Modern and ancient architecture are part of the cultural heritage of a community and they are remarkably important in order to preserve a country`s identity. Policies regarding cultural heritage in a nation aim at the acknowledgement, conservation, sustainability and restoration of it as evidence of national culture for present and future generations. Nevertheless, this legacy is threatened by the risk of being lost, and there are different threats either anthropic (human-caused direct damage, fire, collapse due to lack of planning and retrofitting, inadequate environmental management) or natural (earthquakes, climate change, landslides, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, etc.) that can cause the loss or damage of architectural heritage. Risk management of cultural heritage is a worldwide concern, and as a result of the increase of natural disasters in recent years in the world, the international scientific community and international organizations such as UNESCO are working to confront this problem, making different sectors aware of the importance of dealing with this problem and establishing appropriate risk management policies for cultural heritage as an important tool for sustainable development in a nation. Considering this important issue, the main goal of this article is studying seismic risk of architectural heritage and prevention policies. Seismic risk is a topic of interest in many countries, especially in Latin-American, middle-eastern and far eastern countries such as Japan. Studying seismicity as well as the actual situation of cultural heritage in Japan and Colombia, this article shows preliminary results of a research project on comparing the two countries in terms of retrofitting methodologies and risk management policies to protect architecture that is considered cultural heritage, which is important to reduce its vulnerability. This article also includes some considerations about laws enforced in both Japan and Colombia to protect architectural heritage in high seismic hazard regions and their prevention strategies.
Seismic risk reduction for architectural heritage. A comparison between experiences from Colombia and Japan
OLIMPIA NIGLIO
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2014-01-01
Abstract
Modern and ancient architecture are part of the cultural heritage of a community and they are remarkably important in order to preserve a country`s identity. Policies regarding cultural heritage in a nation aim at the acknowledgement, conservation, sustainability and restoration of it as evidence of national culture for present and future generations. Nevertheless, this legacy is threatened by the risk of being lost, and there are different threats either anthropic (human-caused direct damage, fire, collapse due to lack of planning and retrofitting, inadequate environmental management) or natural (earthquakes, climate change, landslides, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, etc.) that can cause the loss or damage of architectural heritage. Risk management of cultural heritage is a worldwide concern, and as a result of the increase of natural disasters in recent years in the world, the international scientific community and international organizations such as UNESCO are working to confront this problem, making different sectors aware of the importance of dealing with this problem and establishing appropriate risk management policies for cultural heritage as an important tool for sustainable development in a nation. Considering this important issue, the main goal of this article is studying seismic risk of architectural heritage and prevention policies. Seismic risk is a topic of interest in many countries, especially in Latin-American, middle-eastern and far eastern countries such as Japan. Studying seismicity as well as the actual situation of cultural heritage in Japan and Colombia, this article shows preliminary results of a research project on comparing the two countries in terms of retrofitting methodologies and risk management policies to protect architecture that is considered cultural heritage, which is important to reduce its vulnerability. This article also includes some considerations about laws enforced in both Japan and Colombia to protect architectural heritage in high seismic hazard regions and their prevention strategies.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
