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SISMA Project - Interreg III B CADSES

Earthquakes - lessons of SISMA

When the earth trembles, that is a horrific experience which no one manages really to communicate to those who have not experienced that.

The earthquake in Italy, Europe up in l'Aquila just prior to Easter in April 2009 is another strong case for vulnerability studies, in order to know what work needs to be done to safeguard people's lives in their homes and places of work, worship or culture.

All houses but also cultural heritage sites like churches, castles, ancient buildings, fortifications have to be examined in terms of their vulnerabilities. Then practical precautions have to be taken in anticipation of various scenarios.

The problem of an earthquake in a country like Italy is not alone what impact it has upon remote villages up in the mountain. Rather the sheer quantity of cultural heritage and old buildings not really safe according to strict measures of vulnerability pose a huge challenge. Here the tension between preserving the old and building the new according to strict standards cannot be resolved easily but they have to be. There is always at risk that corrupt building practices of the new repeat the mistakes of the past and therefore it is not merely the old stock which poses a risk.  

Admirable are those who engage themselves within civil protection organisations to rescue those trapped under collapsed rubbles of cement and beams. But aside from all formal organisations, a true lesson of SISMA has been to stress that the first rescuers are the citizens, especially those knowledgable on how to move in an emergency situation and who do take precautions in times when the earth seems to be quiet.

 

A citizen trying to help          Civil Protection Exercise in Athens '06

The Citizen as First Rescuer 

During a Civil Protection Exercise in Athens 2006

to see what happens in case of Seismic related activities leading to a partial collapse of a school building the following incidence took place: one of the students with make up to imitate an injured person stumbled out of the school and collapsed in the street; a citizen just passing by stopped immediately and tried to help even he did not check if the wounded person should be moved at all and rather wait until First Aid Rescue teams would arrive.

All methodologies and actions developed through the SISMA Project aim to enhance a culture of risk prevention and thereby promote Civil Protection.

S.I.S.M.A. stands for: Integrated System for prevention of risk and protection of historical architectural pattern with 'citizens as first rescuer'

website: www.sismaproject.eu

THE PARTNERS WHICH PARTICIPATE IN THE PROJECT ARE:  

PP 1 – LP UMBRIA REGION

The Department for Territorial Policies, Environment and Infrastructures ( Direzione Politiche Territoriali, Ambiente ed Infrastrutture) is committed in providing instruments for regional land management, as the PUT plan (Piano Urbanistico Regional Law, 27/2000), and in the technology updating of subordinate planning tools through the Territory Information System. With reference to problems in case of seismic event, the Department managed interventions of rehabilitation in Umbria Region territories after the earthquake of the year 1997-98.

PP 2 - EMILIA ROMAGNA REGION

It is involved in the following fields of intervention: restoration planning and technical regulations for interventions in historic centres in seismic risk areas, practises in building schemes and standard building regulations, re-establishment of Public Services and essential infrastructures for fast recovery after disaster.

PP3 - MARCHE REGION

The Operative Centre for Rehabilitation Programs and Cultural Heritage is committed to care of the region activities concerning: rehabilitation and restoration of 95 sites/parts damaged during the earthquake in year 1997, of particular historical-environmental-cultural interest; the activation of the restoration plan for the over 2000 architectural and historical damaged buildings by means of checking projects and funding functioning, as well as technical assistance to subjects involved, and work-site survey.

PP4 - ABRUZZO REGION

Abruzzo Region is in charge of the whole territory management with regard to those fields of action connected to citizens’ life: social, health, development, financial planning, etc. historic centre system; projects approved are within LIFE, Socrates-Grundtvig, Culture 2000, Minerva, Daphne, Leonardo da Vinci programmes.

PP 5 - PREFECTURE OF ATHENS

The Prefectural administration replaces the former Prefecture introducing many innovations; It is government independent for its political and management decisions. The Prefecture has the responsibility and the competence for the Political Protection (department) from natural disasters. The transformation of the second local authority (Prefecture of Athens) to the Metropolitan area need a new public management .

PP 6 - REGION OF PELOPONNESE

The region has participated in experimental project of the Article 10 – ERDF such as ARCHIMEDE etc.; It is responsible for the regional operational programs in the context of the Community Support Framework for the whole of Greece and it has implemented the second and is starting right now the third framework program (structural funds).

