## 1 Introduction
Nonetheless, its methodological framework can be reasonably extended to such conditions, provided its limitations are recognized and its application is properly justified. In this study, the methodology was adopted as a robust tool to evaluate the influence of slope on the seismic design factors of shear wall buildings. Urban development needs, particularly in cities with irregular topographies, have increasingly required the construction of buildings on steep natural slopes. The design of such structures involves different requirements compared with those on flat or gently sloped terrain. It has been established that a steep or complex topography can lead to the localized amplification of the seismic response, representing an additional demand on the structure compared with flat-terrain conditions [39; 40; 41; 42; 43]. Accordingly, the seismic design of buildings located on steep slopes represents a significant technical challenge, as most current international seismic design codes--except for a few cases [3]--do not explicitly consider the influence of slope on structural responses or design factors. In practice, the design criteria used for flat or low-slope sites are often directly applied to hillside structures, without accounting for the potential impact on seismic demand and structural safety. This study aimed to contribute to addressingthis gap through a systematic evaluation of seismic design factors in reinforced concrete shear wall buildings, considering varying slope inclinations. The results provide a foundation for the improved estimation of the seismic demand and structural response in these particular settings. Buildings located on sloping terrain exhibit several features that affect their seismic behavior due to topography-induced asymmetry and geometric adaptations to the terrain [44; 45]. Recent research has shown that the presence of slopes can lead to the local amplification of seismic motions due to soil-structure interaction effects and changes in the vibration modes of buildings [46; 47; 48]. It has been found that hillside buildings may experience increased interstory drifts and higher internal force demands in shear walls, which could compromise structural safety if not properly addressed in designs [49; 50; 51]. It should be noted that although the FEMA P695 methodology does not explicitly address its application to sites that may exhibit topographic effects, its methodological structure allows for adaptation to buildings located on sloping terrain, which are potentially susceptible to topography-induced seismic amplifications. In the present study, these effects were decoupled due to the high complexity involved in coupling the three-dimensional modeling of the ground response with structural performance analysis. This decision also made it possible to more clearly isolate the influence of slope on structural performance. Nevertheless, it is acknowledged that omitting such effects may lead to an underestimation of the seismic demand in areas with a pronounced topography. Based on the above, future studies could complement this approach through simplified strategies that consider topographic influence, such as semi-empirical amplification factors based on terrain inclination, or through advanced soil-structure interaction models, provided the project has access to sufficient expertise and computational resources. The seismic design of hillside buildings remains a topic that is still underrepresented in international design codes, despite the extensive documentation of slope effects on structural responses in recent studies [52; 53; 54]. In this context, the present study sought to contribute to knowledge in this area by applying the FEMA P695 methodology to evaluate seismic design factors in shear wall buildings located on sloped terrain, with the aim of optimizing their structural performance under seismic events.