Typological and Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Elementary Schools in Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina

This study presents the seismic assessment of existing elementary schools in the Canton of Sarajevo, encompassing nine municipalities. In total, 65 school buildings representing various structural typologies were identified and analyzed. Approximately 75% of these buildings were constructed before the enforcement of medium-level seismic codes in 1981, while the remaining 16 were built afterwards. Seismic vulnerability was assessed using the RISK-UE LM1 methodology, which combines on-site inventory data with visual surveys to establish a vulnerability index. The method accounts for the structural system and modifying parameters such as seismic code level for reinforced concrete structures, maintenance condition, number of stories, plan and elevation irregularities, soil morphology, roof type in the case of masonry structures, etc. This enables the classification and comparative ranking of buildings by typology. According to the seismic maps of Bosnia and Herzegovina and historic earthquake data of this region, intensity levels VII and VIII were identified as the most probable earthquake scenarios. Validation of the results obtained using the RISK-UE LM1 methodology was confirmed by the damage patterns observed during the Zagreb earthquake, which closely matched the predicted outcomes.