Seismic Intensity and Its Applications to Engineering : A Study in Japan

Abstract

Motivated by a belief that qualified seismic intensity data should have wider application capability in engineering seismology and earthquake engineering, we have been continuing a series of investigations in Japan, based essentially upon a questionnaire method advanced in both of survey scheme and subsequent data processing. Briefly in this paper we first describe the survey procedure, and then demonstrate a few applications to drawing minute isoseismal maps, to exploring seismic source and path characteristics, and further to elucidating microzoning characteristics in urban and rural areas. The exemplified are 1981 Off-Urakawa and 1983 Central Japan Sea earthquakes. The obtained results are well examined through various comparisons with instrumental and other data.