scholarly journals Foreword Special issue Empowering communities for non-structural seismic risk mitigation: the central role of communication

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. SE331
Author(s):  
Mário Lopes ◽  
Gemma Musacchio ◽  
Mónica Amaral Ferrira ◽  
Carlos Sousa Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Seismic Capacity ◽  
Engineering Structures ◽  
Strong Earthquakes ◽  
Design Procedures ◽  
Seismic Risk Mitigation ◽  
Seismic Vibrations

This special issue of “Annals of Geophysics” concerns the dissemination of knowledge on the prevention of damage mainly due to non-structural elements during earthquakes and its practical application at houses, schools and offices by common citizens, companies and institutions. The seismic capacity of buildings and other civil engineering structures and infrastructures are object of regulations for design and construction, and in some cases also the design, fabrication and mounting of electrical and mechanical equipments. Consequently, even in strong earthquakes many collapses of buildings and infrastructures are avoided. However, with few exceptions, design procedures do not aim at avoiding seismic vibrations from being transferred to the structures, but enable the structures to resist to the effects of those vibrations

The total costs of seismic retrofits: State of the art

2021 ◽  
pp. 875529302110095
Author(s):  
Juan F Fung ◽  
Siamak Sattar ◽  
David T Butry ◽  
Steven L McCabe
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Indirect Costs ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
Current State ◽  
Seismic Risk Mitigation ◽  
State Of Practice ◽  
Cost Components

This article presents the current state-of-practice with respect to quantifying the total cost to retrofit an existing building. In particular, we combine quantitative, qualitative, and heuristic data to provide a taxonomy for understanding the direct and indirect costs associated with seismic risk mitigation. Much of the literature to date has focused on estimating structural retrofit costs, the costs of retrofitting the structural elements of a building. In contrast, there is very little research or data on the remaining cost components of the total cost. We propose using structural cost as the foundation for approximating the remaining cost components and the total cost itself. To validate our findings, we compare the proposed approximations with actual cost estimates developed by engineering professionals.

The role of friction in the seismic risk mitigation of freestanding art objects

2014 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 389-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelina Monaco ◽  
Mariateresa Guadagnuolo ◽  
Antonio Gesualdo
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Risk ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Art Objects ◽  
Seismic Risk Mitigation

“Eternal Bodies”: images of archangels in the upper parts of Nubian buildings

2020 ◽  
pp. 713-736
Author(s):  
Magdalena Łaptaś
Keyword(s):  
Near East ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Christian Art ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Cosmic Space

Images of archangels and angels, which were painted on the walls, in the upper parts of the buildings and, on their structural elements, were very popular in Christian Nubian painting as attested by the discoveries from Church SWN.BV on the citadel in Old Dongola. These images, which derive from pre-Christian art, depict the eternal nature of the archangels and angels. Presenting this group of representations, the author traces the origins of these images to highlight the role of these spiritual beings as intermediaries between God and humankind. As such, they move freely between the Heavens and the Earth, so the air and cosmic space are their natural surroundings. Moreover, archangels govern the forces of nature, the planets, and the seven skies. Therefore, their sanctuaries were located on hill summits, in the upper chapels, on structural elements of ecclesiastical buildings, etc. The Nubian tradition is therefore part of a broader Mediterranean tradition, the roots of which should be sought in the Near East.

Sequential risk mitigation and the role of natural recovery in contaminated sediment projects

1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 331-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Garbaciak ◽  
Philip Spadaro ◽  
Todd Thornburg ◽  
Richard Fox
Keyword(s):  
Lower Cost ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Source Control ◽  
Contaminated Sediment ◽  
Practical Observation ◽  
Ecosystem Recovery ◽  
Natural Recovery ◽  
Natural Processes

Sequential risk mitigation approaches the remediation of contaminated sediments in three phases designed to: (1) immediately reduce the ecological and human health risks associated with high levels of contamination, using methods such as the confinement or capping of high-risk materials; (2) reduce the risks associated with moderate levels of pollution to a minimum, on a less urgent schedule and at a lower cost; and (3) address areas of limited contamination through a combination of natural recovery and enhanced natural recovery (to aid or speed those natural processes). Natural recovery, the reduction of contaminant concentrations through natural processes, is based on the practical observation that overall ecosystem recovery appears to be largely a function of time. Sediment decomposition and the mixing of new and old sediments by bottom-dwelling organisms can both contribute to reduced contaminant concentrations. Knowledge of these processes--sediment decomposition, sediment mixing by bottom-dwelling organisms, and chemical residence time is critical in the development of appropriate ecosystem recovery and waste management strategies. Evaluations to support natural recovery predictions are designed to collect and evaluate information necessary to determine whether surface sediment chemical concentrations, with adequate source control, will reach the cleanup standards within a ten-year period.

Proactive Actions Based on a Resilient Approach to Urban Seismic Risk Mitigation

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 321-335
Author(s):  
Marco Vona
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Seismic Risk ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Housing Stock ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Natural Risk ◽  
Seismic Risk Mitigation

Background: Seismic risk mitigation is an important issue in earthquake-prone countries, and needs to be solved in those complex communities governed by complex processes, where urban planning, socioeconomic dynamics, and, often, the need to preserve cultural assets are present simultaneously. In recent years, due to limited financial resources, mitigation activities have often been limited to post-earthquake events, and only a few in periods of inactivity, particularly in urban planning. At this point, a significant change in point of view is necessary. Methods: The seismic risk mitigation (and more generally, natural risk mitigation) must be considered as the main topic in urban planning and in the governance of communities. In fact, in several recent earthquakes, significant socioeconomic losses have been caused by the low or lack of resilience of the communities. This is mainly due to the high vulnerability of private buildings, in particular, housing units. Results: Therefore, in recent years, several studies have been conducted on the seismic resilience of communities. However, significant improvements are still needed for the resilience assessment of the housing stock, both qualitatively and quantitatively. In this study, which is applied to the housing system, a proposal regarding a change in urban planning and emergency management tools based on the concept of resilience is reported. As a first application, a case study in Italy is considered. Conclusion: The proposal is focused on defining and quantifying the improvement of the resilience of the communities and this must be obtained by modifying the current Civil Protection plan. New tools are based on a new resilience community plan by encompassing urban planning tools, resilient mitigation strategies, and consequently, emergency management planning.

scholarly journals Fluvial Geomorphology and River Management

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1608
Author(s):  
Salvatore Ivo Giano
Keyword(s):  
Human Activities ◽  
River Restoration ◽  
Fluvial Geomorphology ◽  
Landscape Evolution ◽  
River Management ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Fluvial Systems ◽  
The Impact

This Special Issue deals with the role of fluvial geomorphology in landscape evolution and the impact of human activities on fluvial systems, which require river restoration and management [...]

scholarly journals Inflammation and Atherosclerosis

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1197
Author(s):  
Klaus Ley
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Basic Science ◽  
Translational Science ◽  
Special Issue

This 11-chapter Special Issue of Cells spans the gamut from basic science in mechanistic animal models to translational science to outcomes of clinical trials, all focused on the role of inflammation in atherosclerosis [...]

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