An indicator-based risk assessment framework for World Heritage sites in seismic zones: The case of “Bam and its Cultural Landscape” in Iran

Abstract

This paper contributes to an integrated and systematic methodology of disaster risk assessment for (World) cultural heritage sites. A Cultural Heritage Risk Index is proposed while looking at the risk components of ‘hazard’ (earthquakes), ‘exposure’ (significance of the heritage assets), and ‘vulnerability’ (susceptibility and coping capacity). To adequately address the direct and indirect impacts of earthquake-induced disasters, a multiple impact identification framework is developed while considering the secondary hazards and human-induced threats as well. The assessment procedure was applied to the World Heritage site of Bam and its Cultural Landscape in Iran, which was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 2003. The findings of the research emphasis that in addition to the hazard, diverse factors associated with multidimensional values, structural susceptibility, and institutional capacity highly influence the level of risk. The outputs of the risk assessment contribute to the decision-making process for setting priorities and determining hazard- and site-specific risk reduction strategies, particularly for seismic susceptibility reduction and coping capacity building. This also provides multiple sectors engaged in the protection of (World) cultural heritage to adequately incorporate cultural heritage considerations into the broader disaster resilience and development planning.