Seismic microzonation
Refining site seismic intensity based on local ground conditions: soil category, resonant frequency and seismic amplification across the site.
Licensed service · EL-845/2026
General seismic zoning maps show average seismic hazard over large regions, yet the same earthquake is felt much more strongly on soft, saturated soils than on stiff rock. Seismic microzonation refines the design seismic intensity for a specific site by accounting for its local ground and groundwater conditions.
Baku and the Absheron peninsula sit in a high seismic zone where soils change sharply over short distances and the water table is shallow in many places. For high-rise buildings, hospitals, schools, bridges and other critical facilities, microzonation therefore directly affects both safety and cost-efficiency of the design.
The work is integrated: seismic surveys (refraction, MASW) give P- and S-wave velocities and Vs30, microtremor (HVSR) measurements give the resonant frequency of the soil column, and geotechnical and hydrogeological data are analysed alongside. From these, seismic amplification is calculated using the seismic impedance method and the site is divided into zones.
The outcome is a technical report and microzonation map in line with the applicable seismic codes (AzDTN), used by structural engineers in earthquake-resistance calculations.
When you need it
- Design of high-rise residential and office buildings
- Hospitals, schools and other public facilities
- Bridges, overpasses and transport structures
- Industrial and energy facilities
- Master planning of large development areas
What's included
- Review of seismotectonic and geological data
- Seismic surveys (refraction, MASW)
- Microtremor (HVSR) measurements and resonant frequency
- Integration of geotechnical and groundwater data
- Calculation of seismic amplification
- Dividing the site into zones
How we work
- Data collection and work programme
- Seismic and microtremor fieldwork
- Joint processing with geological data
- Amplification calculation and zoning
- Delivery of report and map
Deliverables
- Seismic microzonation map
- Results for soil category, Vs30 and resonant frequency
- Refined design seismic intensity
- Technical report
