Horizon Europe MSCAGrant No. 10129666048-Month Project

Beyond Epicenters

Assessing Earthquake Vulnerability Through Economic and Social Networks

Transforming disaster risk assessment by addressing interconnected economic, social, and infrastructural impacts of disasters.

About the Project

A systemic disaster intelligence framework for interconnected regional risks

Project Vision

Beyond Epicenters aims to transform disaster risk assessment by moving beyond traditional epicenter-focused approaches and addressing the interconnected economic, social, and infrastructural impacts of disasters.

By combining advanced data analytics, remote sensing, and systemic risk modelling, the project seeks to strengthen disaster resilience, improve preparedness, and support more effective decision-making for complex disaster scenarios across different regions and hazards.

The methodology will be validated through seismic risk applications in Turkiye and Morocco, as well as tsunami risk assessments in Portugal.

Call

HORIZON-MSCA-2025-SE-01

Type of Action

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-SE

Grant Number

101296660

Duration

48 months

Requested EU Contribution

EUR 1,422,840.00

Start Date

01 May 2026

Our Idea

Beyond Epicenters develops an innovative disaster intelligence framework capable of identifying cascading impacts and systemic vulnerabilities across interconnected regional systems. Instead of analysing disasters only through direct physical damage, the project integrates economic, social, infrastructural, and environmental interdependencies into a unified risk assessment methodology.

Key Innovations

Dynamic disaster classification maps

Multi-layered vulnerability modelling

Identification of cascading and systemic risks

Integration of socio-economic and infrastructural interdependencies

Adaptable methodology across multiple disaster scenarios

Project Structure

WP1

Regional Interdependency Metrics Establishment

- Fieldwork and survey evaluations
- Comprehensive data collection
- Development of interdependency metrics

WP2

Regional Resilience Index Determination

- Infrastructure quality assessment
- Economic resilience analysis
- Population dynamics and social structures
- Healthcare system and emergency services analysis
- Preparedness and planning assessment
- Integration of infrastructure resilience into the Regional Resilience Index

WP3

Disaster Risk Mapping

- Data collection and integration
- Development of risk assessment metrics
- Creation of earthquake disaster risk maps

WP4

Innovative Disaster Management Methodology Creation

- Assessment of multi-dimensional data
- Development of systemic vulnerability mapping tools
- Methodology testing

WP5

Pilot Implementation and Methodology Validation

- Pilot testing in selected regions
- Optimization for decision support
- Stakeholder collaboration and feedback

WP6

Management

- Project management plan and consortium coordination framework
- Dissemination and communication plans
- Exploitation plan

Deliverables

D1.1 Standardized metrics and methodologies to evaluate interdependencies, systemic vulnerabilities, and resilience.

D2.1 Regional Resilience Index.

D3.1 High-resolution risk maps identifying areas of increased seismic hazard and vulnerability.

D4.1 Advanced methodology for real-time analysis of systemic vulnerabilities, critical risks, and recovery strategies.

D5.1 Refined methodology protocol based on real-world testing and stakeholder feedback.

D6.1 Data Management Plan.

D6.2 Plan for dissemination and exploitation including communication activities.

D6.3 1st Progress Report.

D6.4 Mid-Term Meeting.

TEDU Team Launches Collaboration Activities in Marrakech

Beyond Epicenters Project Coordinator Prof. Nazire Nergiz Dinçer has started her secondment activities in Marrakech, Morocco, as a member of the TED University team.

Read the update

The Consortium & Global Network

Universities and SMEs from Portugal, Germany, Norway, Turkiye, Ukraine, Morocco, and Azerbaijan

TEDU

PIC 954235658

Coordinator

TED University

Turkiye

Project coordination and strategic leadership.

AGU

PIC 947519960

Partner

Abdullah Gul University

Turkiye

Research partner contributing to disaster risk and resilience analysis.

ULusofona

PIC 997605425

Partner

COFAC Cooperativa de Formacao e Animacao Cultural CRL

Portugal

Partner contributing to regional applications and tsunami risk assessment.

UHAM

PIC 999905101

Partner

University of Hamburg

Germany

Research partner supporting advanced modelling and systemic risk analysis.

UiB

PIC 999974456

Partner

Universitetet i Bergen

Norway

Partner contributing expertise in resilience planning and disaster research.

ECOMM

PIC 909149379

Partner

Limited Liability Company ECOMM CO

Ukraine

Technology partner supporting data and implementation activities.

QUANTAG

PIC 902572294

Partner

Quantag IT Solutions GmbH

Germany

SME partner contributing software, analytics, and digital solution development.

SETM

PIC 883928409

Associated Country

SETM Limited Liability Company

Azerbaijan

Associated-country organisation contributing regional and technical implementation expertise.

UCAM

PIC 998639930

Associated Country

Universite Cadi Ayyad

Morocco

Associated-country university supporting methodology validation through seismic risk applications.

Months Duration

Partner Organisations

Associated Countries

Countries