A Computational Approach for Risk Prediction to Protect Historical Buildings in Urban Excavations: Case Study of the Cervantes Theater in Segovia

This study presents the development of a computational tool designed to help automate decision-making in excavation and foundation construction in rock, aiming to minimize risks to adjacent historical structures in an urban context. The tool uses a graphical interface and focuses on estimating the propagation of vibrations generated by these construction processes. A working methodology has been proposed, and a computational tool has been developed to predict the feasibility and safety of specific construction techniques in different areas of study. Using field-collected data, a three-dimensional survey of adjacent buildings is conducted in a 3D CAD model, converting the continuous terrain into a discrete point mesh. This mesh enables the tracing of vibrational wave trajectories from their origin to potentially affected structures. The tool then calculates the peak particle velocities (PPV) at the foundations of these structures. By comparing these PPV values with predefined thresholds—selected from different excavation procedures with heavy equipment—excavation zones where equipment can be safely used are visually represented using a color-coded scheme. To validate the applicability of the proposed method and developed approach, the tool was tested on a case study: The Rehabilitation Project of the Cervantes Theater in Segovia, promoted by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility, and Urban Agenda. This project is currently halted due to damage sustained by adjacent buildings during the excavation process.