The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) today announced the release of ASCE AMPLIFY, a new interactive digital platform which provides access to ASCE standards to design more resilient buildings and infrastructure. AMPLIFY replaces ASCE 7 Online and includes access to Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures, ASCE/SEI 7-22, 7-16, 7-10, and the new release of Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Existing Buildings, ASCE/SEI 41-23 and its associated Tier 1 Checklists. Additional standards and materials will be added to AMPLIFY over the coming months.

ASCE AMPLIFY has a host of new and exciting features, including a new interactive interface.  Users will be able to see engineering provisions and commentary side-by-side, and it is now easier to quickly spot changes to standards when compared to previous editions. AMPLIFY also provides users with the ability to add their own notes, annotations, and bookmarks. In addition to ASCE standards, the platform includes ASCE’s Hazard Tool, which allows the user to input specific geographical locations and receive precise hazard data for eight environmental hazards specific to the location given, helping engineers better prepare structures for likely environmental threats using applicable ASCE standards. 

“Civil engineers have the important job of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public with the systems they design and build,” said Dana Compton, ASCE publisher and managing director of publications & standards. “ASCE AMPLIFY offers them a one-stop-shop for ASCE’s consensus-based standards to ensure they are designing for the conditions we are experiencing now and the hazards those systems may face in the future.”

ASCE also released an update to its standard, ASCE/SEI 41-23, Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Existing Buildings, which replaces previous versions of the ASCE/SEI 41 standard. ASCE 41 is a consensus-based standard providing analysis procedures and specific requirements for buildings and other structures to withstand seismic impacts. The update includes provisions to align with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) seismic hazard model along with new provisions related to structural steel and reinforced concrete in existing buildings, both of which have seen extensive updates since the release of ASCE/SEI 41-17. 

“ASCE 41-23 is the result of thousands of hours of volunteer work by leading experts to ensure the public’s safety in communities that face earthquake risks.”, said Bob Pekelnicky, P.E., S.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE, ASCE 41-23 chair. “This updated standard takes into account new research and lessons learned from previous earthquakes. Recent tragedies around the globe caused by major seismic events underscores the importance of resilient building standards, and ASCE 41-23 provides engineers and decision makers with the guidance they need to safeguard existing and future structures, lowering the chance of similarly tragic outcomes.” 

ASCE AMPLIFY is available for both individual and corporate subscriptions by contacting amplifytools@asce.org.

ASCE/SEI 41-23, Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Existing Buildings and the Tier 1 Checklists for Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Existing Buildings: Fillable Forms for Standard ASCE/SEI 41-23 are available for purchase today at the ASCE Bookstore.