The Center for Seismic Microzonation (CentroMS)

At the beginning of 2015, on the initiative of the National Research Council - Department of Earth System Science and Technology for the Environment (CNR DTA), the Center for Seismic Microzonation and its applications (CentroMS) was founded.

The agreement for the institution of CentroMS involves CNR Institutes, as well as other research institutions and university departments:

• Department of Earth System Science and Technology for the Environment (DTA)
• Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC), Naples;
• Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes (IDPA), Milan;
• Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering (IGAG), Rome;
• Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis (IMAA), Potenza;
• Italian National Agency for New Tecnologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA);
• National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV);
• Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA);
• National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS);
• Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (DSBGA), University of Catania.
• Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), Polytechnic University of Milan;
• Department of Earth Sciences (DST), SAPIENZA University of Rome;
• Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment (DSFTA), University of Siena

CNR DTA, through CNR IGAG, coordinates the activities of CentroMS with the contribution of a Steering Committee constituted by one representative from each partner.

CentroMS aims at providing scientific and technical support to the institutions involved in seismic microzonation and its applications, with particular reference to urban planning and geological, geotechnical and geophysical issues related to the management of seismic emergencies.

CentroMS achieves its goals through:

1. the development of methodologies and updates on seismic microzonation and its applications;
2. the promotion of theoretical and operational training;
3. the provision of technical and scientific support for the implementation and coordination of the studies, as well as in the first emergency;
4. the promotion of information to stakeholders and citizens.

CentroMS follows the path of fruitful cooperation among researchers and institutions, which allowed for the publication of the “Guidelines and Criteria for Seismic Microzonation" in 2008, and contributed to manage the post-earthquake emergency in Abruzzo in 2009.

CentroMS carries out activities complementary to those undertaken by other scientific institutions working in the field of regional seismic hazard and the vulnerability of structures, bringing the contribution of geological, geotechnical, and geophysical skills for the assessment of local seismic effects.