Instrumental in this activity is the evaluation and assessment of the quality of the construction works in seismic areas in general, and in rural and less developed regions in particular. JRC ELSA participates in and executes on regular basis a number of field missions for the collection of data and information about the built infrastructure, both in general as well as following natural and technological disasters. The main objectives of the field missions are to collect data and make observations leading to improvements in design methods and techniques for strengthening and retrofit, and to assist the phase of reconstruction.

The field missions may be organized by the JRC ELSA team themselves, or by teaming up with international organisations, such as the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT, UK), or by JRC ELSA giving scientific and technical support to DG AIDCO and DG RELEX of the European Commission.