Seismic Vulnerability Assessment and Risk Mitigation of Historical Buildings in Lugoj City Center, Romania

Abstract

This paper examines the seismic vulnerability of historical buildings located in Lugoj City Center, an urban area of the Banat region in Western Romania, known for repeated earthquakes and rich architectural heritage. This research responds to the need for fast and practical means to help with the prioritization of risk mitigation and rehabilitation of historical cities, where detailed structural data are often limited. In light of the analysis of current European empirical, analytical, and hybrid techniques of seismic vulnerability assessment, this paper proposes a simplified empirical technique based on a systematic vulnerability index form. The suggested assessment comprises 42 indicators grouped in four weighted categories: structural aspects, architectural–artistic value, urban importance, and socio-economic importance. It is applied to 17 selected historical buildings of Lugoj City Center, including civil, religious, cultural, and infrastructural buildings. The assessment produced an average vulnerability index of 89.57, with 11 buildings classified as D1, 5 as D2, and 1 as D3, and an expected damage state under the VIII EMS-98 scenario. Thus, this study highlights the importance of combining seismic safety with heritage conservation and offers a flexible framework for urban-scale assessments, intervention planning, and preservation strategies in Lugoj and similar historic centers. This preliminary study represents the first phase of broader research addressing material degradation, monitoring, structural improvement, and socio-economic loss.