Post-quake urban road network functionality assessment for seismic emergency management in historical centres

Abstract

In this paper, a procedure for the evaluation of the interaction between existing buildings and urban roadway networks after a seismic event is proposed. This question is relevant in historical urban centres, where urbanisation typology has evidenced, in the past, lack of road networks’ residual connectivity in post-earthquake conditions. The present study proposes a method for the evaluation of the residual functionality in urban context, moving from the execution of building surveys, the application of probabilistic concepts and fuzzy logic with the aim to define probable urban road network damage scenarios. The methodology is applied to the Municipality of Conegliano (northeastern Italy) evaluating the potential seismic damage scenario to the historical urban centre and highlighting criticisms in the post-earthquake rescue operations.

Keywords:

• Buildings
• damage assessment
• decision-making
• redundancy
• risk
• seismic analysis

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the Urban Mobility Service and the Civil Protection and Security Service of the Conegliano Municipality for the information provided, Eng. Pierangelo Rossi for his contribution during the in situ surveys and Dr. Marco Munari for his helpful suggestions.