Abstract. In this paper, we introduce a project for the realization
of the first European real-time urban seismic network
based on Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology.
MEMS accelerometers are a highly enabling technology,
and nowadays, the sensitivity and the dynamic range
of these sensors are such as to allow the recording of earthquakes
of moderate magnitude even at a distance of several
tens of kilometers. Moreover, thanks to their low cost and
smaller size, MEMS accelerometers can be easily installed in
urban areas in order to achieve an urban seismic network constituted
by high density of observation points. The network
is being implemented in the Acireale Municipality (Sicily,
Italy), an area among those with the highest hazard, vulnerability
and exposure to the earthquake of the Italian territory.
The main objective of the implemented urban network will
be to achieve an effective system for post-earthquake rapid
disaster assessment. The earthquake recorded, also that with
moderate magnitude will be used for the effective seismic
microzonation of the area covered by the network. The implemented
system will be also used to realize a site-specific
earthquakes early warning system.