Methodology for earthquake zonation of continental regions - example for the Sydney region, Australia

The scope of earthqiuake disasters in terms of potential human loss and property damage is increasing because of the population increase and consequent expansion of infrastructure and critical facilities. Mitigation of the earthquake hazard is a major goal both for plate margins and continental regimes, through the United Nations' International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) (AU)

Limitations of the Cornell - Mcguirre earthquake risk method - an engineering viewpoint for Australia

The need to consider earthquake loading as an important element in building desing in Australia, especially when undertaking desings for emergency and critical facilities and high - occupancy type structures, is now accepted. For the purpose of integrating such earthquake load parameters into desings, recommendations in the form of regulations or as a code are required. Thesetechnical and indeed legally binding regulations have received little attention in the pastbecause of the perception that Australia has "low" seismicity and hence a "low" risk (AU)

The potencial to reduce losses from earthquakes in Australia

At 10.27am on Thursday, 28 December, 1989 the devastating Newcastle earthquake shattered the commonly held myth that Australia, a stable continent far removed from the earthquake - prone areas associated with the Earth's plate margins, does not have series earthquakes. Newcastle, Australia's first killer earthquake claimed 13 lives and left a total damage bill estimated at approximately A$4 billion. (AU)