The management of seismic emergencies during the life cycle of a structure is one of the most complex topics in the field of structural engineering due to the high level of uncertainty associated with the demand posed by future possible seismic events, and the ability of the vulnerable systems to withstand such actions. Additionally, the process of selecting optimal management actions to ensure public safety and minimize the a...

The present work offers a comprehensive overview of methods related to condition assessment of bridges through Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) procedures, with a particular interest on aspects of seismic assessment. Established techniques pertaining to different levels of the SHM hierarchy, reflecting increasing detail and complexity, are first outlined. A significant portion of this review work is then devoted to the overv...

In the aftermath of a seismic event, decision-makers have to decide quickly among alternative management actions with limited knowledge on the actual health condition of buildings. Each choice entails different direct and indirect consequences. For example, if a building sustains low damage in the mainshock but people are not evacuated, casualties may occur if aftershocks lead the structure to fail. On the other hand, the evac...