Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SERA (Seismology and Earthquake Engineering Research Infrastructure Alliance for Europe)
Reporting period: 2018-11-01 to 2020-04-30
SERA is the "Seismology and Earthquake Engineering Research Infrastructure Alliance for Europe", and responds to the priorities identified in the call INFRAIA-01-2016-2017 Research Infrastructure for Earthquake Hazard.
The overall objective of SERA is to reduce the exposure of our society to the risk posed by natural and anthropogenic earthquakes. SERA addresses this objective by improving virtual access to data and services, by offering access to conduct research at first class infrastructures, and through innovative R&D in seismology and earthquake engineering, led by the advanced community of European seismologists and earthquake engineers.
More specifically, SERA was designed to: i) involve the communities that participated in previous projects like NERA and SERIES, ii) offer transnational access to high-class facilities in earthquake engineering, iii) offer virtual access to the main data and products in seismology and anthropogenic seismicity, iv) promote multi-disciplinary research in order to achieve an improved understanding of earthquake occurrence, v) revise the European Seismic Hazard Model for consideration in the revision of the European Seismic Design Code, that is the reference construction code in Europe, vi) develop the first comprehensive framework for seismic risk modelling at European scale, vii) develop the new standards for future experimental observations in earthquake engineering and for the design of future instruments and networks for observational seismology, viii) develop reliable methodologies for real-time assessment of shaking and damage, ix) expand access to seismological observations, x) network infrastructures and communities in deep seismic sounding, experimental earthquake engineering and site characterization, xi) provide an important contribution to the construction and validation of EPOS, xii) provide effective communication and outreach.
The overall objective of SERA is to reduce the exposure of our society to the risk posed by natural and anthropogenic earthquakes. SERA addresses this objective by improving virtual access to data and services, by offering access to conduct research at first class infrastructures, and through innovative R&D in seismology and earthquake engineering, led by the advanced community of European seismologists and earthquake engineers.
More specifically, SERA was designed to: i) involve the communities that participated in previous projects like NERA and SERIES, ii) offer transnational access to high-class facilities in earthquake engineering, iii) offer virtual access to the main data and products in seismology and anthropogenic seismicity, iv) promote multi-disciplinary research in order to achieve an improved understanding of earthquake occurrence, v) revise the European Seismic Hazard Model for consideration in the revision of the European Seismic Design Code, that is the reference construction code in Europe, vi) develop the first comprehensive framework for seismic risk modelling at European scale, vii) develop the new standards for future experimental observations in earthquake engineering and for the design of future instruments and networks for observational seismology, viii) develop reliable methodologies for real-time assessment of shaking and damage, ix) expand access to seismological observations, x) network infrastructures and communities in deep seismic sounding, experimental earthquake engineering and site characterization, xi) provide an important contribution to the construction and validation of EPOS, xii) provide effective communication and outreach.
Between M1 and M36, 44 projects across all TA facilities were granted, 214 users selected, and 621 days of access completed (plus 8.2 months in array seismology). Virtual Access (VA) to 5 infrastructures was enhanced and made suitable for access through EPOS. In the area of Networking Activities (NA), progress was made for the expansion of EIDA to include additional nodes (Spain, Portugal, UK, Norway, Balkans, Turkey). There are now 12 EIDA nodes connected to the EPOS Integrated Core Services central hub, fully interoperable with EPOS. On Deep Seismic Sounding (DSS) data and products, a prototype of the DSS database was developed. In relation to the SERIES experimental seismic engineering database, a key achievement was the development, deployment, and evaluation of a pilot Thematic Core Service (TCS) compatible with EPOS, that did not exist before SERA. Finally, databases on site characterisation will now be shared with network operators running under EPOS, following the metadata standards used by the EPOS infrastructure.
In the area of Joint Research Activities (JRA), in the field of physics initiation of natural and induced earthquakes, progress was made on automated methods to detect microseismic events in near real time, on source parameter estimation, and on statistical toolboxes for induced seismicity within the EPOS TCS on Anthropogenic Hazard. New catalogues were also produced associated with injection/fault triggering underground experiments, that describe the impact of stress and geologic structure on seismicity. On earthquake activity rates, significant progress was made at local, regional, national and European scale, the latter relevant for the European Seismic Hazard model (ESHM20). For instance, data collected by national networks served to evaluate the consistency of magnitude evaluation with existing inventories at European scale. Also, new approaches were developed in the characterisation of earthquake sequences and tectonic activity rates and for the analysis of short-term time-dependent hazard. A major achievement of SERA was the update of the European hazard model (beta model released), the narrow collaboration between SERA participants and the technical committee in charge of the European Seismic Design Code (CEN-EC8), and the subsequent agreement to include the results of ESHM20 produced in SERA as an annex to the future European construction code. Also, SERA developed a seismic risk modelling framework for Europe at local, regional, national and continental scales. This involved, amongst other activities, the completion of an exposure model, including residential and non-residential buildings; a European site amplification model as well as methods for estimating amplification at the local scale; and testing of the European seismic risk model implemented using past events. On real-time earthquake shaking, SERA contributed with further research in attenuation models, and a procedure for the rapid assessment of the shaking potential. Rupture kinematics was also further studied, and a method suitable for producing automatic results seconds to minutes from earthquake occurrence was developed. Ground shaking prediction was also improved through innovative methods for the evolutionary and continuous update of shaking predictions at different scales. Finally, SERA explored ways in which EPOS could provide access to real time monitoring data and other high-level products required for scenario-based modelling and mitigation strategies.
