The Optical Disk “Spitak Earthquake of 1988”

A vast amount of information is needed in order to develop strategies for mitigating impacts of catastrophic earthquakes. This includes aspects of the natural environment, the performance of man-made structures, and the earthquake itself. Recent advances in digital data storage have made it possible to collect these data onto a single compact disk, greatly simplifying the process of data access and distribution. The authors have endeavored to collect all available sets of observational data on the Spitak earthquake of 1988. This is the first attempt to build up an information collection for a comprehensive description of a disastrous earthquake. The database has the following subdivisions: Geology, Geophysics, Main shock, Aftershocks, Impact (epicentral area, towns, buildings), Elements of Prediction, and Seismic Waveforms. Information is represented by a set of computer maps with digital data and text used as a basis for the maps. The data management system makes the data easily available to the user. This version of the database is designed for IBM PC/AT compatible computers, and includes about 180 Mb of information and data.