3.2.6. Urban seismic risk evaluation

of damage or alterations. ( Ortega, Vasconcelos, & Correia, 2015 ) The approach for structural conservation should be a low intrusive approach, which includes (ICOMOS, 2003 ) –• The interventions for historic structures should be minimum work to ensure safety and durability, also it should not compromise on the heritage values. The materials should be compatible with the features of historic buildings. • Conservation of the original construction concept and of resistant components. • Strengthening should be achieved through low invasive methods • New products and techniques can be used for rehabilitation of constructions.

3.2.5 Urban seismic risk evaluation

It is important to estimate the risk associated with the structures at the urban level. To evaluate the risk for the masonry structures, GNDT (refer section 3.4) is one of the methodologies used as a vulnerability index method. The research studied here is of the city of Barcelona. It is the political and economic capital of Catalonia and second city of Spain. The city falls under low to moderate hazard zone, as per the Geological institute of Catalonia. The city was divided into 4 major soil zones based on the soil survey and the data from the previous earthquake of 1448. (Lantada, Pujades, & Barbat, 2009). The existing survey maps were used for determining the vulnerability index of the settlement.

Figure 19 Map of Barcelona old city with vulnerability index, Source - (Lantada, Pujades, & Barbat, 2009)