Knowledge methods for the protection of minor historical centres affected by earthquakes

The paper focuses on the importance of knowing the building fabric of minor urban centres as this is tightly linked to the problem of keeping buildings safe, in order to prevent abandonment due to disastrous events. The study aims to identify the essential information for the characterization of the built heritage, to allow its classification on the basis of distinctive categories for knowledge and conservation purposes. Together with the historical data that can be found in the archives - which are often very lacking for building complexes belonging to minor historical centres - an adequate level of knowledge can only be achieved after acquiring data on the geometry of the building structure, materials and construction techniques, as well as their state of conservation. The combined study of this information is essential to adequately assess the seismic risk of the urban centre, being able to assess the seismic vulnerability and therefore to develop prevention strategies. The assessment and preservation of cultural heritage are intimately connected to the innovative processes of knowledge acquisition and management. This process is presented on a case study, as an analysis of the seismic vulnerability of some of the building aggregates in the city of Isola del Gran Sasso, in the Abruzzo region, at the foot of the Gran Sasso mountain range