An EU group has devised new approaches to building design that provide full control of a building's anticipated response to earthquakes. These include methods for assessing various building types prior to damage and quantifying human factors, among other consequences.
Recent earthquakes have shown that while modern design approaches may reduce fatalities, damage to buildings may still financially cripple cities or countries. Hence, structural engineers need more effective methods to construct better buildings.
Further details: A sturdy step forward for seismic design