In the area of Joint Research Activities (JRA), in the field of physics initiation of natural and induced earthquakes, progress was made on automated methods to detect microseismic events in near real time, on source parameter estimation, and on statistical toolboxes for induced seismicity within the EPOS TCS on Anthropogenic Hazard. New catalogues were also produced associated with injection/fault triggering underground experiments, that describe the impact of stress and geologic structure on seismicity. On earthquake activity rates, significant progress was made at local, regional, national and European scale, the latter relevant for the European Seismic Hazard model (ESHM20). For instance, data collected by national networks served to evaluate the consistency of magnitude evaluation with existing inventories at European scale. Also, new approaches were developed in the characterisation of earthquake sequences and tectonic activity rates and for the analysis of short-term time-dependent hazard. A major achievement of SERA was the update of the European hazard model (beta model released), the narrow collaboration between SERA participants and the technical committee in charge of the European Seismic Design Code (CEN-EC8), and the subsequent agreement to include the results of ESHM20 produced in SERA as an annex to the future European construction code. Also, SERA developed a seismic risk modelling framework for Europe at local, regional, national and continental scales. This involved, amongst other activities, the completion of an exposure model, including residential and non-residential buildings; a European site amplification model as well as methods for estimating amplification at the local scale; and testing of the European seismic risk model implemented using past events. On real-time earthquake shaking, SERA contributed with further research in attenuation models, and a procedure for the rapid assessment of the shaking potential. Rupture kinematics was also further studied, and a method suitable for producing automatic results seconds to minutes from earthquake occurrence was developed. Ground shaking prediction was also improved through innovative methods for the evolutionary and continuous update of shaking predictions at different scales. Finally, SERA explored ways in which EPOS could provide access to real time monitoring data and other high-level products required for scenario-based modelling and mitigation strategies.
• 22 workshops with about 2000 participants external to SERA were held, including scientists, technicians, engineers, and managers.
• SERA produced a wide range of data, data products, software and services in the fields of seismology, earthquake engineering and seismic risk, many of which are already offered in EPOS.
• There was full coordination between SERA, EPOS-IP and EPOS-ERIC, ensuring a coherent approach to strategy, implementation of services and resource planning.
• On Transnational Access, 44 projects were conducted, with 214 users and 621 days of access & 8.2 months (TA-10). The Virtual Access program validated and expanded in SERA is included in EPOS-ERIC catalogue of services.
• The number of seismic stations in EIDA increased by 60% (now 12000), and two additional national nodes were created.
• Roadmaps to propose integration with EPOS are now available from the earthquake engineering community, Site characterisation and the Deep Seismic Sounding data community, with standardised metadata and access following the EPOS requirements.
• A comprehensive Deep Sounding Data database is for the first time available (through CSIC repository).
• A major milestone is the agreement to include the European Seismic Hazard Model (ESHM20) developed in SERA in the next release of the European seismic construction code.
• A framework for European integrated risk assessment and testing at city and national scale is now available.
• Design, test and prototype experimentation of a platform for real-time quake shaking and validation on earthquake case studies is available.
• Assessment of the potential for city-laboratory based multi-hazards research and a long-term development roadmap were performed.
• The Seismo@school initiative was extended to 6 countries in Europe, reaching 1200 teachers.
• SERA produced fact-sheets for the general audience and technical reports for professional stakeholders and decision-makers.
• SERA produced over 120 publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.
• SERA produced a wide range of data, data products, software and services in the fields of seismology, earthquake engineering and seismic risk, many of which are already offered in EPOS.
• There was full coordination between SERA, EPOS-IP and EPOS-ERIC, ensuring a coherent approach to strategy, implementation of services and resource planning.
• On Transnational Access, 44 projects were conducted, with 214 users and 621 days of access & 8.2 months (TA-10). The Virtual Access program validated and expanded in SERA is included in EPOS-ERIC catalogue of services.
• The number of seismic stations in EIDA increased by 60% (now 12000), and two additional national nodes were created.
• Roadmaps to propose integration with EPOS are now available from the earthquake engineering community, Site characterisation and the Deep Seismic Sounding data community, with standardised metadata and access following the EPOS requirements.
• A comprehensive Deep Sounding Data database is for the first time available (through CSIC repository).
• A major milestone is the agreement to include the European Seismic Hazard Model (ESHM20) developed in SERA in the next release of the European seismic construction code.
• A framework for European integrated risk assessment and testing at city and national scale is now available.
• Design, test and prototype experimentation of a platform for real-time quake shaking and validation on earthquake case studies is available.
• Assessment of the potential for city-laboratory based multi-hazards research and a long-term development roadmap were performed.
• The Seismo@school initiative was extended to 6 countries in Europe, reaching 1200 teachers.
• SERA produced fact-sheets for the general audience and technical reports for professional stakeholders and decision-makers.
• SERA produced over 120 publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.