Seismic Hazard and Earthquake

At Schnabel, we specialize in geotechnical earthquake engineering—a key discipline focused on evaluating and mitigating the effects of seismic loading on foundations, slopes, and structures. Our dedicated Seismic Hazard and Earthquake Engineering team combines decades of experience with advanced analytical tools to support the safe and resilient design, construction, and evaluation of critical infrastructure in seismically active regions. With hundreds of seismic hazard evaluations completed, our team has developed design solutions throughout the United States and across the Asia-Pacific.

Our expertise proves vital in a wide range of projects involving dams, levees and impoundments, tunnels, land reclamation, transportation infrastructure, airports, commercial developments, underground utilities, high-security government facilities, and other . Using a multidisciplinary approach, we create high-performance solutions to help our clients address specific seismic challenges, meet regulatory requirements, and navigate seismic risks to align with overarching project goals. By working closely with in-house geophysical experts, we conduct comprehensive site investigations that provide the essential seismic data needed to develop site-specific hazard mitigation solutions.

Our technical practice encompasses the full spectrum of seismic hazard and earthquake engineering services, including:

Geophysical Services

• Geotechnical investigation programs (drilling, sampling, and laboratory testing)
• Geophysical surveys (MASW, crosshole, and P-S suspension logging)
• Fault mapping and seismic source characterization
• Soil site classification

Seismic Hazard Analyses

• Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA)
• Deterministic seismic hazard analysis (DSHA) and controlling earthquake scenario
• Uniform hazard spectra (UHS) and conditional mean spectra (CMS)

Site Response Analyses

• Ground motion development (scaling, spectral matching)
• 1D and 2D nonlinear and equivalent linear site response analysis
• Design response spectra for national and international code requirements

Seismic Risk Assessment

• Seismic risk screenings and evaluation of potential failure modes (PFM)
• Seismic stability and damage assessments
• Seismic retrofit assessment

Earthquake Engineering

• Development of seismic design criteria
• Evaluation of seismic hazards and mitigation strategies
• Advanced laboratory testing for dynamic soil response
• Characterization of challenging materials (e.g., volcanic, pumice, coral sands)
• 2D and 3D finite element and finite difference numerical modeling (PLAXIS, FLAC)
• Liquefaction assessment, cyclic mobility, lateral spreading
• Design of foundations, slopes, and retaining structures for seismic loading
• Analysis and optimization of ground improvement
• Construction specifications for compaction, field testing, and design verification
• Forensic engineering