SAFE: Slow Active Faults in Europe. Assessing fundamental input for seismic risk in regions of low seismicity

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 00.0336

Key words (English)

Numerical modelling; active faults; hybrid method; finite difference; ray; discrete wavenumber; earthquake ground motion; site effects: Earth Sciences; Environmental Protection; Meteorology; Safety

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: EFG1-2000-00023

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.4a.8 Generic R&D activities

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: Centre Nat.de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris (F)

Abstract (English)

SAFE is a multidisciplinary effort, which proposes a homogeneous European approach in identifying and characterising active faults to evaluate seismic hazards in low-seismicity regions. Seismically active western European regions are generally characterised by low-hazard but high-risk, due to the concentration of human and material properties with high-vulnerability. Detecting tectonic deformations that may lead to destructive earthquakes in such areas requires innovative research strategies that suit western European climate, slowly deforming fault, and heavily human-modified areas. This project will establish conceptual methodologies that explain the behaviour of slow active faults through diagnostic criteria. It will develop an expert system, which may be used as a standard in the future to diagnose the existence and seismogenic potential of slow active faults.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 00.0336