Cross country analysis of land use planning on earthquake prone area

Structural measures change risk environment into safer place and such improvements leave a secure impression. With large scale of earthquake disasters, structural measures might provide limited against effect. Relatively, non-structural engineering measures such as land use plan receive increasing attention by controlling development location, type and intensity and to physically lead new development away from risk area but safer places. Although the faith and confidence of land use planning on disaster mitigation are challenged by the public, both America and New Zealand have identified and regulated land use planning on active fault zone. Currently, the regulations of direct, indirect and information disclosure on seismic disaster in Taiwan are too general, and it is necessary to take disaster risks into consideration while approving development plans. Therefore, this study refers to disaster mitigation land use planning experiences in America and New Zealand to conduct a comparative analysis on land use planning and related acts. This study might be suitable referred to future disaster mitigation land use plan in Taiwan.