Development of an Inventory Modelling Framework for Seismic Risk Assessment of Residential Buildings in Eastern Canada

Seismic risk assessment for residential buildings is a priority in Eastern Canada, given its densely populated cities and history of earthquake activity. A crucial component of this assessment is the development of an accurate and practical inventory model, which relies on comprehensive investigations and the collection of reliable data on residential buildings. A simple yet reliable inventory framework is essential to streamline the process of building inventory while reducing costs and time. Moreover, there is a need for more refined and standardized classifications of the structural systems of residential buildings. This study proposes a new inventory modelling framework for residential buildings, applied to Montreal as a case study, with a focus on the number of residential units. The two main objectives of this study are: (1) to conduct a historical review of residential construction practices in the city, defining common materials and structural systems; and (2) to determine their distribution across administrative areas, including both independent municipalities and boroughs within the City of Montreal. To achieve these objectives, previous studies and various pertinent resources were evaluated to trace the evolution of residential construction, and two open-access databases were employed and integrated to derive results. The analysis covers over 900,000 residential units, revealing that approximately 30% and 22% are associated with buildings constructed using wood light frames and concrete shear walls, respectively, while 48% correspond to buildings with mixed wood–masonry structural systems as well as masonry buildings. This inventory model offers practical insights into the distribution of residential units by structural systems, improving future simulations to estimate uninhabitable unit rates, population displacement, and shelter needs, which will support and strengthen community resilience.