Anticipating the Major Seismic Event in Boston

In the heart of Boston lies the historically valuable and beautiful Back Bay neighbourhood, a area of significant charm but also vulnerability. Constructed primarily from unreinforced masonry and filled land that contains water, Back Bay is at risk of damage, particularly from earthquakes.

Postdoctoral fellow Ornella Iuorio, based at SUTD-MIT, is focusing her research on making historic buildings and neighbourhoods earthquake-safe. Her project, "Smart Retrofit for Resilient Historic Cities," is a case study of Boston's Back Bay.

Iuorio's model generates multiple solutions for structural retrofitting, taking into account factors such as safety, economic cost, environmental cost, and historical value. The first phase of her project involves a detailed classification of over a thousand buildings in Back Bay.

One of the key findings from Iuorio's model is that reinforcing structures at the end of a block may have more impact than reinforcing one in the middle of a row. This insight, along with her analysis of the type of construction used in each building and potential vulnerabilities through old records and on-site inspections, will help inform her retrofit recommendations.

Iuorio is not alone in her mission. She is collaborating with MIT Professor John Ochsendorf and SUTD professor Jeffrey Huang on her project. While Ochsendorf and Huang are focusing on environmental retrofits, Iuorio is concentrating on the structural aspects of the Back Bay neighborhood.

The model Iuorio is developing will suggest optimal retrofit options considering the whole neighbourhood, not just individual structures, due to their interconnectedness. The ultimate aim of her project is to develop a tool that urban planners could use to decide which retrofit options make the most sense in a particular area.

Despite the progress being made by Iuorio and her team, it's important to note that scientists still cannot predict when or where the next big earthquake may happen. This uncertainty makes the work of Iuorio and her colleagues all the more crucial, as they strive to make Boston's historic buildings and neighbourhoods as prepared as possible for the unknown.

While the city studied in Iuorio's project is not specified, her research and findings could serve as a resource for other cities seeking to make their historic structures safer. As Iuorio continues her research, she is working towards a future where historic buildings and neighbourhoods can withstand the forces of nature and continue to stand as testaments to our past.