Management of urban shoring during a seismic emergency: advances from the 2009 L’Aquila (Italy) earthquake experience

Starting from a brief history of strategies for securing interventions after recent earthquakes in Italy, the problems and advances in the management of provisional works related to the 2009 L‘Aquila earthquake are examined here. In particular, specific strategies and decision-support tools developed by the National Fire Department for the management of a complex and extensive operation of urban shoring, within the Italian system of civil protection, are illustrated. The problem of defining seismic action for sizing provisional structures to be realized during a seismic emergency phase is illustrated, and a specific macroseismic criterion is presented. Safety measures for workers and on field applications are also discussed. Finally, a useful possible link between new tools and official sheets adopted for damage assessment of the cultural heritage is proposed and the importance of a holistic framework and the need for systematic coordination between the different agencies involved in the problem are highlighted.