The methodology deals with nearly all aspects of the built environment, and with a wide range of different types of losses. The methodology has been tested against the experience from several past earthquakes and against the judgment of experts.
Uncertainties are inherent in any such loss estimation methodology.
They arise in part from incomplete scientific knowledge concerning earthquakes and their effect on buildings and facilities, and in part from the approximations and simplifications necessary for comprehensive analyses. The User's Manual gives guidance concerning the planning of such sensitivity studies. Accuracy of losses associated with lifelines may be less than for losses associated with the general building stock. Uncertainty related to the characteristics of ground motion in the Eastern U.S. is high. Conservative treatment of this uncertainty may lead to overestimation of losses in this area, both for scenario events and when using probabilistic ground motion.