ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to present a reliable procedure that should be followed for the emergency inspection of buildings after an earthquake so that all the structures of the affected area will be inspected in a credible way. The data collected by such inspections assist the State in achieving the following goals (UNIDO/UNDP, 1985, Penelis and Kappos, 1997):
• Reduce the number of casualties and injuries to occupants of damaged buildings, which might be caused by collapses due to subsequent aftershocks;
• Help people of the affected area gradually return to a normal way of life, which presupposes a reliable characterisation of the dangerous buildings and full knowledge of the extent of hazardous structures;
• Develop a database for a uniform assessment of risk in economic, social, political and other terms;
• Record and classify earthquake damage, so that the repair of damaged buildings will follow a priority order;
• Improve earthquake-resistant design, based on the recorded damage.
