Issues in the estimation of the dynamicaI properties of Catania downtown area buildings

In recent years, experimental techniques using either earthquake or ambient noise signals have been proposed to evaluate the dynamic parameters of buildings (e.g.Gallipoli et al., 2008). In the urban area of Catania, a preliminary evaluation of the vulnerability and a few estimates of the fundamental period of buildings, were carried out by several authors (e.g. Panzera et al., 2013). In this frame, the University of Catania has promoted and supported surveys aiming at evaluating the dynamic features of the buildings making up its assets, therefore contributing to evaluate and reduce the vulnerability of all its building heritage. Most of the investigated buildings are erected in the Catania downtown area and show a structural complexity (masonry building with the presence of reinforced concrete elements), irregular plan shape and the presence of adjacent structures. The present study refers to the suitability of ambient noise records, processed through the standard spectral noise ratio (SSNR) methods, to define the dynamic properties of masonry buildings in such complex situation.