A major project — the creation and operation of the National Database of Active Seismic Faults — has been undertaken by the Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (H.S.G.M.E.). The establishment and maintenance of this database by the H.S.G.M.E. will provide an invaluable research tool for scientists and a source of public information aimed at mitigating seismic risk.
The Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration has the qualified scientific personnel necessary for the operation and support of this program, which will cover the entire Greek territory and compile data originating from other research institutions and universities across the country.
The decision was made by the Permanent Committee on Seismotectonics of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP). To coordinate and ensure cooperation among the involved bodies, as well as to guarantee the scientific integrity and presentation of this collective effort, a small scientific committee was appointed. The committee consists of Dimitris Galanakis (H.S.G.M.E., serving as committee coordinator), Spyridon Pavlidis (Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), Athanasios Ganas (Researcher, National Observatory of Athens), Ioannis Koukouvellas (Professor, University of Patras), Spyridon Lalechos (Dr. Geologist, OASP), Charalampos Kranis (Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), and Dimitrios Sakellariou (Researcher, HCMR).
The project is part of the H.S.G.M.E. Public Investment Program and is being implemented by the Directorate of Natural and Technological Hazard Management (DFYTEK).
The H.S.G.M.E. is already implementing two projects focusing on active seismic faults in Greece. The first concerns the Impact of Active Fault Structures in Areas of Industrial Activity, and the second focuses on the Revision of the Seismotectonic Map of Greece and its alignment with New Technologies and Geodatabases.
The DFYTEK has already completed part of the planned work internally, using data derived exclusively from studies and research conducted by the H.S.G.M.E..
