Frederick Research Center (FRC)
Frederick Research Center (FRC) is a leading research non-profit organization in Cyprus. It was established in 1997 to create a solid foundation for the development of scientific research activities of Cypriot and foreign scientists. FRC engages highly qualified academic/research staff with long experience in implementing independent and high caliber research. Numerous research projects have been carried out through FRC and part of their results has been presented in international scientific conferences. To facilitate this, FRC has contemporary facilities and access to Frederick University’s infrastructure, equipment and software tools through a special collaboration agreement. Furthermore, one of the objectives of the FRC is to support students and researchers, as well as to support the publication of books, reports and journals. To this end, the Center has close collaborations with Frederick University and often involves its faculty members and students in proposals and project work.
The Advanced Infrastructure and Materials (AIM) lab is involved in fundamental and applied research related to classical and modern engineering areas including a combination of analytical, design, as well as experimental techniques and the use of computers reflecting current and likely future practice. AIM is involved in a number of activities covering a wide range of interests including: (1) Analysis of structural systems - static and dynamic analysis (linear and nonlinear); (2) Design of structural systems - innovative construction methods and materials; (3) Computer aided structural engineering and software development; (4) Testing and Simulation Techniques; (5) Sustainable Building Materials, giving emphasis in the effective reuse of waste construction materials in concrete mixes. The research team of AIM has been involved in various research projects from local and international funding agencies such as: STABLE, SupERP, DEFEAT, INVALOR, etc.
Cyprus University of Technology
CUT is constantly committed to promoting research excellence, and is internationally distinguished in this area, providing a total of 40 million Euros of external funding for 227 research programmes. The latest European HORIZON 2020 programme has secured funding over 9 million Euros, with 23 research proposals, marking the highest rate of success in Cyprus. Recent successes include two ERC strategic projects totaling 3.3 million Euros, two “Teaming for Excellence” research proposals led by the CUT, which ensured the highest pan-European rating and participation in the creation of a RISE Excellence Center for technological and business innovation.
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh)
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) was founded in 1925, comprising only a single Faculty, that of Philosophy. Today it is the largest Higher Education Institution in Greece and Southeastern Europe, with thirteen faculties, forty-two departments, and four independent Schools. Aristotle University is located in the center of Thessaloniki, spreading over an area of 43 hectares. The University has two main goals: to educate its undergraduate and postgraduate students and produce original scientific knowledge and innovative research. The Research Unit of Soil Dynamics and Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (SDGEE) of the School of Civil Engineering of Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece, has a long and worldwide-recognized expertise and know-how in many topics of earthquake engineering, soil dynamics, engineering seismology, microzonation studies, site effects, vulnerability, risk assessment and resilience of built environment, infrastructures, lifelines, and cultural heritage. Since 1985 it has participated in many European research projects including EUROSEISTEST, EUROSEISMOD, EUROSEISRISK and SYNER-G as coordinator, and LESSLOSS, RISK-UE, NEMISREF, CORSEIS, 3HAZ, MERP, SERIES, SHARE, SAFELAND, PERPETUATE, NERA, REAKT, STREST, SIBYL, SERA, URBASIS as a major partner. Its experience is equally important in other national and international research activities and engineering projects. The Research Unit of SDGEE operates a unique, in European and International level, large experimental facility for earthquake engineering and engineering seismology studies, namely the EUROSEISTEST and the Europroteas prototype structure (http://euroseisdb.civil.auth.gr), in the area of Thessaloniki. The Research Unit of SDGEE has a long experience in seismic design of important engineering projects, like the Metro of Thessaloniki. Equipped with excellent laboratory and in-situ measuring devices and computing facilities, it is capable of performing full-spectrum studies ranging from in-situ geophysical surveys, laboratory tests,, and structural monitoring seismic design vulnerability, and risk assessment of structures, infrastructures, and lifelines. The Research Unit of SDGEE has established solid cooperation links with numerous research institutes worldwide and the construction sector in Greece and abroad. Among the most prestigious collaboration is with the French Commission of Atomic Energy (CEA-France).
Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II participates in ISTOS project through the PLINIVS Study Centre for Hydrogeological, Volcanic and Seismic Engineering which is a structure of LUPT Research Interdepartmental Centre. Since 2006, PLINIVS is a National Competence Centre on Volcanic Risk for the Italian Civil Protection. The philosophy of PLINIVS is to allow different typologies of end-users (civil protection, city planning departments, insurance companies, consulting companies, etc.) to address risk planning and management activities through a holistic “all-hazards” approach, which allows to implement integrated strategies aimed at supporting the entire cycle of emergency, from preparedness to response and restore, as well as at implementing mitigation and adaptation measures aimed at the resilience of built environment and society. PLINIVS has developed, in the last 30 years, theoretical models and tools to evaluate impact on several elements at risk, such as population, buildings, infrastructures and economy, under the action of different hazards, as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landsides, marine weather events, climate changes, etc. A rigorous probabilistic approach has been adopted taking into account space and time variables, so as dynamic vulnerability and cumulative damages. Original cascading effects models to evaluate the interaction between triggering events and the consequent impacts have been also developed in a recent EU project. A wide and robust database of the main assets studied has been built along the years. A comprehensive GIS provides the most complete collection of information oriented to exposure classification at national, regional and urbane scale. All the procedure are integrated and assisted via web-service on PLINIVS servers.
All models and tools developed can be applied in different geographical contexts through a process of customization based on specific end-user needs, which ranges from the support to data collection to the integration of legacy models and tools within PLINIVS procedures. The modelling approach allows to deliver such customized solution through web services, thus minimizing the technological complexity on the users’ side
