Natural hazard targeted risk mapping procedures: Case study for URM buildings in Germany

A multi-hazard approach is essential for assessing risks to unreinforced masonry buildings. In Germany, wind poses greater risk than earthquakes. The study maps Germany into Earthquake (EHDA), Wind (WHDA), No Hazard (NHDA), and Combined Hazard Dominated Areas (CHDA). By comparing earthquake and wind zoning maps of Germany, France, Belgium, and Switzerland, regional hazard distributions are identified and classified from very low to very high. These levels represent relative, not catastrophic, exposure. Raster-based multi-hazard maps divide Germany into uniform grids (2.5–20 km), showing dominant hazards and intensity levels. A unified hazard scale allows merging national maps into a Central European multi-hazard map. Incorporating population and building density data yields risk maps highlighting regions where high hazard overlaps with dense populations. Fragility functions derived from 3MURI pushover analyses for unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings define vulnerability by linking PGA to damage states per EMS-98. Comparisons between Germany and Pakistan show higher seismic intensity in Pakistan. Risk indication maps and hazard-targeted risk maps illustrate damage distributions, while analyses across building heights reveal how earthquake and wind loads affect taller URM structures, identifying the dominant hazard per region.