Action Protocols for Seismic Evaluation of Structures and Damage Restoration of Residential Buildings in Andalusia (Spain): “IT-Sismo” APP

Abstract

The seismotectonic conditions of the Iberian Peninsula trigger the occurrence of earthquakes with an occasional periodicity, but with intensities greater than VI on the European macroseismic scale (EMS). For this reason, local action protocols are required in order to efficiently organise the technical inspections that must be carried out on a massive scale after events such as the earthquakes experienced in the Spanish cities of Lorca (2011) and Melilla (2016). This paper proposes the development of a set of documents for the evaluation and diagnosis of the state of existing buildings and infrastructure regarding seismic activity in Andalusia. With special attention paid to residential typology, approximations have been carried out to the normative context, to general comparatives, to particular analyses of a case studies selection, and to complementary approaches. The results have led to the establishment of two specific protocols. Firstly, the short-term guideline enables the classification of damage and risk levels, and the determination of what immediate interventions should be carried out through the generation of a preliminary on-site report. This activity can be performed by architects and engineers with the help of a mobile-device application (APP IT-Sismo Andalucía). Additionally, a long-term protocol provides calculation procedures and constructive solutions for the improvement of the seismic behaviour of affected buildings. Specially designed tests demonstrate the validity of the protocols and illustrate the need for information and communication technologies (ICT) tools in the evaluation of architectonic technical aspects.

Multi-Criteria Parametric Verifications for Stability Diagnosis of Rammed-Earth Historic Urban Ramparts Working as Retaining Walls

“…According to its representativeness and validity, the following documents have been selected for a comparative study as a basis for the developed tool. Due to a recent update in 2019, Basic Document Structural Safety of the Spanish Technical Building Code (CTE DB SE, v2019) [20], the 2019 version of Basic Document Structural Safety Foundations of the Spanish Technical Building Code (CTE DB SE-C, v2019) [21] and the 2009 version of Earthquake Resistant Construction Standard: General Part and Building (NCSE-02) [22], the Spanish regulation documents have been selected as remarkable samples from a national structural design code [23]. On the other hand, the last published versions of Eurocode constitute highly representative documents at the international level.…”

Evaluation of Open Geotechnical Knowledge in Urban Environments for 3D Modelling of the City of Seville (Spain)

“…Seville is Spain's fourth-largest metropolitan city, the capital of the Andalusian region, and is located on the lower course of the Guadalquivir River with the following geographical coordinates: 37 • 23 24 N, 5 • 59 24 W. At the environmental level, it is the largest city close to Doñana National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1980 [27]. The city covers an area of 140.80 km 2 , at an average height above sea level of 7 metres and a flat topography generally characterised by the following environmental hazards: seismic events [28], flooding [29], expansive strata layers, subsidence [30], and subsoil contamination [31]. The city is also acknowledged for its built heritage, and hosts a UNESCO World Heritage Site [32] and significant archaeological remains [33].…”

Numerical Model Validation for Detection of Surface Displacements over Twin Tunnels from Metro Line 1 in the Historical Area of Seville (Spain)

“…In this respect, the city of Seville has a flat topography and is situated at an average height of 7 m above sea level. Local and regional geotechnical studies agree on the determination of a typical stratigraphic profile to define the composition of the subsoil in the study area [63,64], and this approach was assumed in the design models used in the construction of Line 1 of the Seville metro [65].…”