A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management,School of Environment, Resources and Development - School of Engineering and Technology

Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2023

Nepal faces high degree of seismic risk, contributed mostly by vulnerabilities in buildings. Although building codes were developed in 1994, lack of awareness and skills, and inadequacy in policy implementation has resulted in more than 70% of existing building stock to be vulnerable. For existing vulnerable buildings, a widely accepted mitigation measure is seismic retrofitting, technical interventions that increase the structural capacity of buildings to withstand earthquake shaking. However, the uptake of seismic retrofitting is very low in Nepal, especially in private residential buildings. Hence, the objective of this research was to investigate houseowner{u2019}s decision-making process in implementing seismic retrofitting and identify the key barriers faced in the process. The research employed qualitative and quantitative approaches to identify the factors that influence a houseowner{u2019}s seismic retrofitting decisions and determine their degree of influence on decision outcomes. Findings of the study revealed that low levels of awareness, false perception of risks, low levels of perceived benefits and confidence in seismic retrofitting and the lack of adequate financial and technical support are the key barriers faced by houseowners in adopting and implementing seismic retrofitting in their vulnerable buildings. These barriers are further shaped by a lack of communication and risk information, low levels of social action in risk mitigation, lack of exposure to the concept and technologies of seismic retrofitting and lack of policies and support mechanisms. Following the identification of the barriers, potential motivating strategies to promote seismic retrofitting have been identified through semi-structured key informant interviews and review of existing practices in Nepal and other earthquake-prone countries such as Japan, New Zealand and US. Fifteen policy instruments and strategies have been identified and discussed across four major themes: information and awareness; technical, research and development; regulatory and control mechanism and financial incentives and support mechanisms. The findings of this research will be useful to the government and development partners in Nepal to devise appropriate strategies to support, facilitate and enforce seismic retrofitting in private residential buildings, thereby aiding earthquake risk management.