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An application of EMS98 in a medium-sized city: The case of L’Aquila (Central Italy) after the April 6, 2009 Mw 6.3 earthquake
Author(s)
Language
English
Obiettivo Specifico
1.11. TTC - Osservazioni e monitoraggio macrosismico del territorio nazionale
Status
Published
JCR Journal
JCR Journal
Peer review journal
Yes
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
1/9(2011)
Publisher
Springer
Pages (printed)
67-80
Issued date
2011
Last version
http://hdl.handle.net/2122/5991
Abstract
This paper describes the damage survey in the city of L’Aquila after the 6 April
2009 earthquake. The earthquake, whose magnitude and intensity reached Mw=6.3 and
Imax=9–10 MCS, struck the Abruzzi region of Central Italy producing severe damage in
L’Aquila and in many villages along theMiddle Aterno River valley. After the event, a building-
to-building survey was performed in L’Aquila downtown aiming to collect data in order
to perform a strict evaluation of the damage. The survey was carried out under the European
Macroseismic Scale (EMS98) to evaluate the local macroseismic intensity. This damage survey
represents the most complex application of the EMS98 in Italy since it became effective.
More than 1,700 buildings (99% of the building stock) were taken into account during the
survey at L’Aquila downtown, highlighting the difficult application of the macroseismic scale
in a large urban context. The EMS98 revealed itself to be the best tool to perform such kind
of analysis in urban settings. The complete survey displayed evidence of peculiar features in
the damage distribution. Results revealed that the highest rate of collapses occurred within
a delimited area of the historical centre and along the SW border of the fluvial terrace on
which the city is settled. Intensity assessed for L’Aquila downtown was 8–9 EMS.
2009 earthquake. The earthquake, whose magnitude and intensity reached Mw=6.3 and
Imax=9–10 MCS, struck the Abruzzi region of Central Italy producing severe damage in
L’Aquila and in many villages along theMiddle Aterno River valley. After the event, a building-
to-building survey was performed in L’Aquila downtown aiming to collect data in order
to perform a strict evaluation of the damage. The survey was carried out under the European
Macroseismic Scale (EMS98) to evaluate the local macroseismic intensity. This damage survey
represents the most complex application of the EMS98 in Italy since it became effective.
More than 1,700 buildings (99% of the building stock) were taken into account during the
survey at L’Aquila downtown, highlighting the difficult application of the macroseismic scale
in a large urban context. The EMS98 revealed itself to be the best tool to perform such kind
of analysis in urban settings. The complete survey displayed evidence of peculiar features in
the damage distribution. Results revealed that the highest rate of collapses occurred within
a delimited area of the historical centre and along the SW border of the fluvial terrace on
which the city is settled. Intensity assessed for L’Aquila downtown was 8–9 EMS.
References
Bernardini A (2008) Vulnerability analyses in a sample of 18 municipalities in the Veneto-Friuli area
(NE Italy). Boll Geofis Teor Appl 49(3–4):447–462
Bernardini A, Valluzzi MR,Modena C, D’Ayala D, Speranza E (2008) Vulnerability assessment of the historical
masonry building typologies of Vittorio Veneto (NE Italy). Boll Geofis Teor Appl 49(3–4):463–483
Centofanti M (1992) La costruzione dell’immagine delle piazze, in Aquila, Città di piazze, Carsa Edizioni,
Pescara
Clementi A, Piroddi E (1986) L’Aquila. Laterza Edizioni, Bari
Demangeot J (1965) Géomorphologie des Abruzzes Adriatiques. Mém. et Doc. du C.N.R.S., Paris 403
De Matteis A (1973) L’ Aquila e il contado: demografia e fiscalità (secoli XV-XVIII). Giannini ed., Napoli
1973
Dolce M, Masi A, Marino M, Vona M (2003) Earthquake damage scenarios of the building stock of Potenza
(Southern Italy) including site effects. Bull Earthq Eng 1:115–140
Galli P, Camassi R (eds) (2009) Rapporto sugli effetti del terremoto aquilano del 6 aprile 2009, DPC-INGV
QUEST Team. http://www.mi.ingv.it/eq/090406/quest.html. Accessed 28 Jul 2009
Grünthal G (ed) (1998) European macroseismic scale 1998. European Seismological Commission, Luxembourg
Guidoboni E, Ferrari G, Mariotti D, Comastri A, Tarabusi G, Valensise G (2007) CFTI4Med, catalogue of
strong earthquakes in Italy (461 B.C.-1997) and Mediterranean Area (760 B.C.-1500). INGV-SGA.
Available from http://storing.ingv.it/cfti4med/
INGV (2009) http://portale.ingv.it/primo-piano-1/news-archive/2009-news/april-6-earthquake/copythe-l-aqu
ila-seismic-sequence-april-2009/view. Accessed 30 Sept 2009
Sieberg A (1930) Die Erdbeben, Handbuch der Geophysik 4, tab.102. Berlin, pp 527–686
(NE Italy). Boll Geofis Teor Appl 49(3–4):447–462
Bernardini A, Valluzzi MR,Modena C, D’Ayala D, Speranza E (2008) Vulnerability assessment of the historical
masonry building typologies of Vittorio Veneto (NE Italy). Boll Geofis Teor Appl 49(3–4):463–483
Centofanti M (1992) La costruzione dell’immagine delle piazze, in Aquila, Città di piazze, Carsa Edizioni,
Pescara
Clementi A, Piroddi E (1986) L’Aquila. Laterza Edizioni, Bari
Demangeot J (1965) Géomorphologie des Abruzzes Adriatiques. Mém. et Doc. du C.N.R.S., Paris 403
De Matteis A (1973) L’ Aquila e il contado: demografia e fiscalità (secoli XV-XVIII). Giannini ed., Napoli
1973
Dolce M, Masi A, Marino M, Vona M (2003) Earthquake damage scenarios of the building stock of Potenza
(Southern Italy) including site effects. Bull Earthq Eng 1:115–140
Galli P, Camassi R (eds) (2009) Rapporto sugli effetti del terremoto aquilano del 6 aprile 2009, DPC-INGV
QUEST Team. http://www.mi.ingv.it/eq/090406/quest.html. Accessed 28 Jul 2009
Grünthal G (ed) (1998) European macroseismic scale 1998. European Seismological Commission, Luxembourg
Guidoboni E, Ferrari G, Mariotti D, Comastri A, Tarabusi G, Valensise G (2007) CFTI4Med, catalogue of
strong earthquakes in Italy (461 B.C.-1997) and Mediterranean Area (760 B.C.-1500). INGV-SGA.
Available from http://storing.ingv.it/cfti4med/
INGV (2009) http://portale.ingv.it/primo-piano-1/news-archive/2009-news/april-6-earthquake/copythe-l-aqu
ila-seismic-sequence-april-2009/view. Accessed 30 Sept 2009
Sieberg A (1930) Die Erdbeben, Handbuch der Geophysik 4, tab.102. Berlin, pp 527–686
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