Vol. 12 No. 1 (2026)
Articles

Resilience and Operability in Post-Disaster Scenarios: Case Study of a Defined Set of Churches after the L’Aquila Earthquake

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  • Cristina Cantagallo,
  • Valentino Sangiorgio
Cristina Cantagallo
Department of Engineering and Geology (INGEO), University G. d’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Italy
Bio
Valentino Sangiorgio
Department of Engineering and Geology (INGEO), University G. d’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Italy
Bio
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/tema-16920

Published 2025-12-04

Keywords

  • Architectural engineering,
  • Built heritage,
  • Resilience,
  • Earthquake,
  • Church

Copyright (c) 2026 TEMA Technologies Engineering Materials Architecture

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

The digitization of built heritage is essential for safeguarding cultural and historical assets, particularly in the face of disruptive events. In this context, this paper assesses the resilience and operability of existing churches, supported by a comprehensive digitization workflow and a large dataset of data. Specifically, the work focuses on 26 churches of the Sulmona-Valva Diocese damaged during the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake. The proposed workflow integrates systematic data collection, the development of empirical and theoretical resilience curves, and the calculation of a Global Resilience Index. Unlike traditional methodologies, this study incorporates restoration funds as a weighting factor in resilience assessments, reflecting the cultural and historical importance of each structure. Additionally, the integration of data into a flexible digital platform enables real-time analysis and resilience planning, supporting informed decision-making for urban planning and resource allocation. These digital platforms significantly enhance the resilience assessment of cultural heritage by enabling the storage and processing of large datasets, thereby revolutionizing both academic research and operational practices. The findings highlight the potential of a data-driven framework to enhance the protection and conservation of heritage buildings in seismic-prone areas.

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