Evaluation of the vulnerability of urban areas of Kashan against earthquake risk using IHPW model

Iran is located in Alpide seismic belt and about 21% of all world earthquakes are occurred in our country, so the extent of human and physical vulnerability in Iran is very high. Due to the increasing rate of population growth in cities, it is essential to identify the earthquake vulnerability of cities in order to reduce the earthquake impacts and the following adverse effects through different studies. The current study has been done with the aim to assess and evaluate the vulnerability of urban areas of Kashan to earthquake risk. In this study, the descriptive-analytical method was selected for investigations and the IHWP method and GIS software were used to evaluate vulnerability. The affecting factors for vulnerability that has been used in this study are as follows: population density, building’s quality, number of floors, distance to fault, epicenter of earthquake, pick ground acceleration (PGA), residential area distance from open spaces, city texture (urban open space), distance from medical centers, distance from hazardous centers and installations, depth of water table, and land use. The results of study show that 30 percent of Kashan urban areas, including Khzaq areas (zone 8), Ravand (zone 6), Taher Abad (zone 7) that are located in the northwest of the city are faced with high and very high-risk vulnerability, but in Bazaar areas (zone 10), Dasht Afroz (zone 3), and shahed (zone 2), the risk of vulnerability reduces significantly. Therefore, these areas can be used for temporary housing after the earthquake and can be suitable areas for subsequent development of the city. Finally, it is suggested that the special attention should be given to improving the existing buildings quality and precise designation for buildings under construction to reduce losses and damages caused by the earthquake and also to prevent city development in vulnerable areas.