Maria Rosaria Potenza

23 November 1980 Irpinia–Basilicata earthquake (Southern Italy): towards a full knowledge of the seismic effects

This paper overviews the procedures and tools used for a systematic study of the macroseismic consequences caused by a strong earthquake that struck Southern Italy. The event referred to the 23 November 1980 (Io = X MCS, Ms = 6.9) which affected the Campania and Basilicata regions. Two aspects are addressed here: to broaden the knowledge of the macroseismic field and delineate damage maps of the sites affected on an urban scale. The target area of this study is the Basilicata region about which the current macroseismic information is poor. This research study, based only on unpublished documentary sources, supplies about 50 new assessments and about 30 new re-assessments of the macroseismic site intensity (MCS scale) as outputs. Moreover, about 80 thematic maps showing the damage pattern of the sites affected are also supplied. It is the first time that a large earthquake has been the subject of such extensive studies from a macroseismic point of view, with special attention to the analysis of damage effects at town scale.

High-Detail Damage Pattern in Towns Hit by Earthquakes of the Past: An Approach to Evaluate the Reliability of the Historical Sources

Historical data relating to damage in urban areas are useful to evaluate and mitigate seismic risk. However, documentary data need to be considered in relation to their quality. The paper describes a mathematical approach to assess reliability of historical sources referring to damage effects caused by earthquakes in the past. The method applied is based on Rough Set Theory. Its application has been explained by analyzing a huge amount of archive data reported by documents concerning earthquake effects in eight towns of Basilicata (southern Italy), heavily damaged by the 1930 Irpinia earthquake. Mathematical analysis has been applied to evaluate whether technical reports citing the effects on buildings were affected by voluntary or involuntary “manipulation” by compilers. This has been possible by comparing damage descriptions reported in technical reports to damage inferred by the analysis of independent technical-economic-administrative data. Results seem to suggest that the sentences on damage were subjected only to limited and involuntary “falsification” that, however, caused negligible changes in the spatial distribution of damage.

Reconstructions, Transfers and Forced Abandonments Brought About by Earthquakes and Landslides in the Historical Centres of Southern Italy: The Role of Primary Sources

Italy is among the most prone Mediterranean countries to extreme natural menaces, such as earthquakes and landslides. These can cause serious damage to the properties and consequent changes in urban areas and historical centres especially, due to their high vulnerability. Starting from these preliminary remarks the paper deals with an ongoing research activity aimed at analyzing in depth and in a systematic way the damage and the consequent abandonments, transfers, and forced reconstructions caused by significant earthquakes and/or landslides in the historical centres of Southern Italy during the twentieth century. To make clear the methodology followed, the paper analyses three case studies related to the same number of historical centres menaced by mass movements and/or earthquake phenomena. The final aim of the research is to setup a reference Web Gis Atlas that will be a further tool that the stakeholders will find useful to improve mitigation risk actions against the two main geological menaces acting in Italy.

Assessing Macroseismic Data Reliability through Rough Set Theory: Application on Vulture Area (Basilicata, Southern Italy)

This paper deals with the analysis of the reliability of information concerning damages caused to buildings by earthquakes. This research was started after analyzing a huge amount of written sources drawn up after 1930 Irpinia (southern Italy) earthquake. The analysis led to delineate damage ‘scenarios’, useful in trying to mitigate seismic risk for most affected towns. Once analyzed the effects induced by the quake, it was suitable to assess the reliability of the retrieved information. A data-set has been built concerning administrative-technical aspects of 1930 earthquake and referring to the most important towns of the area. Data have been analyzed through Rough Set Approach, a non-parametric statistic methodology.

Sensing the Risk: New Approaches and Technologies for Protection and Security of Cultural Heritage. The “PRO_CULT” Project

The PRO_CULT project promotes the development and the use of innovative low cost methodology for both monitoring and protecting cultural heritage and the growth of a cultural identity of local communities. It aims to develop sensing technologies and operating procedures in the field of security and the preservation of artistic, archaeological, architectural and landscape heritage with particular reference to emergency situations and to involve new different end users types. This approach has led to the release of products, technologies and operational methods, low cost and user-friendly paying attention to accessibility, sustainability, and citizen participation [1].