Mapping and evaluating the behavior and vulnerability of Maltese buildings in response to earthquake inputs : case study of the Marsaxlokk area

Abstract

Even though the Maltese islands are not known for experiencing major seismic activity, a major seismic episode can have catastrophic effects on the Maltese islands, this can also result in a tsunami wave as an after effect of the seismic episode. The main aim behind this study is to work out the relative vulnerability index of the buildings that are located in the study area. The RVI score is used to assess the vulnerability for the building through tsunamis damage and then the fundamental frequency is used to calculate damage from an seismic shock. The study area is a small fishing village located in the southern part of Malta known as Marsaxlokk. Once the relative vulnerability index of the buildings is calculated, the risk of damage occurring through a natural disaster can be seen. The relative vulnerability index can be worked out by using the Papathoma Tsunami Vulnerability Assessment (PTVA-3) Model. From the relative vulnerability score, it can be noted which buildings have a higher likelihood of collapsing. The PTVA-3 model has been altered from the original PTVA model and weighting attributes have been added to the model to make it more accurate. The overall results that have been generated have resulted that there is not one singular attribute that has an overpowering effect on the relative vulnerability index of the building. The two main attributes that have been noted to have the greatest effect are the number of stories as well as the preservation conditions of the building. Another point that has come out from this study is that the added attributes to the equation (i.e. the weighing) has an impact on the result of the relative vulnerability index of the buildings.