Development of Seismic Vulnerability and Exposure Models—A Case Study of Croatia

Abstract

Assessing earthquake risk and building vulnerability requires an exposure model. These exposure models quantify the building stock in terms of structural characteristics, spatial location, and occupancy. The most significant exposure parameters are the structural characteristics of buildings, which must be uniformly covered by structural typologies. Structural typologies that take into account the regional specificities of design and construction provide more accurate and reliable exposure models. Despite the long history of earthquake engineering in the Republic of Croatia, the assessment of exposure and vulnerability of buildings is a rather new concept, hindered by the fact that no city in the Republic of Croatia has a database on the number, types, and characteristics of existing buildings. The article presents the creation of a building exposure model for the city of Osijek, points out the problems and concerns that the realization process brings, and details the practical solutions and strategies that have been used to achieve the set goals.