emergency Management Coordinator, noted:

This modelling provides the foundation for informed decision-making, supporting city planners and stakeholders in identifying vulnerabilities and implementing proactive safety measures.

Vancouver’s Comprehensive Seismic Risk Assessment

In Vancouver, OpenQuake played a critical role in a recent citywide assessment of seismic risks to privately owned buildings. Conducted in partnership with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the study evaluated an estimated 90,000 buildings and modelled potential impacts of various earthquake scenarios, including a magnitude 7.2 Georgia Strait event.

The results underscored the vulnerability of older buildings, especially those constructed before modern seismic codes were introduced in 1973. The assessment highlighted neighbourhoods like the West End and Downtown Eastside as high-risk zones, with many structures predicted to sustain heavy damage or collapse. OpenQuake’s outputs informed a detailed report, guiding recommendations for retrofitting high-risk buildings and developing long-term resilience strategies​.

Bridging National and Local Resilience Efforts

Canada’s partnership with GEM, led by NRCan, has been instrumental in promoting the use of advanced tools like OpenQuake at both national and municipal levels. While NRCan has adopted the engine for broader seismic assessments, its application in cities such as Burnaby and Vancouver demonstrates its adaptability to local contexts.

This alignment between national expertise and local action ensures that communities are not only aware of seismic risks but are also equipped to address them through targeted interventions.

Encouraging Broader Adoption

As urban centres across Canada adopt tools like OpenQuake, there is a growing recognition of their value in enhancing community safety and resilience. Such initiatives provide a compelling case for continued support of innovative disaster risk reduction efforts. By integrating scientific models into practical planning frameworks, Canadian cities are setting benchmarks for resilience that can inspire action nationwide.

By highlighting the practical benefits of OpenQuake, this approach showcases how partnerships between GEM and local governments are helping to bridge global expertise and local needs, ensuring safer and more prepared communities.

To learn more about GEM's work or to arrange a customised presentation tailored to your organisation’s needs, contact the GEM Foundation. GEM’s projects and programmes for the public sector aim to inform policy-making, enhance risk reduction planning, and support efforts to build safer and more resilient communities.

To learn more about GEM’s ‘past, present, and future’ programs, download the paper: “A Brief Overview of the Past, Present, and Future of the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation”.