The Eucentre Foundation and the pan-European research infrastructure EPOS (European Plate Observing System) have formalised a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that consolidates a strategic synergy between the two institutions, aimed at enhancing and integrating data and services from the structural engineering and seismic sectors into EPOS.
Background
EPOS is a European Research Infrastructures Consortium (ERIC) dedicated to the integration and sustainable management of geophysical and geological data. Its mission is to provide unified access to multidisciplinary data and products to foster cutting-edge research and innovation in the Earth sciences.
On the other hand, Eucentre is an international benchmark in structural and earthquake engineering, thanks to its consolidated experience in scientific research, advanced experimental testing and the development of risk models.
Eucentre has been collaborating with EPOS ERIC for several years, coordinating the development of a European seismic risk data and modelling service: https://eu-risk.eucentre.it/. Furthermore, in 2022, a first three-year MoU was signed with the primary objective of exploring the possibility of creating a Thematic Core Service (TCS) of EPOS focused on characterising the building and infrastructure heritage in Europe.
Objectives of the New Agreement
Under the new three-year MoU, the Parties will collaborate in consolidating and finalising the process that will enable the establishment of the TCS ‘Built Environment Data’, which is currently being developed by the structural and earthquake engineering scientific community
The work plan for the year 2025 outlines the necessary steps for the new TCS’s candidature, including identifying relevant data and services, economic sustainability, and governance of the initiative.
The first versions of the services to be developed in this area are already accessible at this address: https://builtenvdata.eu/
A Long-Lasting Impact
The MoU also envisages activities to promote active interaction with operational bodies in the field of civil protection and risk management to improve the integration of academic knowledge with the security needs of the territory.
The collaboration between Eucentre and EPOS ERIC represents a crucial step in constructing a more solid and integrated scientific infrastructure to benefit the scientific community, institutions, and, more generally, society.