Seismic Vulnerability and Collapse Probability Assessment of Buildings in Greece

Abstract

The chapter focuses on the assessment of seismic vulnerability of buildings in Greece addressing all common typologies, with emphasis on collapse probability, which is directly related to the level of losses (casualties and economic losses). Two different approaches are presented for estimating the collapse probability of different types of buildings for the common values of the Modified Mercalli intensity (VI–IX), one based entirely on the processing of statistical data from past earthquakes in Greece, and one making use of hybrid (analytical and empirical) vulnerability curves; the percentage of population living or working in each building type is also estimated. Finally, some first comparisons with similar results from various other countries are presented. In addition a brief analysis of global earthquake fatality trends is presented which concludes that on a global level the risk to human life continues to be quite high.