Ever since the previous SEE Conference in 1995, several earthquakes with magnitude 8.0 and higher have occurred around the world. Northern Chile earthquake of July 30, 1995, Jalisco, Mexico earthquake of Oct. 9, 1995, and Irian Jay, Indonesia earthquake of Feb. 17, 1996 are just a few examples of these earthquakes. Between 1995 and beginning of 1999 an estimated total of 20,203 people were killed in earthquakes in the world. In this period, the number of earthquakes between magnitudes 7.0 and 7.9 was 73 and 6 for earthquakes with magnitudes 8.0 and higher. In 1998 alone, an estimated number of 8928 people were killed from earthquakes worldwide. The only way to protect our lives and resources against this powerful natural hazard is to increase our understanding and knowledge about the subject and implementing them for mitigation of seismic hazard by practical applications.
In addition to its primary responsibility which is scientific research, the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES) stepped forward and played an even more active role toward dissemination of knowledge on mitigation of earthquake hazard in 1991 by conducting the so-called SEE conferences which has been held every four years in Tehran. The aim of these conferences has been to promote research in Seismology, Earthquake Engineering, and related fields toward creating a safer and more reliable environment. The Third International Conference on Seismology and Earthquake Engineering is being held at a time when we are at the very end of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. It is hoped that this conference summarizes, in part, the results obtained in the last four or five years of this decade by scientists worldwide.
In this conference, a total of 410 abstracts were received by the Conference Organizing Committee which 218 of them were accepted, 63 were conditionally accepted, and 129 were rejected. The total number of complete papers received was 197 with 120 papers in English and 77 papers in Persian languages. The Proceedings consist of 5 volumes: Volumes I and U are in English language, Volume III and IV arc in Persian language, and Volume V. which will be published after the conference, would cover late papers and some opening statements given by invited guests.
We would like to take this opportunity and thank our respected keynote and state-of-the-art lecturers for their kind contributions as well as the authors of the excellent papers whose contribution added to the enhancement of this conference. We also thank the staff of IIEES who worked hard in preparing the many tasks involved in organizing this conference.
Mohsen Ghafory-Ashtiany
Conference Chairman and IIEES President
Mehran Tiv
Conference Coordinator
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, 1999
 |
 |