The Iranian plateau is one of the seismically active areas of the world. Iran’s complex geography, the northeastern movements of the Afro-Arabian plate and the stationary Euroasian plate, and its location on the volatile Alpine-Himalaya seismic belt combine to produce a high level of tectonic activity. During the past century this area has experienced a number of highly destructive earthquakes among which were the quakes of Silakhor (1909), Salmas (1930), Torud (1935), Lar (1960), Buin Zahra (1962), Dasht-e Bayaz (1968), Qir (1972), Tabas (1978), and most recently the 1990 Gilan and Zanjan earthquake.
The number of earthquakes, both small and large, that have occurred during this period worldwide remind us that the hazards of earthquake are both real and constantly with us. In view of the potential losses, both economic and human, it is imperative that all nations, especially those more prone to earthquakes such as Iran, continue to promote vigorous efforts toward mitigating present very high risk of earthquakes.
In light of the foregoing observations and the International Decade of Natural Hazard Reduction, the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES), in conjunction with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have organized the Second International Conference on Seismology and Earthquake Engineering in Iran. The purpose is to promote and advance scientific and engineering research in the area of seismology and earthquake engineering, as well as, developing and implementing safe and economic methods of earthquake resistant design and construction.
From the more than 450 abstracts received from 34 different countries, approximately 200 papers have been selected for presentation, discussions, special sessions and publication in the proceedings of the Conference. The proceedings consist of three volumes, in English and in Farsi. The scope of the Conference is broad as reflected by the following topic areas covered in these proceedings:
• Seismicity, Seismotectonic and Seismicity
• Vulnerability and Safety
• Earthquake Engineering
• Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
• Risk Mitigation, Planning and Disaster Management
• Earthquake Education and Public Awareness
• Programs of IDNDR
• Kobe Earthquake

We wish to take this opportunity to thank the many people who worked hard in preparing these proceedings and developing the program for the Conference. We are grateful to and would like to commend the authors of these papers whose contribution and information will contribute significantly toward a successful conference.

M. Ghafory-Ashtiany
Conference Chairman
F. Nateghi-Alahi
Conference Coordinator
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, 1995

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