In case of an earthquake, the local sub-surface conditions may unfavorably enhance amplitudes at certain frequencies and hence increase damage. The identification of such site effects is therefore important. The vertical variation of the shear wave velocity with depth determines the response to an incoming wavefield (in the absence of additional 2D or 3D effects). Ambient seismic noise contains information about this variation, which can be accessed through analysis of the dispersion of the contained surface waves and through computation of vertical-to-horizontal (H/V) spectral ratios, which are sensitive to the total thickness of material above an impedance contrast and the average shear wave velocity within the material. Joint inversion of H/V ratio and dispersion curves from the ambient seismic noise data (including higher modes of surface waves) allows for reconstruction of the depth profile. Data recorded close to and in the city of Cologne showed that not only a fair representation of the local shear wave velocity could be obtained (given that the resolution at hand), but also that the depth of the impedance contrast as well as the velocity below it (bedrock velocity) could be estimated. An analysis of extended structures in Cologne (Dom church, hospital, Rhine bridges) hinted to possible damage, since site effects were unfavorable close to eigenfrequencies of the structures. The dynamical structural analysis was based on earthquake scenarios computed for several 2D profiles crossing the city. Since a calibration with recorded events was not possible, results remain to be checked of course. However, since especially the Rhine bridges have been designed only for horizontal loading forces (wind, braking of vehicles...), such an analysis is important. Applying the same analysis to the hospital led to minor damages of the infills, while some colums of the Dom church might collapse. While the hospital behaves relatively simple due to its structure, the Dom exhibits a complicated modal pattern due to its shape and the great variety of building material used.