During the last decades, and specifically in the recent years, earthquake catastrophies have increased at an alarming rate. The reason is mainly an increasing vulnerability and risk due to an expanding population density and industrialization. Already today, earthquake catastrophies could be considerably reduced if available scientific knowledge and technological know-how could be effectively addressed to protective and preventive measures against destruction by future earthquakes. This volume contains contribution ranges for a comprehensive concept, which in a a multidisciplinary approach, from fundamental research to concrete measures of protection and disaster preparedness.
