SAFER

Earthquakes are a serious threat for many countries of Europe, particularly for those around the Mediterranean Sea. Early warning systems, based on real time, automated analysis of ground motion measurements, can play an important role in reducing the negative impact of catastrophic events on densely populated areas and, particularly, in mitigating the damage to strategic structures and lifelines. Europe is covered by numerous high quality seismic networks, managed by national and by European agencies, including also some local networks specifically designed for seismic early warning around large cities like Bucharest, Istanbul and Naples, respectively.

The SAFER project is aimed at fully exploiting the possibilities offered by a real time analysis of the signals coming from seismic networks for a wide range of actions, performed in a time interval of a few seconds to some tens of minutes. These actions range from the shut down of critical systems of lifelines, industries, highways, railways, etc. and the activation of control systems for the protection of crucial structures, to decision support for rapid response of the emergency management (ground shaking maps, continuously expected damage scenarios, aftershocks hazard etc.).

The project is structured in 6 work-packages:

(1) Project Coordination and Management
(2) Real-Time Estimation of Source Parameters
(3) Real-Time Damage Assessment and Reduction Strategies
(4) Real- Time Shake Maps
(5) Real-Time Aftershock Hazard Assessment
(6) Dissemination of Results and End User Interface.

The work-packages address all major components of an earthquake early warning system.

Tasks of Section 5.3 within the project
Preparation of the foundations to generate the most realistic earth shake maps possible:

 

1. Derivation of detailed attenuation models of the macroseismic intensity in specified test areas and
2. Derivation of regional relations between intensities and physical ground motion parameters.

Project run-time
The project started in 07/2006 and is running until 12/2008.

Project web-page
More information about the SAFER project can be found at the SAFER web-pages at www.saferproject.net.