75457 - Design Projects M

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course, the student will have acquired the theoretical foundations and practical methodologies necessary to effectively organize the design process for a building project. They will be capable of analyzing and identifying project requirements using the Performance-Based Building Design (PBBD) approach. Specifically, the student will be able to define the expected performance outcomes for a rehabilitation project and determine the appropriate metrics for their evaluation.

Course contents

The Design Projects course (Academic Year 2026-27) combines building knowledge and analysis, geomatics surveying, and structural modelling within an integrated and interdisciplinary framework. While organised into three teaching modules, the course follows a continuous workflow in which the outputs of each discipline contribute to the subsequent stages of investigation and analysis. The overall objective is to provide students with the theoretical and practical skills required to document, understand, and assess historic buildings in support of conservation and rehabilitation processes.

The three modules are developed around a common real case-study building, which students investigate progressively throughout the course through knowledge acquisition, surveying, structural interpretation, and modelling activities.

More specifically, the contents of the three teaching modules are organized as follows:

MODULE 1 (Anna Forte)

This module introduces geomatic surveying methods and technologies for the geometric documentation and understanding of a historic building. Theoretical lectures are combined with fieldwork and laboratory activities, providing students with practical experience in data acquisition, processing, and interpretation. The collected data will support the subsequent phases of building modelling and structural analysis developed in the dedicated module.

Topics covered include:

• Survey planning and acquisition strategies for historic buildings.
• Terrestrial laser scanning and mobile laser scanning technologies.
• Image-based 3D surveying and photogrammetric techniques.
• Integration of heterogeneous geomatics datasets.
• Reference systems, georeferencing, and coordinate transformations.
• Establishment of geodetic control networks using GNSS/satellite positioning techniques.
• Digital processing and management of point clouds and image-based datasets.
• Quality assessment and critical evaluation of survey results.
• Preparation of geometric data for building modelling and structural analysis applications.

MODULE 2 (Soroosh Kamali)

Requirements/Prior knowledge. The module builds directly on previous modules and assumes prior knowledge of the basic finite element method. All sessions are in English and some take place in a PC laboratory.

Topics covered include:

• From survey data to structural geometry; modeling philosophy (what to keep, what to simplify); frame, shell and solid elements; case study geometry.
• Materials, loads and damage integration masonry as an equivalent material; parameters from NTC; damage simulation in models; loads and the response spectra.
• Beam, shell and solid elements and structural analysis; solid (brick) element theory and a comparison against shell results; micro/meso/macro strategies; Seismic analyses (modal analysis, mass participation, response spectrum analysis), and stress/displacement maps, comparison with allowable criteria of the code.
• Validation of a model; sensitivity and mesh convergence checks; boundary condition choices; production of the Model Passport and student presentations.

MODULE 3 (Emma Ghini)

The module is organized into two main parts.

Part 1 introduces the fundamental concepts related to existing buildings, structural assessment and seismic vulnerability. It also presents the main regulatory framework and develops the first stages of the knowledge process: historical-critical analysis, damage and crack pattern survey, and preparation for the first site inspection.

Part 2 builds on the information collected in the first part and integrates them with the data obtained from the detailed geometric survey of the real case-study building. This part focuses on material characterization, knowledge levels, confidence factors, critical synthesis of the available information, and the connection with local/global mechanisms and the subsequent structural modelling phase.

Theoretical lectures are complemented by practical in-class exercises, allowing students to apply the concepts introduced during the lectures to the analysis and assessment of existing buildings.

Topics covered include:

• Introduction to existing buildings and structural assessment
• Overview of structural systems in historic buildings
• Regulatory framework for existing buildings, knowledge levels, and confidence factors
• Knowledge process: historical-critical analysis
• Damage survey and interpretation
• Crack-pattern analysis and identification of potential structural mechanisms
• Assessment approaches and seismic vulnerability of existing structures
• Material characterization: mechanical properties and strength parameters
• Critical synthesis of the knowledge process for structural assessment and modelling

Readings/Bibliography

• Lecture notes and presentation slides provided by the instructors;
• Worked exercises developed during lectures and laboratory sessions;
• Case-study datasets and supporting materials made available through Virtuale: (https://virtuale.unibo.it/).

Suggested readings:

NTC 2018 and Circolare;

Italian regulatory framework

• D.M. 17 January 2018 – Norme Tecniche per le Costruzioni (NTC 2018), with particular reference to Chapter 8, Existing Constructions
• Circular No. 7 of 21 January 2019, with particular reference to Section C8.
• Ministry of Cultural Heritage (2011): Guidelines for the Assessment and Mitigation of Seismic Risk of Cultural Heritage with reference to the Italian Building Code (Linee Guida per la valutazione e riduzione del rischio sismico del patrimonio culturale).

International regulatory framework

• EN 1998-3:2025 – Eurocode 8: Design of structures for earthquake resistance – Part 3: Assessment and retrofitting of buildings and bridges. Recommended as a complementary reference for the European framework.

Articles and volumes

• Betti, M., Bonora, V., Galano, L., Pellis, E., Tucci, G., & Vignoli, A. (2021). An Integrated Geometric and Material Survey for the Conservation of Heritage Masonry Structures. Heritage, 4(2), 585-611. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4020035
• Napolitano, R., Hess, M., & Glisic, B. (2019). Integrating Non-Destructive Testing, Laser Scanning, and Numerical Modeling for Damage Assessment: The Room of the Elements. Heritage, 2(1), 151-168. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage2010012
• Giuffrè, A. (ed.) (1993): Sicurezza e conservazione dei centri storici: il caso Ortigia. Codice di pratica per gli interventi antisismici nel centro storico. Laterza.
• ICOMOS (2003): Principles for the Analysis, Conservation and Structural Restoration of Architectural Heritage. International Council on Monuments and Sites.
• Binda, L., Saisi, A., Tiraboschi, C. (2000): “Investigation procedures for the diagnosis of historic masonries.” Construction and Building Materials, 14(4), 199–233.
• D’Ayala, D., Speranza, E. (2003): “Definition of Collapse Mechanisms and Seismic Vulnerability of Historic Masonry Buildings.” Earthquake Spectra, 19(3), 479–509.
• Lagomarsino, S., Cattari, S. (2015): “PERPETUATE guidelines for seismic performance-based assessment of cultural heritage masonry structures.” Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 13, 13–47.

Teaching methods

Theoretical lectures in class and practical sessions, both on site and in the laboratory for data processing. Group discussions with the professors of the three modules.

Assessment methods

Final project delivered by the students, presenting the outcomes of the practical exercises carried out during the course.

Teaching tools

The module combines multimedia-supported classroom teaching, field-based surveying activities using professional surveying instruments, and laboratory sessions. Practical exercises will be carried out using specialized software made available to students in the computer laboratory.

Office hours

See the website of Anna Forte

See the website of Soroosh Kamali

See the website of Emma Ghini