Abstract
Construction of reservoirs is known to have risks in triggering earthquakes. These reservoir-triggered earthquakes (RTE) are transitory phenomena which may feature a delay to occur, depending on the geology and geotechnical properties. RTE pose threats to buildings, and yet is remained at a research level in view of the normally unsuccessful prediction for duration of when and how long the vicinity of reservoir will experience RTE. Due to concern raised by public, interested parties and the Minister of Works on possibility of RTE as a result of the construction of Bakun Dam and future dams in Sarawak, a short communication paper crafted by the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Earthquake Committee, consulted by the international advisory group, was submitted to the Work Ministry. This paper replicates part of the short communication discussing on potential issues faced on RTE in Malaysia and put a focus on the recommendations of a minimum seismic loading in building design codes (i.e. peak ground acceleration of 0.07 g on rock), for a baseline protection, rather than just relying on the insufficient recorded data in limited years for lower seismicity area, for example like Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.
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Abbreviations
- EPGA:
-
Effective peak ground acceleration
- IEM:
-
Institution of Engineers Malaysia
- M:
-
Magnitude of earthquake
- PGA:
-
Peak ground acceleration
- PSHA:
-
Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment
- R:
-
Earthquake source to site distance
- RTE:
-
Reservoir-triggered earthquakes
- SEB:
-
Sarawak Energy Berhad
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Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful for the services given by the IEM Earthquake Committee members for the past 8 years of voluntary work.
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Looi, D.T.W., Chiang, J.C.L., Tsang, H.H., Lam, N.T.K. (2020). Potential Issues Faced on Reservoir-Triggered Earthquakes in Malaysia. In: Mohd Sidek, L., Salih, G., Boosroh, M. (eds) ICDSME 2019. ICDSME 2019. Water Resources Development and Management. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1971-0_16
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