A Novel Proposal for a Post-Earthquake Damage Assessment Form (P-EDAF) for Monuments in Bagan Archaeological Site

Damage assessment forms serve as invaluable instruments for guiding post-earthquake response efforts in cultural heritage sites. Addressing conservation challenges at the archaeological site of Bagan in Myanmar also involved earthquake damage assessment of monuments. Deriving from the well-established Church Assessment Form-Damage (CAF-D), the Post-Earthquake Damage Assessment Form (P-EDAF) is a novel, versatile methodology for assessing damage and prioritizing interventions based on the macro-element (ME) approach: it employs a matrix featuring 30 damage modes per ME, with weights ranging from 0.15 to 1.00, including provision for increased weight based on the presence of decorated elements. Damage severity, graded from 0 to 5 in accordance with the European Macroseismic Scale, enables a comprehensive evaluation, from minimal damage to destruction, for each inspected ME, as well as for the entire monument. The versatility of the form accommodates diverse structural configurations, enabling customization for each monument’s specific features. The form offers potential application to similar sites across Southeast Asia. This paper elaborates the development and structure of the P-EDAF, emphasizing its potential impact on heritage conservation efforts in the region.