73
What can be done against such devastation by
the communities involved? First of all, scientific
research has to reach the level to enable geophysicist to forecast earthquakes. Where earthquakes
could trigger seaquakes and tsunamis could be
also induced alert systems should be applied on
distant coasts as well. The main destruction was
caused by the induced tsunami when a submarine
earthquake occurred near Sumatra in 2004, but
inhabitants on distant coasts could have been
warned hours before the arrival of the waves and
tens of thousands of people could have been
saved.
As a result of the cooperation of the UN and
the EU (European Commission), the Global
Disaster Alert and Coordination System
(GDACS) (Ansal 2014; Hábermayer et al. 2018)
was established. The system is composed of four
major parts:
1. alerts,
2. virtual on-site command centre,
3. data, maps and satellite imagery,
4. science portal.
GDACS made not only the coordination of international disaster recovery measures related to
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions more efficient, but measures related to other natural hazards (floods, tropical cyclones, typhoons) as well.
Earthquake forecast, however, has not been successfully solved yet.
With more comprehensive on-site geological
studies or taking their results more seriously,
both the number and size of human-induced
earthquakes could be reduced. In the case of
potential danger, human activities could be abandoned. (For the prevention of the earthquake in
Sichuan this would have been the right option.)
Besides these of course technical developments
also have a role in damage prevention (e.g.
improving mining technologies as mining triggers the highest number of human-induced
earthquakes).
In the course of re-building after devastating
earthquakes earthquake safe constructions should
be supported. In this respect Japanese experience
and architecture is exemplary. Houses are not
built with brick in Japan as brick walls are not
vibration resistant and collapse easily. Nowadays
light steel structure design prevails. The fundamental target is vibration resistivity which is
achieved by making load-bearing walls resistant
by installing elastic beams and supporting pillars.
Another solution is the special construction of
the foundation with vibration resistivity again as
target achieved by a steel structure. Vibration
resistivity of the foundation and the walls provide
quake resistivity for the entire house (Fig. 3.12).
Further engineering structures are required, however, for high buildings. Such is a swing soothing
pendulum at the top floors of Taipei 101. Such
modern technology is applied in several developed and earthquake prone countries and even
unbelievable techniques have been worked out.
For example, self-healing material for wall
cracks, elastically behaving foundations, etc.
Japanese designers take care even for the equipment in flats and offices. Heavy furniture (e.g.
large wardrobes) could cause severe injuries in
the case of earthquakes; therefore, built-in wardrobes are preferred.
Even for gas and oil pipes, the design could
reduce earthquake damage to a fraction. For
example, pipeline sectioning where an automated
system closes the broken pipe section and stops
fuel transport, and, what is most important,
blocks the spread of potential fires. In San
Francisco, for example, greatest damage was
caused by flames bursting at the breaks of the gas
pipes after the earthquake in 1906, extending to
create an enormous fire destroying the city over
four days.
It can be declared that many catastrophic consequences of earthquakes could be avoided since
technical conditions are available therefore prevention depends essentially on financial
possibilities.
In earthquake prone countries and areas making locals prepared to behave properly is also
very important. In Japan, for example, children
are not only taught in school for the necessary
acts in the case of an earthquake but they are also
practiced regularly.
3.2 Effects of Material Flows in the Mantle and the Lithosphere on the Society
What can be done against such devastation by
the communities involved? First of all, scientific
research has to reach the level to enable geophysicist to forecast earthquakes. Where earthquakes
could trigger seaquakes and tsunamis could be
also induced alert systems should be applied on
distant coasts as well. The main destruction was
caused by the induced tsunami when a submarine
earthquake occurred near Sumatra in 2004, but
inhabitants on distant coasts could have been
warned hours before the arrival of the waves and
tens of thousands of people could have been
saved.
As a result of the cooperation of the UN and
the EU (European Commission), the Global
Disaster Alert and Coordination System
(GDACS) (Ansal 2014; Hábermayer et al. 2018)
was established. The system is composed of four
major parts:
1. alerts,
2. virtual on-site command centre,
3. data, maps and satellite imagery,
4. science portal.
GDACS made not only the coordination of international disaster recovery measures related to
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions more efficient, but measures related to other natural hazards (floods, tropical cyclones, typhoons) as well.
Earthquake forecast, however, has not been successfully solved yet.
With more comprehensive on-site geological
studies or taking their results more seriously,
both the number and size of human-induced
earthquakes could be reduced. In the case of
potential danger, human activities could be abandoned. (For the prevention of the earthquake in
Sichuan this would have been the right option.)
Besides these of course technical developments
also have a role in damage prevention (e.g.
improving mining technologies as mining triggers the highest number of human-induced
earthquakes).
In the course of re-building after devastating
earthquakes earthquake safe constructions should
be supported. In this respect Japanese experience
and architecture is exemplary. Houses are not
built with brick in Japan as brick walls are not
vibration resistant and collapse easily. Nowadays
light steel structure design prevails. The fundamental target is vibration resistivity which is
achieved by making load-bearing walls resistant
by installing elastic beams and supporting pillars.
Another solution is the special construction of
the foundation with vibration resistivity again as
target achieved by a steel structure. Vibration
resistivity of the foundation and the walls provide
quake resistivity for the entire house (Fig. 3.12).
Further engineering structures are required, however, for high buildings. Such is a swing soothing
pendulum at the top floors of Taipei 101. Such
modern technology is applied in several developed and earthquake prone countries and even
unbelievable techniques have been worked out.
For example, self-healing material for wall
cracks, elastically behaving foundations, etc.
Japanese designers take care even for the equipment in flats and offices. Heavy furniture (e.g.
large wardrobes) could cause severe injuries in
the case of earthquakes; therefore, built-in wardrobes are preferred.
Even for gas and oil pipes, the design could
reduce earthquake damage to a fraction. For
example, pipeline sectioning where an automated
system closes the broken pipe section and stops
fuel transport, and, what is most important,
blocks the spread of potential fires. In San
Francisco, for example, greatest damage was
caused by flames bursting at the breaks of the gas
pipes after the earthquake in 1906, extending to
create an enormous fire destroying the city over
four days.
It can be declared that many catastrophic consequences of earthquakes could be avoided since
technical conditions are available therefore prevention depends essentially on financial
possibilities.
In earthquake prone countries and areas making locals prepared to behave properly is also
very important. In Japan, for example, children
are not only taught in school for the necessary
acts in the case of an earthquake but they are also
practiced regularly.
3.2 Effects of Material Flows in the Mantle and the Lithosphere on the Society