S5 project is aimed at supporting the ongoing research on selected itlian test sites where advanced monitoring geophysical networks are available or under construction.
The main general objective of the project is to improve the understanding of earthquake generation processes in itly and to define the seismic rates in the three selected test sites by developing and applying innovative methodologies to data-banks gathered by multi-disciplinary geophysical networks.

The three selected test sites are:

1. The Alto Tiberina Fault (ATF) test site, located inside the Northern Apennines mountain;
2. The Messina Strait test site, which include the southernmost portion of itly and N-E of Sicily: Calabro-Peloritni arc;
3. The Irpinia fault system test site, located along the Southern Apenninic mountain belt.

Specific research objectives are:

1. to promote an innovative and multidisciplinary research activity on the fault systems monitored by three advanced seismological and geodetic networks in sites where further research infrastructures will be potentially developed. The project integrate the ad-hoc monitoring networks of the three sites with existing permanent networks in the regions (INGV seismic and geodedic networks and acceleromentic data archived by project S4);
2. to implement analysis and modeling methodologies to be applied to geodetic and seismological data acquired (in real-time and off-line) to gain a detailed picture of seismogenic sources and of the crust structure at the three test sites. The project S1 will benefit of the improvements gained at the three test site in terms of improved earthquake locations and magnitude estimates and improved estimates of seismogenic thickness (expecially for Task2 and Task3);
3. to improve the knowledge of the active faults seismogenetic potential thanks to the high resolution networks available in the test sites, in particular the geodetic networks in Task1 and Task2 will derive the distribution of the tectonic strain rate and the rate of strain accumulation of known active faults;
4. to develop and apply new techniques (potentially real time) to gain information on the space- temporal evolution of the fractures field in the monitored areas trough detailed earthquake location, magnitude estimation and seismic anisotropy monitoring for early warning and shake-maps applications (in a close cooperation between Task 3 and project S3).

Deliverables of S5 project which have immediate impact and relevance for the Civil Protection Department (DPC) are :

Test site "ATF"

Test site "Messina Strait"

Test site "Irpinia fault system"

Moreover in the final report at the closing of S5 project we will synthesize the main conclusions and output of the various research activities summing and comparing the existing and new information and knowledge in the three areas. More over we decided to dedicate part of the final project report to the evaluation of project impact for Civil Protection, in particular for defining the future needs for research and monitoring activities.

New Task 4: Test site "L'Aquila fault system"

A new task (Task 4, Test site "L'Aquila fault system") has been added to the S5 project.
Its main objective is the understanding of the complex rupture processes related to the segmented normal faulting processes occurred in Central itly during and after the Mw 6.3, April,6 2009 earthquake. This project task will have a short time duration (less than 1 year) and a limited financial support due to the late activation but it has a structure similar to the others. This Task will include some of the ongoing monitoring and research activities and will integrate and optimize available data and results, selected for their efficacy and prompt outcome.

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