Structural Vulnerability Assessment of Residential Buildings to Windstorm Hazard with Impact Analysis on Forest Stands: A Case Study from Vojvodina, Serbia

Authors

Lazar Jeftic
Vladimir Višacki
Srdjan Stojnić
Dejan B. Stojanovic
Lazar Kesić
Bratislav Matović
Saša Orlović

Abstract

This study presents an indicator-based methodology for assessing the structural vulnerability of individual residential buildings to windstorm hazard. The methodology is based on the Household Sector Approach: CIMDEN 2001 procedure, with parameters adapted to assess the vulnerability of an individual house to windstorm events. In the case of a windstorm event, the structural vulnerability of a house is analyzed through five parameters with assigned weights: roof type, roof construction, roof sides, roof material, number of floors, and doors and windows on non-roof sides. The further classification into low, medium, and high classes is based on construction material and building type, recognizing that some are more vulnerable than others. The material classification is based on the analysis of historical windstorm event outcomes and on material and building types used in specific regions of interest (in this work, Vojvodina, an autonomous province in Serbia). The material and building types in this region are similar across the whole Pannonian Basin. During the development of this methodology, the authors also incorporated the indigenous knowledge and experience of structural damage consequences from two recent supercell storm events on 19 and 21 July 2023. that heavily hit the Novi Sad metropolitan area and caused disruption and destruction of forest areas near the Danube River, power lines, and roofs on schools, individual houses, residential buildings, and companies. The methodology was applied to 50 houses in Bačka Palanka and 11 houses in Begeč, both of which were affected by severe supercell windstorms on 19 and 21 July 2023. Building attributes were derived from Google Street View imagery (2014) and field survey (2026). The resulting vulnerability assessment enabled spatial visualization and comparative assessment in a GIS environment. Buildings with lightweight roof structures, unsealed edges, and multiple openings exhibited higher vulnerability scores, whereas massive masonry structures with sealed roof systems showed greater resistance. Direct windstorm impacts on adjacent riparian forest stands were assessed using Sentinel-2 NDVI change detection, identifying 173.87 ha of severe canopy loss. Beyond immediate damage, the study outlines potential cascading socioecological effects in which household recovery needs may increase pressure on forest ecosystem services.

Keywords: hazards; vulnerability assessment; windstorm disaster; hazard; image analysis; forest; buildings

Publication details

International Journal of Disaster Risk Management (IJDRM), Vol. 8, No. 1 (2026), pp. 305-330.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.66050/nhg50f24

Read the full open-access article:
https://internationaljournalofdisasterriskmanagement.com/index.php/Vol1/article/view/211

Download PDF:
https://internationaljournalofdisasterriskmanagement.com/index.php/Vol1/article/view/211/224

Suggested citation

Jeftic, L., Višacki, V., Stojnić, S., Stojanovic, D. B., Kesić, L., Matović, B., & Orlović, S. (2026). Structural Vulnerability Assessment of Residential Buildings to Windstorm Hazard with Impact Analysis on Forest Stands: A Case Study from Vojvodina, Serbia. International Journal of Disaster Risk Management, 8(1), 305-330. https://doi.org/10.66050/nhg50f24