ez-frisk.com

What It Is

EZ-FRISK is a professional seismic analysis software package for geotechnical engineers, structural engineers, and seismologists, rather than a general-purpose developer tool in the conventional sense. It is used for site-specific seismic hazard analysis, helping users generate ground motions required for engineering design while avoiding full reliance on generic maps, manual command-line tools, and cumbersome file conversions.

Core Capabilities

The software integrates probabilistic/deterministic seismic hazard analysis, response spectrum matching, and site response analysis. The seismic hazard module can select from fault, areal source, background source, and gridded source databases, and perform calculations with attenuation relationships. Response spectrum matching provides a graphical interface for Norm Abrahamson’s RSP MATCH. Site response analysis uses SHAKE91 to define soil and rock profiles and output results such as response spectra, time histories, stress, and strain. It also supports multi-site grid analysis for generating seismic hazard maps, along with batch processing and sensitivity analysis capabilities.

Data, Ecosystem, and Pricing

EZ-FRISK’s strength lies in its rich built-in databases, including multiple regional seismic sources, more than 60 attenuation relationships, and customizable parameters. Newer versions include ground motion models such as NGA East and NGA Subduction. In terms of licensing, the seismic hazard analysis module includes one region, while additional regions require extra payment; multi-site grid analysis is a separate add-on module licensed annually. The official website does not disclose specific pricing or payment methods.

Pros and Cons

Its advantages include an integrated workflow, a user-friendly graphical interface, and timely updates to professional models, making it suitable for reducing data-entry errors and generating visualized results. Its drawbacks are that it is commercial and closed-source, with opaque pricing, and some proprietary models can only be viewed rather than copied or modified. At the same time, there is no visible API, SDK, CLI, or modern engineering integration capability, making it less friendly for automation platforms or software development teams.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is suitable for professional organizations carrying out site-specific seismic safety evaluations, engineering design ground motion generation, seismic hazard mapping, and sensitivity studies of attenuation models. There is no evidence in the main text regarding access from China, so it is rated as unknown; payment methods are also undisclosed. If you need open-source or more automation-friendly alternatives, consider evaluating OpenQuake, USGS NSHMP tools, as well as related tools such as SHAKE91 and RSPMatch.