“Urban Disaster Prevention Strategies Using MAcroseismic Fields and FAult Sources”

In the framework of EU research project “Urban Disaster Prevention Strategies Using MAcroseismic Fields and FAult Sources” (Grant Agreement n. 230301/2011/613486/SUB/A5) innovative approaches are proposed to improve critical points in the procedures for assessing probabilistic hazard and seismic risk; they are tested in particular locations – Mt. Etna, Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei areas (Italy), Azores Islands and areas hit by offshore activity (Portugal), Alicante-Murcia area (Spain) and South Iceland including Reykjavik surrounding urban area (Iceland). A unique probabilistic procedure has been used for seismic hazard evaluation processing both macroseismic fields and characteristics of fault sources. The direct application of probabilistic methodologies to observed and/or synthetic macroseismic fields allows us to carry out a more complete treatment of the uncertainties in the case of both point-wise and linear properties of a fault. An improvement of the urban scale vulnerability information on building and network systems (typologies, schools, strategic buildings, lifelines, and so on) has been introduced to use the new concept of global Disruption Index, with the objective to provide a systematic way to measure the earthquake impact in urbanized areas considered as a complex network. These measures have been then used to identify which nodes are likely to introduce major disruption in the whole urban system, and also which one of them suggests greater risk reduction if intervention takes place. Besides the disaster prevention strategies based on the level of risk, another effective component of disaster-risk reduction is given by long-term activities using educational information systems. To reduce the absence of risk perception in the community some actions have been performed, such as the development of educational materials and the design of a mobile earthquake interactive experience with interactive panels for children and adults, and a central platform for the simulation of an earthquake

THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM FOR A LONG TERM TRAINING ON SEISMIC AND VOLCANIC RISK

One of the tasks of the European Project UPStrat-MAFA (Urban Prevention Strategies using MAcroseimic Fields and FAult Sources) is to develop an educational system aimed at long-term training, mainly on seismic hazard and risk. This task will be carried out by sharing the expertise of partners of the project to set different actions, encompassing programs and educational material for students, teachers and general public, and to design an interactive travelling educational path. Starting from the Icelandic educational program tested on schools in the last decade by EERC (Earthquake Engineering Research Centre), the task will develop educational tools especially designed for children, and also new tools using the most spread information channels, in order to outreach information on seismic risk and how to cope with earthquakes. The interactive travelling educational path on earthquakes and volcanoes, aimed at risk-reduction by increasing awareness, is an interactive experience using a multimedia approach, in order to have a very flexible, easy-to-share and appealing set of educational tools (video, simulations, games…) also developed for “edutainment”. The educational path, which is also a travelling exhibition, has to deal with issues related to seismic and volcanoes hazard and risks, especially in urban areas. The whole education-information system developed in the framework of UPStrat-MAFA project is structured to represent both a way to convey project results to the scientific community and to strengthen people’s risk awareness and their training to face up to seismic and/or volcanic events.Co-financed by the EU - Civil Protection Financial Instrument, in the framework the European project ”Urban disaster Prevention Strategies using MAcroseismic Fields and FAult Sources” (UPStrat-MAFA - Num. 230301/2011/613486/SUB/A5), DG ECHO Unit A5. http://ec.europa.eu/echo/funding/cp_projects2011_en.htmUnpublished19-24 August 2012 in Moscow, Russia.5.9. Formazione e informazioneope

THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM FOR A LONG TERM TRAINING ON SEISMIC AND VOLCANIC RISK

One of the tasks of the European Project UPStrat-MAFA (Urban Prevention Strategies using MAcroseimic Fields and FAult Sources) is to develop an educational system aimed at long-term training, mainly on seismic hazard and risk. This task will be carried out by sharing the expertise of partners of the project to set different actions, encompassing programs and educational material for students, teachers and general public, and to design an interactive travelling educational path. Starting from the Icelandic educational program tested on schools in the last decade by EERC (Earthquake Engineering Research Centre), the task will develop educational tools especially designed for children, and also new tools using the most spread information channels, in order to outreach information on seismic risk and how to cope with earthquakes. The interactive travelling educational path on earthquakes and volcanoes, aimed at risk-reduction by increasing awareness, is an interactive experience using a multimedia approach, in order to have a very flexible, easy-to-share and appealing set of educational tools (video, simulations, games…) also developed for “edutainment”. The educational path, which is also a travelling exhibition, has to deal with issues related to seismic and volcanoes hazard and risks, especially in urban areas. The whole education-information system developed in the framework of UPStrat-MAFA project is structured to represent both a way to convey project results to the scientific community and to strengthen people’s risk awareness and their training to face up to seismic and/or volcanic events

Internet site for European strong-motion data

The Internet Site for European Strong-Motion Data (ISESD) provides unlimited free access to over 2,000 strong-motion records of earthquakes from Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East (EMME). Four mirror sites of ISESD have been operating since 26th March 2002. The URLs of these sites are: www.isesd.cv.ic.ac.uk, smbase.itsak.gr, seismo.univ.trieste.it and www.isesd.hi.is. ISESD provides a basis for improved dissemination of strong-motion data in EMME. There are a number of future improvements to ISESD which would improve its usefulness to seismologists, earthquake engineers and insurance specialists