An International Workshop for Engineers:

“Beit Ha-Morim”, Mikveh Israel Agricultural School

The International Conservation Center – Città di Roma, ʽAkko

December16–17, 2012 

 

The NIKER Project studied the factors that damage historical buildings and examined the use of enhanced assessment techniques and innovative technologies to improve the resilience of historic buildings in earthquakes. 

 

Leading international experts attended the workshop and presented summaries of their research and professional conclusions that propose, among other things, conservation oriented engineering solutions for coping with earthquakes. 

 

Among the speakers was Professor Claudio Modena, head of the Engineering Faculty of the University of Padova. Professor Modena contends that historic buildings constructed using traditional technologies and treated with new technologies rather than with a conservation oriented technology are more severely damaged when an earthquake strikes and can even result in the collapse of the structure. His studies are based on an assessment of damage caused by earthquakes and particularly the one that occurred in 2009 in Aquila, Italy. His contention is consistent with the opinion of professionals, which maintains that historic buildings built with traditional technologies behave differently than modern structures; hence the conclusion that the treatment with modern technologies may exacerbate their vulnerability during an earthquake. 

 On the first day the workshop participants visited the Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites, which helped recruit local professionals to attend it. The workshop was held in the historic center of the Mikveh Israel Agricultural School. On the second day the workshop was hosted at the International Conservation Center – Città di Roma, in ʽAkko.

 

The engineers’ workshop is the second one held in Israel to address this subject. The first workshop took place in December 2011 and was entitled: A Seminar and Workshop for Engineers on the Subject of Historic Buildings and Earthquakes.

 

Among other things, the workshop sought to raise awareness regarding the field of knowledge that is encompassed by conservation engineering and its importance in treating the cultural heritage assets in Israel.

 

 

Partners in organizing the workshop:

• Israel Antiquities Authority, Conservation Department

• University of Padova

• The Interministerial Steering Committee for Earthquake Preparedness

• Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

*Risk Map Project Manager, Israel Antiquities Authority, Conservation Department