What is Seismic Vulnerability

Earthquakes are the most destructive natural phenomena on the earth. Unfortunately, the most historical part of the World is under seismic risk. Seismic activities result in significant damages, even collapse on the historical and monumental structures and centers. In order to evaluate and decide the vulnerability level of any building, first visual and fast nondestructive methods and preliminary evaluation are to be carried out at the beginning for preventing damages. According to this concept, an engineer or an architect can decide whether the building is safe or needs further detailed evaluation to assess its adequacy. Based on these investigations, the best rehabilitation and retrofit method can be chosen. The aim of this chapter is to produce useful framework and easy applicable assumptions to not only the practicing engineer or architect but also to an ordinary person who can broadly understand and note the absence or presence of seismic-resistant features in the building and also the possibilities of further steps like seismic retrofit or rehabilitation.