Integration of strong motion networks and accelerometric data in Europe

Abstract:

Efforts for an organized collection of strong motion data in Europe started during the Fourth Framework Program granted by the European Union, with the first release of the European Strong Motion database. Subsequently other attempts were made, but the initiatives were carried out within a project by a single or few institutions, often isolated from data providers.

During the Seventh Framework Program, in the context of the project NERA, parallel to the establishment of infrastructures, major efforts were devoted on the improvement of networking among strong-motion data providers in the broader European countries.

Two major infrastructures for storing and disseminating accelerometric data and metadata were built:

a. The Rapid-Raw Strong Motion (RRSM) database that automatically delivers strong motion products in near-real time. The system collects and uses all relevant, unrestricted waveform data from the European Integrated waveform Data Archive (EIDA) within minutes after an earthquake (M>=3.5) in the European- Mediterranean region.

The RRSM web interface is available at http://orfeusdev.knmi.nl:8080/opencms/rrsm

b. A prototype of strong-motion database (Engineering Strong Motion database, ESM) that contains an initial core formed by the accelerograms recorded by Italian and Turkish strong-motion data providers. ESM is structured to contain not only the data available in EIDA but also off-line data; earthquake and strong-motion metadata contain more detailed information than the corresponding metadata in RRSM.

A Working Group (WG5 – acceleration and strong motion data), operating under ORFEUS, has been created to build the basis for the sustainable integrated pan-European accelerometric data distribution.

The responsibilities and duties of the WG5 are envisaged as follows:

1. Setting rules for data dissemination;

2. Establishing MoU’s with data providers;

3. Collaborating with the European project EPOS for the preparation of projects;

4. Contacting similar establishments in the other parts of the world;

5. Ensure quality of metadata and waveforms;

6. Ensure IT development improvements.

The steps made in two years towards the Integration of strong motion networks in Europe are illustrated and the major results of this initiative discussed.