The Urban Seismic Observatory of Catania (Italy): A Real-Time Seismic Monitoring at Urban Scale

We describe the first dense real-time urban seismic–accelerometric network in Italy, named OSU-CT, located historic center of Catania. The city lies region with greatest danger, vulnerability, and earthquake exposure entire Italian territory. OSU-CT was planned realized within project called EWAS “an Early WArning System for cultural heritage”, aimed at rapid assessment earthquake-induced damage testing an on-site early warning system. is mainly based on low-cost instrumentation ad hoc by using cutting-edge technologies digital MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) triaxial accelerometers excellent resolution low noise. Twenty forty scheduled stations have already been set up ground floor significant public buildings. In order to assess performance (EEW) system, we also installed wide-band velocimeters (ETL3D/5s) three edifices chosen as test sites, which will be instrumented a structural health monitoring (SHM). addition several laboratory field validation tests developed instruments, effective operational Mw 4.3 occurring 23 December 2021, 16 km west, south-west Peak accelerations (4.956 gal 39.360 gal) recorded allowed obtaining shakemap determining reliable distribution motion historical city, useful vulnerability studies edifices.