Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the ideas and methods of the assessment of seismic intensity based on remote sensing, describes the models to assess the remote sensing synthetic damage index and seismic intensity. With the data of damage information extracted by the authors from the high resolution aerial images in the earthquake-stricken areas (Jiegu town, Yushu City, Qinghai) of the 2010 M_S7.1 Yushu earthquake, and the data obtained also by the authors through post-earthquake field investigation, the seismic damage level and seismic intensity have been estimated. Analysis of the results shows that the seismic intensity in the Yushu City is estimated as IX through the remote sensing assessment method, which is consistent with the result assessed according to the ground surveys. The results are discussed in the last part of the paper.

Key words: Building seismic damage, Synthetic seismic damage index, Seismic intensity, Remote sensing assessment, The 2010 Yushu earthquake