The “Mallet–Milne Lecture 2025: Risk Management and Rehousing of People Displaced by Earthquake Disasters” manuscript was recently published in the Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering. Authored by Professor Gian Michele Calvi—founder of the Eucentre Foundation and one of the most influential figures in earthquake engineering—the paper offers a comprehensive and multidisciplinary analysis of post-earthquake population displacement and resettlement.
From Historical Lessons to Strategic Vision
This scientific publication opens with a critical overview of key case studies from around the world: from San Francisco (1906) and Messina (1908) to Skopje (1963), Mexico City (1985), Sichuan (2008), Tōhoku (2011), and Türkiye (1999–2023).
In each scenario, the post-disaster management of displaced populations was mostly reactive—driven by urgency rather than by pre-established, structured plans. As Calvi notes, despite the magnitude and frequency of such disasters, there remains a lack of internationally shared guidelines and proactive planning for rehousing displaced communities.
The L’Aquila Experience as a Paradigm
A central focus of the paper is the Italian experience following the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake, particularly the design and execution of the C.A.S.E. Project (Sustainable and Environmentally-compatible Earthquake-resistant Building Complexes).
Coordinated by Professor Calvi on behalf of the Italian Civil Protection Department and implemented by a non-profit technical consortium led by Eucentre, the project introduced several innovative elements:
- the large-scale use of seismically isolated foundation slabs for residential buildings;
- the adoption of high standards in comfort, sustainability, and durability;
- a unique public-private, non-profit organisational model, ensuring speed, quality, and transparency.
More than 150 buildings were constructed in less than a year, providing resilient housing for approximately 12,000 people.
A Call for a New Culture of Reconstruction
The manuscript closes with a strong call to rethink how we approach the problem of displaced population after seismic events. A reactive model is no longer acceptable in the face of increasing urban risk and climate-induced vulnerabilities.
Instead, Calvi advocates for:
- in-advance urban and social planning designed explicitly for post-disaster rehousing;
- the development of a risk-aware culture across institutions and communities;
- the definition of shared international frameworks for financial tools, insurance schemes, and technical standards.
A Landmark Contribution to the Earthquake Risk Community
The 2025 Mallet–Milne Lecture stands as a fundamental contribution to the field of disaster risk reduction. With clarity and depth, Gian Michele Calvi elevates the debate on earthquake resilience by shifting the focus to displaced populations’ rights, needs, and dignity.
📖 Access the full article (via Springer Nature SharedIt):
https://rdcu.be/egshp