The inability to predict quakes has had devastating affects on areas that are on

and around tectonic faults.

• Scientists, for years, have attempted to collect data and crunch the numbers involved with the rumbling of the Earth. Though many have tried prediction, only the ability of modeling seismic shifts has improved. Predicting earthquakes is impossible.

The Richter Scale tells us how much energy is released by an earthquake. Using the collected data, though not being able to predict an earthquake, engineers and scientists

have made phenomenal strides to limit the damage and loss of life that earthquakes have been known for.

The most destructive of all earthquake hazards is caused by seismic waves reaching the ground surface at places where human-built structures, such as

buildings and bridges, are located.

• One of the most important tools that can be used to measure a building’s response to an earthquake is the Shake Table. A Shake Table simulates the seismic shifting of the Earth, which then enables engineers to take accurate measurements of the movement of certain types of buildings and building materials.