1971年2月9日美国San Fernando地震发生于洛杉矶市近郊,道路及城市公用设施遭到破坏。此后,“生命线”一词就开始广泛地使用起来。1974年美国土木工程师协会建立了“生命线地震工程技术协会”(TCLEE)。1978年8月30日至31日,由该协会发起召开了首次学术会议, On February 9, 1971, the San Fernando earthquake in the United States took place on the outskirts of the city of Los Angeles. The roads and public facilities in the city were destroyed. Since then, the term “lifeline” has begun to be widely used. In 1974, the American Society of Civil Engineers established the “Lifeline Earthquake Engineering Technology Association” (TCLEE). From August 30 to August 31, 1978, the Association initiated the first academic conference.