Comparative on different models of risk analysis in cultural heritage

The document introduces a simplified methodology for risk assessment specifically developed for immovable cultural heritage. It encompasses the different components necessary for risk evaluation and can serve as a screening tool for the preliminary analysis of a large number of cultural properties, especially those with limited resources. It's also adaptable for cultural assets requiring a more detailed risk assessment.The proposed methodology is qualitative, relying on a set of structured questionnaires that integrate the key components of risk assessment: probability, consequences of the hazard, vulnerability of the property to the hazard's effects, loss of property value, and recovery capability post-incident. To illustrate its application, a case study is presented examining the seismic risk of a church in Italy damaged by the L'Aquila earthquake in 2009.
La metodología propuesta es un método cualitativo basado en un conjunto de cuestionarios estructurados que integran los principales componentes de una evaluación de riesgos: la probabilidad, consecuencias del peligro, la vulnerabilidad del bien a los efectos del peligro, la pérdida de valor de la propiedad y la capacidad de recuperación tras el suceso. Para ilustrar su aplicación se presenta un estudio de caso que analiza el riesgo sísmico de una iglesia en Italia que fue dañado por el terremoto de L'Aquila en 2009

Over the past two decades, various heritage-focused institutions have conducted diverse risk assessments. Although there's a general consensus on how these evaluations transform the approach these organizations take in caring for their collections, there remains a widespread apprehension regarding the significant effort required to conduct such assessments. This work describes the development of QuiskScan, a rapid risk analysis providing an overview of a collection, its values, and vulnerabilities with relatively minimal effort. QuiskScan utilizes a matrix-based approach, assigning value and vulnerability concerning different agents of deterioration across various sectors of the collection, highlighting areas where significant collection losses might occur. Similar to other risk analyses, and aiming to foster a shared understanding of the collection and institutional risk awareness, QuiskScan requires involvement from experts throughout the organization. This method should be viewed as a tool that falls between solely relying on best practices and conducting an exhaustive risk assessment, serving as a middle ground for institutions to manage risks effectively.

The proposed framework suggests a simplified risk assessment specifically tailored for built cultural heritage properties. This framework encompasses all components necessary for a comprehensive risk analysis and can serve as a screening procedure for the preliminary assessment of a large number of properties with limited resources. Moreover, it can identify cultural heritage properties that require a more refined risk assessment demanding additional resources. Belonging to the category of qualitative methods, the proposed risk analysis framework is built upon an existing approach developed for assessing the vulnerability of critical infrastructures. The qualitative risk analysis methodology relies on a set of structured assessment flowcharts that address the key components of risk analysis: the likelihood of the hazard, asset vulnerability to the hazard, consequences of the hazard, asset value loss, and event recovery capability.To illustrate the applicability of this methodology, an example application is presented concerning seismic risk.

The seismic assessment of art objects requires a multidisciplinary approach and the definition of a methodology to evaluate the level of safety and potential interventions necessary for seismic risk prevention, aiming for a balance between safety and preservation. This article describes an initial step in this direction, where various aspects of the procedure, from understanding the artwork to structural analysis, were studied in six statues by Michelangelo at the Gallery of the Academy of Florence. It is demonstrated that the principles and general criteria outlined in the "Italian Guidelines for the Assessment and Mitigation of Seismic Risk to Cultural Heritage," specifically dedicated to masonry constructions, could be beneficially extended to other artworks such as statues. This research could serve as a foundation for future studies on preventing seismic damage to art objects, including minimal interventions and specific devices like isolation systems.

The development of the MARIS system (Territorial Information System for the "Rischio Charter") to assess the risk of loss of cultural heritage in Italy is addressed.

This article describes an attempt by the Canadian Museum of Nature to assess the risks faced by its collections. Ideally, professionals in preventive conservation could quantify all the risks associated with a collection and determine the most cost-effective means to reduce the overall risk. However, currently, there is a lack of necessary information to make precise estimates of many risks. Nevertheless, simply engaging a group of collection care staff in this exercise yields several valuable outcomes.The staff becomes aware of the variety of risks affecting the collections. For certain risks, low-cost or cost-free methods to mitigate them can be immediately identified. Conservation efforts can use information on the uncertainties of estimates to develop improved methods for documenting damage and can devise research plans that address prioritized issues. Finally, although the information obtained might have limited precision, it is consistent and comparable across various collections. This allows managers to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation for preventive conservation.