Seismic Risk and Disaster Management Perspectives in Hungary, Presented on a Case Study Performed in Győr

Recent earthquakes with high number of casualties and enormous devastation have recently pushed engineers and designers to adopt preventive approaches to seismic safety. Vulnerability to earthquakes has increased due to extending urban areas. Seismicity in the Pannonian Basin is moderate compared to seismicity of surrounding areas, nonetheless, based on the recent high quality of earthquake observations, epicentre determinations have shown specific regions where earthquakes occur repeatedly. Moderate seismicity does not necessarily equate to moderate damage from earthquakes. Reports of major earthquakes often refer to heavy building damage and liquefaction (e.g. 1763 Komárom eq.). To reduce the potential damage, a comprehensive assessment of the seismic risk followed by a package of relevant remedial measures is needed. This paper presents the case study for the city of Győr, focusing on the local soil effects performing response analysis with more than 6,000 realizations and visual screening of more than 5,000 buildings to determine the vulnerability and the overall seismic risk. Based on the results engineers can plan improvements of the infrastructure easier, and authorities are able to make better plans for emergency activities in case of a seismic event.