Building Technologies for the Mitigation of Volcanic Risk: Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei

AbstractThis paper intends to show basic strategies and technical solutions that may reduce volcanic risk on buildings and infrastructures. It points out that reduction—mitigation—of vulnerability and expected damage to existing and new buildings are possible. Eruptive phenomena such as earthquakes, pyroclastic flows, ash fall, and landslides can indeed be considerably reduced by specific intervention on the structure and envelope of buildings. Thus, the study adopts a design-oriented approach in response to volcanic risk with specific reference to the possible eruption of Mount Vesuvius or Campi Flegrei in the Campania Region of Italy. The paper examines responses in relation to conventional construction techniques and building typologies in the area with respect to eruptive phenomena characterization. The reference scenarios that the study is based on have been developed by PLINIVS Centre at the University of Naples Federico II. PLINIVS has elaborated a hazard evaluation tool that takes into account the...

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