A simplified methodology for risk analysis of historic centers: the world heritage site of San Gimignano, Italy

Francesca Giuliani,Anna De Falco,Michele Di Sivo,Valerio Cutini

doi:10.1108/ijdrbe-04-2020-0029

Francesca Giuliani, Anna De Falco + Show 2 more

https://doi.org/10.1108/ijdrbe-04-2020-0029

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Abstract

PurposeWorldwide, natural hazards are affecting urban cultural heritage and World Heritage Sites, exacerbating other environmental and human-induced threats deriving from deterioration, uncontrolled urbanization and unsustainable tourism. This paper aims to develop a disaster risk analysis in Italian historic centers because they are complex large-scale systems that are cultural and economic resources for the country, as well as fragile areas.Design/methodology/approachA heritage-oriented qualitative methodology for risk assessment is proposed based upon the formalization of risk as a function of hazard, vulnerability and exposure, taking into account the values of cultural heritage assets.FindingsThis work provides a contribution to the body of knowledge in the Italian context of disaster risk mitigation on World Heritage Sites, opening for further research on the monitoring and maintenance of the tangible heritage assets. The application to the site of San Gimignano proves the effectiveness of the methodology for proposing preventive measures and actions that ensure the preservation of cultural values and a safer built environment.Originality/valueThe application of a value-based simplified approach to risk analysis is a novelty for historic centers that are listed as World Heritage Sites.

Highlights

Cultural Heritage (CH) is a key resource in building resilience to disasters because of its ability to foster the post-event response and recovery of communities (Jigyasu, 2016; UNISDR, 2013)
The importance to reduce risk on CH has been recognized by UNESCO (2007) within the “strategy for reducing risk at world heritage properties” that, among other actions, calls for building a culture of disaster prevention and promotes risk assessment activities for sites that are inscribed on the World Heritage List
The main attributes of the historic center are considered as typological classes, which include towers, squares, churches, town walls and gates, the Rocca di Montestaffoli, the via Francigena and the set of heritage-listed palaces

Summary

Introduction

Cultural Heritage (CH) is a key resource in building resilience to disasters because of its ability to foster the post-event response and recovery of communities (Jigyasu, 2016; UNISDR, 2013). The recent fires in the Notre-Dame Cathedral (2019), the widespread bushfires in Australia (2019–2020), the water level rising in Venice (Markham et al, 2016) and the rainfall-induced erosion of the Palatine Hill in Rome (De Paoli et al, 2020) or the earthquakes in Mexico (2017) and Central Italy (2016) are few of the many cases. These disasters showed that the loss of heritage, both tangible and intangible, of a country, can affect the international community. The UN’s Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 encourages the identification of strategies for risk assessment and disaster management in cultural properties (UNISDR, 2015)

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