SYNER-G

SYNER-G stands for Systemic Seismic Vulnerability and Risk Analysis for Buildings, Lifeline Networks and Infrastructures Safety Gain and is a Regional Programme for the European region.

SYNER-G has the following main goals:
(1) To elaborate appropriate, in the European context, fragility relationships for the vulnerability analysis and loss estimation of all elements at risk, for buildings, building aggregates, utility networks (water, waste water, energy, gas), transportation systems (road, railways, harbors) as well as complex medical care facilities (hospitals) and fire-fighting systems.
(2) To develop social and economic vulnerability relationships for quantifying the impact of earthquakes.
(3) To develop a unified methodology, and tools, for systemic vulnerability assessment accounting for all components (structural and socio-economic) exposed to seismic hazard, considering interdependencies within a system unit and between systems, in order to capture the increased loss impact due to the interdependencies and the interactions among systems and systems of systems.

The methodology and the proposed fragility functions will be validated in selected sites (urban scale) and systems and it will implemented in an appropriate open source and unrestricted access software tool. Guidelines will be prepared and the results and outputs will be disseminated in Europe and world wide with appropriate dissemination schemes.
SYNER-G is integrated across different disciplines with an internationally recognized partnership from Europe, USA and Japan. The objectives and the deliverables are focused to the needs of the administration and local authorities, which are responsible for the management of seismic risk, as well as the needs of the construction and insurance industry.

The 14 participants in the SYNER-G consortium represent a variety of organizations, from universities and academic institutions to research foundations and SMEs. Together, they
represent some of the best available expertise in different aspects of earthquake vulnerability assessment and loss estimation. The consortium takes advantage of the knowledge available with international partners from the US and Japan. The SYNER-G Consortium includes the main actors of the participating organizations.

Impact
Technology: A unique European approach will be created making us independent from the U.S. approach.
Society: The protection and safety of the population will be considerably improved.
Economy: The results will enable an improvement of the European infrastructure and lifelines avoiding dramatic losses from earthquakes to come.
Standards: A standard will be created allowing a European approach to the subject allowing application all over the continent and enabling the construction industry to improve the built infrastructure.
ERA: The European Union will be enabled to implement greater economic integration with its neighbors who are also considerably in need of these new methodologies.
International Collaboration: The results of the project will make collaboration with Europe more attractive particular from the view of the U.S and Japan. Europe will be enabled to take the lead on this subject.
Technology Transfer: Europe will be seen as enabling the rising problems of mega cities in earthquake prone areas.

For more information, please visit the project'swebsite.