Damage Scenario and Economic Losses Estimation of Historical Earthquakes Occurred in Northeastern Italy

This study aims to assess the potential economic losses that will be cause nowadays by the historical earthquakes occurred in the past in Northeastern Italy. This area of the country, even if seismically calm in the recent past, has been struck by several significant earthquakes in the last centuries. For this reason, a review of the main historical earthquakes is herein presented, together with an analysis of the residential building stock aimed at developing a suitable taxonomy class for the definition of the structural vulnerability. Since that for the analyzed events no shake-maps were available, part of the work was dedicated to the development of a shaking scenario engine able to reproduce some recent Italian Earthquakes. Results showthat Northeastern Italy is particularly susceptible of significant economic losses, due to its high urbanization and high structures’ vulnerability. Furthermore, economical losses can be amplify considering the fact the area of study is particularly industrialized. The presentedwork has been developed within the Interreg Crossit Safer European Project.