PGA (peak ground acceleration)
The maximum ground acceleration expected at a site, expressed as a fraction of gravity, and the primary input to seismic design.
PGA is published as a probabilistic value — the acceleration with a given chance of being exceeded over a defined period. It is a hazard estimate, not a prediction of any particular earthquake.
Because it accounts for both proximity to faults and local soil amplification, two nearby sites can carry meaningfully different PGA values, and therefore different construction costs.
Where this shows up in the data
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