A Challenge to Earthquake Engineering Professionals

Abstract

Recent earthquakes have caused unacceptably high death tolls. We, the editors of the World Housing Encyclopedia, believe that reducing such an unacceptably high loss of life from earthquakes is the most important challenge facing the global earthquake engineering community. This paper acknowledges the continuing disparity between life loss from earthquakes in developing and developed countries, and the increasing vulnerability in developing countries. A sampling of current efforts to improve construction practices includes the publication of earthquake tips in India, construction manuals in Colombia, and the formation of various international networks to promote collaboration and information sharing. Future possibilities include more rewards for research into inadequately engineered construction, greater emphasis on small-scale, local efforts, and a stronger emphasis on advocacy. We believe that all of us, as earthquake professionals, have a responsibility to make the built environment safer worldwide.

Reducing Earthquake Risk to Non-Engineered Buildings: A Study of Design and Construction Practices in Indonesia

“…Clearly, there is a gap between the existing knowledge base and its application (Comartin et al, 2004). A better understanding of the design and construction of non-engineered buildings will enable more useful and effective earthquake risk reduction measures to be developed in Indonesia.…”

Lessons Learned from Recent Earthquakes – Geoscience and Geotechnical Perspectives

“…Thus, wide spread damage to sub-standard structures and heavy loss of life seem to recur unfortunately too frequently. Comartin et al (2004) considered that reducing high loss of life from earthquakes is the most important challenge facing the global earthquake engineering community. Efforts underway to meet this challenge included: improving construction practices in individual countries such as India and Columbia and promoting international collaboration and information sharing.…”

Vulnerability Reduction through Local Seismic Culture The Case Study of Lefkada, Greece

“…With the introduction of reinforced concrete towards the end of the 19 th century, followed by its widespread use during the second half of the last century, the study and practice of the more local and traditional construction materials (such as mud, stone, wood and brick) and methods have been gradually replaced and, in cases, abandoned in the more developed nations [11].…”