Project description
Protecting cultural heritage buildings from earthquake risks
While historic masonry buildings are extremely vulnerable to earthquakes, protection methods often fail to account for uncertainties linked to material degradation and structural complexity. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the HOL-PROteCH project will develop a holistic probabilistic framework to improve the seismic protection of cultural heritage structures. It will design and test integrated retrofit solutions that enhance both structural safety and energy efficiency while preserving cultural identity. Using Lisbon as a pilot case study, HOL-PROteCH will validate its protection strategy from individual buildings to the regional scale through international collaboration in conservation engineering and seismic assessment. Ultimately, the project will help enhance community resilience, ensure public safety and safeguard cultural identity for future generations.
Objective
HOL-PROTECH provides a novel holistic and probabilistic framework for the seismic protection of Cultural Heritage structures (CHs), capable of a comprehensive quantification of the uncertainties inherent in historic masonry. The seismic response of CHs shows high sensitivity to masonry morphology details, further amplified by material degradation. Current studies and building codes still overlook such uncertainty sources, highlighting the need for tailored probabilistic assessment methods. HOL-PROteCH targets three objectives: i) development of a probabilistic strategy addressed to CHs and their uncertainties, ii) characterization of an integrated retrofit which improves energy efficiency and structural safety, while preserving cultural identity, iii) validation of the protection strategy up to regional scale. The Metropolitan Area of Lisbon serves as a pilot study, following concerns raised by the seismic shocks recorded in 2024 and 2025. The success of HOL-PROteCH is ensured by the inter-disciplinary and inter-sectorial contribution of the institutions involved. The University of California at Berkeley (24-month outgoing phase) with the expertise of Prof. DeJong and NHERI SimCenter in the modelling of CHs and uncertainty quantification algorithms; McGill University (3-month secondment) with the competence of Prof. Malomo in integrated retrofit; Universidade do Minho (12-month return phase), through the supervision of Prof. Lourenço in heritage masonry, retrofit techniques and region-scale seismic assessment. The advanced knowledge received allows Dr. Salvalaggio to become an expert in conservation engineering, aligned with an Assistant Professor role. The project is structured in six work packages: three are dedicated to the three main objectives; while the remaining deal with training, dissemination and communication, and project management.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- engineering and technology civil engineering structural engineering structural health monitoring
- engineering and technology civil engineering structural engineering earthquake engineering
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics statistics and probability
- engineering and technology civil engineering architecture engineering sustainable architecture sustainable building
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
4704 553 Braga
Portugal
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.