SAFER - Seismic Early Warning for Europe

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

The SAFER project aims to fully exploit the possibilities offered by the 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 shutting down of critical systems of lifelines, industries, highways, railways, etc., the activation of control systems for the protection of crucial structures, the supplying of information to support decision making for the rapid response of emergency management services (e.g. ground shaking maps, continuously updated damage scenario estimates, aftershocks hazard etc.).

The project is structured into 6 work-packages, address all major components of an earthquake early warning system: (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.

Official homepage:
https://www.amracenter.com/SAFER