Recognition of Vulnerable Urban Fabrics in Earthquake Zones: A Case Study of the Tehran Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Vulnerability of urban fabrics to potential earthquakes is related to several parameters including seismic and geological hazards level, site effects, physical vulnerability, social and economical conditions and disaster management/emergency response capacity. In order to evaluate the impacts of these parameters and estimate the integrated vulnerability at each urban fabric, it is essential to study their effects separately and then compile them by using appropriate methods and weighting factors. In this paper the seismic vulnerability of Tehran will be evaluated by considering some of the above-mentioned parameters and then the results will be compared with the existing plans and programs for rehabilitation of the old urban fabrics in Tehran prepared based on the laws and regulations of Ministry of Housing and Urban Development of Iran. The results show that the plans which are prepared merely based on physical vulnerability, can not properly identify the priorities for rehabilitation of urban fabrics in seismic prone zones and it is necessary to consider the impacts of earthquake related parameters as well as socio-economic conditions for improvement of vulnerable areas.