One of these projects – “Seismic assessment and rehabilitation of existing buildings” – is looking into ways of increasing the earthquake resistance of buildings in Turkey. Although Turkey is located in a region prone to earthquakes, a large percentage of the buildings are not built to withstand the forces of such a shock. Industrialisation and urbanisation have led to a rapid growth in the construction industry with little time and incentive to regulate and supervise building standards. There is a vital need to find the cheapest, most cost- effective and efficient method to strengthen a large number of buildings before the next major earthquake strikes.