Earthquake Damage Assessment of Lifeline System In Wenchuan Earthquake China on May 12, 2008, M= 8.0

On May 12, 2008, a M=8.0 earthquake invaded Wenchuan, Sichuan Province, which locates in the southwest of China. The paper introduces earthquake damage characteristics and degrees of lifeline system in this earthquake, mainly including the transportation system, telecommunication system, and power system. The earthquake damage survey showed that secondary geological disasters induced by earthquake like landslide, mud-rock flow and rock collapse were the most primary factors that damaged lifeline system. Several new methods of earthquake damage assessment and mapping are also presented herein. This earthquake event also proved that lifeline systems are more vulnerable than other construction, and lifeline systems are the most important element for earthquake rescuing, post-earthquake reconstruction and recovery.