Abstract: By using the Geographic Information System and according to the requirement of earthquake emergency response, the authors discussed the methods of studying the distri-bution of earthquake types in Beijing and its surrounding area, introducing the seismic safety map for Beijing and computing the theoretical distribution of some occurred earth-quakes. All these are helpful for the early trend analysis and judgement after earthquakes as well as for preparedness and reduction of earthquake disaster in Beijing. The impor-tance of the methods and maps was approved during earthquake emergency response of Zhangbei-Shangyi earthquake with M_S 6. 2 and Zhangjiakou earthquake with M_S 4.2.

Key words: Earthquake type, Geographic information system, Earthquake emergen-cy response, Seismic safety map