Earthen structures made of adobe bricks are complex systems that making the identification of their behavior difficult, especially when they have to sustain lateral forces such as seismic forces. This paper presents a numerical investigation for the assessment of the structural response of unreinforced adobe masonry structures and how the installation of wooden ring beams contributes to their overall resistance. In the framework of the numerical investigation, finite element models were created to simulate the response of an adobe building with and without the presence of wooden ring beams. The test building is located in Cyprus, in the South Eastern Mediterranean region which is a seismic area. The material properties used in this study were found in the literature and were based on experimental data for local materials. The models were subjected to earthquake loads, performing time history analyses for the calculation of pertinent displacements and stresses. The findings indicate that integrating wooden ring beams reduces the fundamental period by 6% and modifies the building’s seismic behavior. This modification is evident not just in the magnitude of the stresses but also in their distribution, leading to a stratified stress profile. Peak stresses are primarily concentrated around the ring beams.

This article introduces the "Pre-seismic Survey Form for Masonry" (PRISM), a simplified tool for evaluating masonry structures. It aims to be user-friendly for both experienced surveyors and beginners. The primary objective is to develop PRISM as an efficient means of gathering relevant data that influences the diverse behaviors exhibited by masonry structures, covering both structural and non-structural aspects. PRISM's development involves a parametric method for identifying critical parameters by analyzing drift results from the response spectrum and horizontal static analyses. These analyses are performed on common masonry structures in European Mediterranean nations. The study investigates various factors, including facade openings, materials around openings, wall thickness, ground type, ground acceleration (g), and principal structural material. By examining 300 2D models created in SAP2000, correlations in structural responses are established. The findings of the parametric analysis significantly enrich the qualitative and quantitative comprehension of structural responses. This advancement contributes to the contemporary knowledge of prevalent masonry structures within European Mediterranean regions. The PRISM survey form employs a numeric rating scale format. Notably, PRISM enables surveyors to access field results, minimizing reliance on computers quickly. The form's design also ensures accessibility and data reliability, making it universally applicable while maintaining simplicity. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-10-015 Full Text: PDF

This study presents the ClimEmpower framework, a user-driven approach to enhancing climate resilience across five climate-vulnerable regions in Southern Europe: Costa del Sol (Spain), Central Greece, the Troodos Mountains (Cyprus), Osijek-Baranja County (Croatia), and Sicily (Italy). The project employs a region-specific methodology that integrates climate risk assessments, stakeholder engagement through Communities of Practice (CoPs), and the development of innovative climate services tailored to local needs. These regions, characterized by unique environmental and socio-economic vulnerabilities, face shared hazards such as droughts, heatwaves, and floods, alongside region-specific challenges like salinization and biodiversity loss. ClimEmpower identifies critical gaps in high-resolution data, cross-sectoral collaboration, and capacity-building efforts, underscoring barriers to effective adaptation. This work aims to provide a foundational resource, offering a comprehensive overview of the current situation, including needs, gaps, priorities, and expectations across the target regions. By establishing this baseline, it facilitates future research and comparative analyses, contributing to the development of robust, region-specific resilience strategies. The ClimEmpower framework offers scalable and replicable solutions aligned with the European Green Deal’s climate resilience goals, advancing adaptation planning and providing actionable insights for broader European initiatives.

Cyprus is an island nation in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, with a rich and varied history of architecture. Located within a seismically active zone, Cyprus has experienced a number of earthquakes over the centuries, with some of them being particularly destructive. This initiative examines the evolution of architecture in Cyprus from 1489 to present, and how this evolution is related to seismic risk. Specifically, the work will register structural elements by time period, and analyze how these elements contribute to seismic response. Further it will explore the development of architecture in Cyprus, from the Venetians to the Ottoman Empire to the British Colonial period, the Greek-Cypriot period, and the modern era, and the structural elements of each time period. The paper describes how the structural elements of each time period affect seismic risk, and what modifications may be necessary in order to improve seismic risk in Cyprus. This paper will provide useful insight into the evolution of architecture in Cyprus and its effects on seismic risk.

The Mediterranean basin is distinctly vulnerable to climate change and its associated effects. This vulnerability is noticeably observed in the southern Mediterranean territories, where a perceptible outcome of climate change is the increase of the average temperatures over time, accompanied by water scarcity due to reduced precipitation. Although recent technological advancements have achieved to mitigate to some extend climate change impacts, particularly in stabilizing temperatures and enhancing water resource management, alterations in weather patterns persist. This study presents a realistic climate change scenario in the southern European Mediterranean, namely Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, and Spain, along with selected semi-arid regions like Crete, Murcia, and Sicily, highlighting data spanning during the last three decades. This work aims to outline the principal meteorological factors associated with climate change, aiming to foster a broader understanding of its impact. Additionally, this discussion explores the potential for these regions to utilize the current climatic conditions beneficially, by pivoting towards energy production from alternative, sustainable sources, thereby converting the challenges posed by climate change into opportunities for societal benefit.