A Review of Earthquake Damage Estimation Methods

A number of methods have been developed with the aim of estimating the damage or effects of future earthquakes. As this field continues to rapidly expand, it is valuable to gain some perspective by comparing a representative sample of methods to see in what respects they are similar or different. The most significant conclusion of this review is that the use to which a damage estimation may be put is the single most important factor and, while there is already an extensive array of methods, there has been relatively little in the way of practical application.