PP 7 - MUNICIPALITY OF HOMEROUPOLIS, CHIOS

The Municipality is engaged in implementing a big (2300 000 Euro) project of “Restoration and Promotion of Anavatos” in the context of the Regional operational program (Second Community Framework Program). Participation in LEADER II, EQUAL. A special focus of the Municipality has been since a long time the development and investment in renewable energy sources.

PP 8 - ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY OF SLOVENE REPUBLIC

Slovene Republic participate to the project as observer.

PP 9 - GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF SLOVAK REPUBLIC

PP 10 - DIPARTIMENTO DELLA PROTEZIONE CIVILE

It was established by law in 1992, to provide an institutional framework for all civil protection activities carried out in the country. The main goal of the DPC is to safeguard life, property and environment from damages inflicted by natural or technological disasters, and any other hazardous events.

Introduction

The territories of the area CADSES European Countries, have been strongly affected in recent years by intense and repeated events provoking victims and immense damages to the cultural and historical heritage. Especially during the last earthquakes occurred in Italy and Greece emergency has been faced, sometimes at an over national scale, not always supported by a preventive knowledge of risks or by coordinated action policies. Some regions and institutions provided a certain number of studies and researches to develop methodologies tending to define the weaknesses of an historical centre and its components, so to plan actions and interventions to prevent as well as to reduce the risk of natural disasters.

A context of particular vulnerability due to seismic activity in the territories of CADSES area (Italy, Greece, the Balkan Countries, Slovene Republic, Slovak Republic), together with a rich architectural and cultural heritage, including several historical centres where relevant activities for the quality of urban systems are carried out, are the reasons why the Project “S.I.S.M.A. – Integrated System for prevention of risks and protection of historical architectural pattern” is submitted.

The purpose is to start a scientific comparison on approaches and methodologies developed and now in course of application, apt to go against and prevent the destructive action of natural events, from the viewpoint of promoting and developing preventative coordinate actions outlined at a transnational level.

The final target of the project, that is to protect and safeguard human life and cultural heritage will be reached trough the development of methodologies tending to integrated actions of prevention. Aspects related to urban planning and building regulations will be implemented, as tools of precautionary measures to be used both as a general rule and a direct incisive proposal for programmed interventions on the existing building pattern. Regarding conservation of “historical centre system” and its components, elements will be analysed for reducing its vulnerability. Knowledge of these elements will find immediate as well as efficient application at that time of organizing Risk Management actions. As a consequence, information and awareness of citizens about the degree of vulnerability of their own urban system, will allow them to act as “first rescuers”, so becoming relevant for their own security as well as that of their cultural heritage in the historical centre.

Objectivities

The objectives to be realized by the S.I.S.M.A Project through research and development of coordinate prevention actions at transnational level, for protection and security of population and of cultural heritage, run as follows:

Activities:

The Project onset consists of the systematic collection of the Know-how belonging to the Partners, as well as the scientific comparison of settled experiences, in order to define common strategies for the accomplishment of its target.

To enhance the exchange of data related to its development and the updating of activities, a digital platform will be established, in order to provide the Project managing following shared informatics and operational parameters.

The S.I.S.M.A. Project foresees the establishment of a Permanent Observatory, formed by experts from public bodies and/or administrations of those Countries represented by the Partners, which will develop into a reference at transnational level, both during and particularly after the Project completion, to carry out the continue exchange of experiences and accomplishments.

The objective of reducing risks inside the “historic centre system” is based on the evaluation of the degree of vulnerability and exposure through the analysis of its architectural pattern, town outline, functioning and relations system, its cultural heritage, infrastructures, etc., considering the “system” as a not reproducible cultural asset, deserving a specific approach. Common strategies, methodologies and action guidelines will be set up for a better reduction of risks, such as specific town planning projects out of the previous analysis, in respect of existing building features and conservation of architectural patterns and cultural resources.

In order to rationalize and improve the enhancement of cultural resources within CADSES area, specific tools will be created, for the managing and development of “historic centre system” at its territorial and social-economical level, even through transnational partnerships.

After the definition of the “historic centre system” disaster scenario, in the event of flood or earthquake, activities of information and training of citizens will follow, so to let them turn into “first rescuers”, together with volunteers, for the protection of their houses and properties, including their own cultural heritage.

Expected objectives within the projects, such as the evaluation of the degree of vulnerability of a historic centre system, are the true base to launch studies and researches, as well as to establish methodologies or intervention techniques on the historic centre infrastructures. We dare say this Project is to be considered as a first stage of a broader plan to be further developed within a future INTERREG plan for the CADSES area.

