Sciences

The earthquake in Nepal was a reminder: Billions of people live in houses that can't withstand shaking. Yet safer ones can be built cheaply.

Largest Earthquake in history; Biggest earthquake in energy released; Deadliest earthquakes in history.

In Japan, all buildings are strictly required to have an earthquake resistance structure.

Huge shock absorbers, walls that slide and Teflon foundation pads that isolate buildings from the ground all help explain why medium- and high-rise structures in Japan remained standing in the wake of the country's largest earthquake on record.

A YouTube video of a scene from inside a high-rise in central Tokyo captures the chilling moment a building swaying from the massive earthquake of March 11, 2011.

Earthquakes in China — History, Predictions, What To Do

The Transamerica skyscraper in San Francisco, U.S.A., is designed to withstand earth tremors.

Japan is no stranger to earthquakes. With a system that underscores the importance of smart design and preventative measures, millions of lives may very well have been spared.

Teetering on the crunch point of four tectonic plates, Tokyo’s 13m inhabitants live in daily anticipation of a colossal earthquake, which experts predict could strike any day. Despite this, developers continue to build ever-taller towers.

Article about Earthquake Engineering with additional links to other sites about earthquake engineering.

QuakeSmart is a FEMA National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) initiative to help businesses in at-risk earthquake communities implement earthquake mitigation actions.

Actionable and scalable guidance and tools to the private sector, its owners, managers, and employees about the importance of earthquake mitigation and the simple things they can do to reduce the potential of earthquake damages, injuries, and financial losses.

Protecting your property from earthquakes can involve a variety of actions, from inspecting and maintaining your building to installing protective devices.

If the sill plate is not securely anchored, an earthquake can cause it to slide with respect to the foundation. When this occurs, there is a greater potential for severe damage as well as injury to you and others.

Because most gas and water lines are rigid, they can be torn from their connection points during an earthquake. The results could include not only serious damage to your property but also injury to you and others.

During earthquakes, propane tanks can break free of their supporting legs. When a tank falls, there is always a danger of a fire or an explosion.

Some structures are built on cripple walls. As shown in the figure, a cripple wall is a short wall that rests on the foundation and supports the floor and exterior walls. If the cripple wall is not braced,
it can shift during an earthquake.

This guide presents seismic design and construction guidance for one- and two-family light frame residential structures that can be utilized by homebuilders, homeowners, and other non-engineers.

This booklet is a good start to begin strengthening your home against earthquake damage.

There are things that you can do to reduce the chances that you or other members of your household will be injured, that your property will be damaged, or that your home life will be unduly disrupted by an earthquake.

Article about Imperial College, UK scientists develop low-cost techniques for 'earthquake-proofing' homes.

New Zealand perspective.

Taipei 101 is prone to earthquakes and fierce winds common in its area of the Asia-Pacific. The engineers had to design a structure that could withstand gale winds up to 216 km/h and the strongest earthquakes.

There will be more to the stunning Apple Campus 2 than meets the eye. One of the most fascinating—and important—elements of the building will be 3 levels under your feet.

The NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures presents the minimum recommended requirements necessary for the design and construction of new buildings and other structures to resist earthquake ground motions throughout the United States.

An Introduction to the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures

Many rehabilitation techniques have been developed and used for repair and rehabilitation of earthquake-damaged and seismically deficient buildings.

Links to FEMA earthquake publications and tools related to building codes for new structures and to the seismic rehabilitation of existing structures.

Links to the FEMA Library records for earthquake publications of interest to seismic design and construction professionals.

Many homes in New York and New Jersey damaged during Hurricane Sandy experienced flood levels that exceeded the base flood elevation (BFE).

Homes constructed more than two decades ago may need earthquake strengthening upgrades to their foundations. Here’s how to earthquake proof your home and resist the seismic forces.

Millions of rights-cleared images from one trusted site@Britannica Image Quest

What lessons have been learned from previous earthquakes? Reports from Istanbul, India and Taiwan, on attempts to earthquake-proof cities.

These videos are all made by the BBC and are free to watch, without having to register or watch adverts.

Why earthquakes happen and what plates, faults, and waves have to do with it all.