A Preliminary Structural Survey of Heritage Timber Log Houses in Tønsberg, Norway

The formulation of a multi-hazard loss model for a given structure is not only ofinterest for predicting the economic impact of future damage but it can also be of importancefor risk mitigation. A methodology that can assess the vulnerability of the built environment isa significant component of a loss model. The multi-risk vulnerability of heritage buildingsnecessitates greater knowledge about the history of their construction, including aspectsrelating to preserving them as assets. Timber as an organic material is more susceptible todecay and the structural assessment of timber buildings is essential for their preservation. Apreliminary survey as a basis for multi-risk vulnerability assessment of such buildings isessential. In this step of the process, the history of the building is investigated, as well as anyintervention to it during its lifetime. A damage inspection of structural elements conducted byexperts is an essential part of the second step. After this, the configuration of the building,including height, plan view and connection details should be documented. After the preliminarysurvey of the building, detailed methods are employed to gather further information about thestructure’s behaviour under different risk scenarios. In this paper, heritage timber buildings inTønsberg, Norway have been selected as case studies for multi-risk vulnerability assessments.The preliminary survey has been conducted by a team of experts and useful data have beenrecorded and explained. 3D laser scanners have been used in the survey in place of traditional2D methods to obtain a more detailed and accurate 3D representation of the buildings.