Natural hazards vs. Decision-making processes in buildings life cycle management

Considering latest natural disasters and the worrisome increase of demographic phenomenon, the critical worldwide condition has pointed out the need for a different approach to handle natural hazards (mainly earthquakes) over time. Thence environment, building heritage and human life and losses due to natural disasters (e.g. earthquake) are relevant topics. Over the time, every building changes its dynamic response to both environmental actions and use loads: building's reliability decreases, while its vulnerability to natural (or man-made) hazards increases. Thence, the whole building's condition has to be deeply investigated. Raising the awareness on traditional low-tech construction techniques and materials characteristics leads to gain a right balance between the wealth of knowledge built up in the past and the advances of recent years. Therefore a development in new performing materials may provide environmental and life-time efficiency. This study points out the dramatic need for a review on existing structural design codes and regulations as well as on architects and engineers' duties in order to pinpoint lacks and prospects. Finally this paper suggests an approach that points out the life cycle management as the heart of intervention strategies on both existing and new buildings in order to ensure them a long life and deal with decision-making process.