Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Urban disaster prevention strategies in the UPStrat-MAFA project: From risk analysis to communication

  • Gemma Musacchio
  • , Monica A. Ferreira
  • , Fabrizio Meroni
  • , Rajesh Rupakhety
  • , Carlos Sousa Oliveira
  • , Gaetano Zonno

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

The UPStrat-MAFA (Urban Disaster Prevention Strategies using Macroseismic Fields and FAult Sources) project, funded by the European Commission, had a multi-disciplinary approach to disaster prevention that encompassed strategies based on the analysis of the level of risk and information. Use of macroseismic intensity data and its probabilistic treatment was one of the successful innovations of the project. The method allowed incorporation of knowledge of seismic source, faults and their properties to estimate hazard and provide valuable insights on the level of expected shaking during future earthquakes. A holistic approach to risk assessment was one of the most relevant contributions of this project. It was implemented with a new concept of global damage (the disruption index, DI) that provides a systemic way to measure earthquake impact on urban areas and helps in prevention strategies, as well as in decision-making for emergency planning and post-disaster activities. The project strongly relied on prevention strategies based on education and communication of risk. Analysis on the levels of education was performed and weaknesses identified. Various educational tools were prepared: video games for children and audio-video products for the general public. The results and achievements of the project were widely distributed to both the general public and experts.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGeotechnical, Geological and Earthquake Engineering
PublisherSpringer Netherlands
Pages337-356
Number of pages20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Publication series

NameGeotechnical, Geological and Earthquake Engineering
Volume44

Bibliographical note

Funding Information: Acknowledgements The Urban disaster Prevention Strategies using MAcroseismic Fields and FAult Sources -UPStrat-MAFA project was co-financed by the EU -Civil Protection Financial Instrument with the Grant Agreement N. 23031/2011/613486/SUB/A5. It was a project that involved six different European research centers and universites with the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (Italy) acting as the coordinator. The partners were Instituto Superior Tecnico (Lisbon, Portugal), Istituto di Matematica Applicata e Tecnologie Informatiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Milan, Italy), Laboratorio Nacional de Engenharia Civil (Lisbon, Portugal), Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (Spain) and Earthquake Engineering Research Centre (Selfoss, Iceland). We are thankful to Professor Ragnar Sigbjrnsson, who coordinated the Earthquake Engineering Research Centre partnership, for his enthusiasm, commitment and dedication that were crucial for the success of the project. Publisher Copyright: © 2018, Springer International Publishing AG.

Other keywords

  • Disaster risk reduction
  • Disruption index
  • Risk communication
  • Seismic hazard and risk

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Urban disaster prevention strategies in the UPStrat-MAFA project: From risk analysis to communication'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this