There is currently a move towards seismic design maps that are risk-targeted (e.g. Luco et al., 2007). In this framework, buildings conforming to the rules have a known annual risk of attaining or exceeding a certain damage state (e.g. collapse) that is uniform over a territory. The development of such maps relies on three independent inputs: a) seismic hazard curves derived using probabilistic seismic hazard assessment for each grid point on the map; b) fragility curves expressing the probability that a structure, designed using the building code, attains or exceeds a certain damage state given a level of shaking; and c) knowledge of the risk level that is acceptable to the local population...
