Fixing the cracks in disaster mitigation
Useful sites
Geoscience Australia
What is an earthquake?
Provides information about earthquake science with an Australian focus.
Recent earthquakes measured by Geoscience Australia
Provides up-to-date records of earthquake activity.
Faultline: Seismic science at the epicenter (Exploratorium, USA)
Provides information on major earthquakes in the past and the science of earthquakes. Also includes sections on earthquake prediction, engineering of buildings, useful graphics and photos. Has an American perspective.
United States Geological Survey
Latest earthquakes – last 7 days
Shows the location of recent earthquakes around the world.
Building safer structures
Provides information about building monitoring during earthquakes.
Saving lives through better design standards
Explains how an understanding of earth movement leads to improved building standards.
Beginner’s ultimate glossary of seismology terms (Online Schools, USA)
Resistant buildings (Introducing and Demonstrating Earthquake Engineering Research in Schools, University of Bristol, UK)
Explains how buildings vibrate during earthquakes and how they can be protected or strengthened to resist earthquakes.
Earthquake engineering (National Information Service for Earthquake Engineering, University of California, USA)
Includes sections on the causes of damage by earthquakes and earthquake-resistant design and construction.
Earthquake leaflet (Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, Germany)
Provides simple information on earthquakes, earthquake risk and preventative action for those living in earthquake-prone areas.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Adobe house (Catalyst, 18 May 2006)
Describes an Australian researcher's work using string, bamboo and wire to reinforce mud brick houses.
Earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes (Ask and Expert)
Provides a series of questions and answers about natural disasters.
Disaster risk reduction begins at school (United Nations World Disaster Reduction Campaign)
Provides information about the 2006-2007 World Disaster Reduction Campaign and other campaigns since 2000.
World Disasters Report 2005 (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Switzerland)
Reports on the latest trends, facts and analysis of recent crises, focusing on the role of information in disasters.
Page updated July 2010.