Rapid Earthquake Loss Assessment After Damaging Earthquakes

This chapter summarizes the work done over last decades regarding the development of new approaches and setting up of new applications for earthquake rapid response systems that function to estimate earthquake losses in quasi real time after an earthquake. After a critical discussion of relevant earthquake loss estimation methodologies, the essential features and the characteristics of the available loss estimation software are summarized. Currently operating near real time loss estimation tools can be classified under two main categories depending on the size of area they cover: Global and Local Systems. For the global or regional near real time loss estimation systems: GDACS, WAPMERR, PAGER and NERIES-ELER methodologies are presented. Examples are provided for the local rapid earthquake loss estimation systems including: Taiwan Earthquake Rapid Reporting System, Realtime Earthquake Assessment Disaster System in Yokohama, Real Time Earthquake Disaster Mitigation System of the Tokyo Gas Co., and Istanbul Earthquake Rapid Response System.