Seismic vulnerability

This paper conducts quantitative and qualitative research to analyze how traditional dwellings were transformed during the reconstruction of four historic neighborhoods in the Kathmandu Valley following the Nepal earthquake. The transformation and modification of a traditional housing stock is evaluated through a combination of the direct impact of the earthquake, the application of modern earthquake-resistant building technology, the costs and logistics of reconstruction, and the priorities of local residents.

The Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre has produced the second scientific report. The report represents a collaborative effort of more than 300 disaster risk experts from different sectors and disciplines who have worked together for more than 2 years to present the consequences of disasters on various assets at risk (population, economic sectors, critical infrastructure, ecosystem services and cultural heritage).

The Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre has produced the first scientific flagship report "Science for Disaster Risk Management 2017: knowing better and losing less". The Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre has produced this report, the result of a multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary networking process representing the combined efforts of more than two hundred experts, mostly European. It aims to support the integration of science into informed decision-making by synthesizing and translating the evidence for disaster risk management and strengthening the science-policy and science-operation interface.

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.