Advanced documentation technologies for people-centred preparedness and re-construction in Bela, India

What is it about?

Despite the recurrence of earthquakes, damage to buildings in seismic areas continues to occur. When these buildings have historical value, their repair is usually costly, and large numbers of affected constructions make damage assessment difficult. Besides, post-earthquake reconstruction programmes often lack a heritage-specific approach. This paper proposes to address these issues by using advanced 3D documentation technologies to enhance the process of local community engagement in the case study of Bela, a historical settlement in the seismic region of Kutch in Gujarat, India. The aim is to document the buildings in a way that allows an understanding of their use and cultural considerations; and supports community engagement as a mitigation measure. The results show that visual representations are helpful for increasing local engagement and awareness of earthquake risk management.

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