The activities project is divided into following work-packages:

 

POIEIN KAI PRATTEIN in the SISMA Project

- activities/services per work package and as part of the networking, pilot (innovative) actions and studies undertaken by the 3 Greek partners: Prefecture of Athens, Homerpoulis, Chios and Region of Peloponnes, facilitation of cooperation

WP 1 State of the Art in urban planning for historic centres, risk prevention,

Anti-seismic protection

Desk research into mobile cultural heritage

Guidelines and development of urban planning parameters of SISMA

Observatory

Data bank, technology, hard- and soft ware for Observatory

WP 2 Urban planning dimension of the vulnerability of historic centres and

Traditional Settlements

Indicators for damage assessment to mobile or intangible cultural heritage

Differences in cultures with regards to risk / vulnerabilities

Pilot application of planning criteria of seismic vulnerability in case study

(Anavatos)

WP 3 Guidelines for anti-seismic urban planning and specifically historic

centres

Pilot application of anti-seismic urban planning framework in selected

Case Studies (Nafplion)

WP 4 Development of a Citizens' Voice for mayors and regional authorities to

communicate with citizens about risk prevention

Public behaviour in crisis e.g. seismic catastrophes, and risk prevention

culture

WP 5 Assist in dissemination of SISMA plan

Design, logos, posters

Assist in organisation of the Greek seminar of the SISMA project

The overall aim is to

INTERNATIONAL FINAL CONFERENCE PROJECT S.I.S.M.A.

(System Integrated for Security Management Activities)

Perugia, Teatro del Pavone

Thursday, 22 march 2007

WELCOME SPEECH BY PRESIDENT OF UMBRIA REGION

Maria Rita Lorenzetti

SPEECHES:

CHIEF MANAGER OF NATIONAL CIVIL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT , Guido Bertolaso DIRECTOR OF JOINT TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT CADSES, Ulrich Graute MANAGER OF MANAGING AUTHORITY CADSES , Fabio Croccolo

OPENING SESSION

Luciano Tortoioli: Legal Representative of project S.I.S.M.A. Chief Manager of Environment, Territory and Infrastructures dept. of Umbria Region

SPEECHES OF:

Michel Angelopoulos – General Director of Prefecture of Athens

Dimitris Papalios – Town Counsillor of the Municipalityof Homeroupolis

Michal Kaliciak – President of Geological Survey of Slovak Republic Marioluigi Bruschini – Regional Councillor to Civil Protection of Emilia Romagna

Region

Gianluca Carrabs – Regional Councillor to reconstruction of Marche Region

Tommaso Ginoble - Regional Councillor to Civil Protection Abruzzo Region

ENDING REMARKS BY COORDINATOR OF EXPERT GROUP by Franco Barberi

 

Friday, 23 march 2007 Programme 2a day  

Chaired by Regional Councillor to Civil Protection: Vincenzo Riommi

Chairman: Alessandro Severi Coordinator of project S.I.S.M.A.

REPORTS ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE PROJECT - I° PART The know how for the Project: Marco Storelli (Agenzia Umbria Ricerche)

Urban vulnerability of Montone : Massimo Olivieri

Path of Emilia Romagna Region – Training and Information and Exercises: Clarissa Dondi

The tested areas of Emilia Romagna Region referring to WP2 and WP3: Irene Cremonini

The experience of mitigation of risk in the historical centre of Marche: Alberto Cherubini, Fabrizio Torresi, Paola Mazzotti

The resiliency of towns: Emilio Iannarelli

The experience of Sulmona: Filadelfio Manasseri

REPORTS ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE PROJECT - II° PART

SISMA’s Glossary: Pierluigi Soddu

Vulnerability of historical centres: Cosmo Mercuri Urban vulnerability from Greek partners experience:Anna Arvanitaki

Anavatos – analysis and proposals: Antonio Avorio

The experience as observer and the seismological network in Slovenia: Matiaz Godec

Banska Stiavnica – case study: Petro Lubomir

GENERAL DISCUSSION AND DEBATE: “Project S.I.S.M.A. –An unitary contribution to culture of prevention” Participants: Expert Group members and Work Packages Responsibles                     ENDING REMARKS BY REGIONAL COUNCILLOR TO CIVIL PROTECTION: Vincenzo Riommi

 

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