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Merenda, Riccardo
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- PublicationOpen AccessCan Building Seismic Resiliency Benefit from Emergent Technologies? Case Studies from the Projects KnowRISK and 3DTeLC(AGU, 2019-12-09)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; Building resiliency to natural hazards like earthquakes requires worldwide engagement, starting from education and dissemination of good practice among the youths. Education of new professionals in the field of seismic risk takes nowadays advantage from the implementation of emergent technologies, such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), which can benefit from the huge amount of digital information available. We present a few case studies from two European projects promoting education and communication also throughout the application of AR and VR. Targeted audiences of the two projects were schools and universities. KnowRISK (Know your city, Reduce seISmic risK through non-structural elements; Grant agreement ECHO/SUB/2015/718655/PREV28) ended in 2018; it had a special focus on non-structural damage caused by earthquakes, exploring the causes of disruption and proposing preventive measures to reduce it. 3DTeLC is funded through the Erasmus+ Key Action 2 Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education scheme (Project Reference: 2017-1-UK01-KA203-036719) and will be completed in 2020. The project trains students to navigate 3D models of volcanic regions in Iceland, Greece, and Italy (at Mt. Etna volcano), allowing them to carry out virtual surveys also in hazardous contexts. Accordingly, the project aims at strengthening students’ skills in Earth observation and data analysis.94 19 - PublicationRestrictedThe MED-SUV virtual research environment for enabling the GEO Geohazard supersites in Italy(2017-12)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ; ;; ; This paper presents the Virtual Research Environment (VRE) enabling two European GEO Geohazard Supersites in Italy. According to GEO (Group on Earth Observation) vision, Geohazard Supersites provide access to spaceborne and in-situ geophysical data and models for selected sites prone to natural hazards –noticeably, earthquakes and volcano eruptions. The VRE was implemented in the framework of the Mediterranean Supersite Volcanoes (MED-SUV) project, funded by the European Commission. MED-SUV realized one of the European supersite demonstrators covering the two Permanent Supersites selected in Italy: Mt. Etna and Campi Flegrei/Vesuvius. The MED-SUV VRE provides advanced services for heterogeneous data and information management and sharing. MED-SUV started identifying the main supersite requirements including: the interoperability with existing data/information supply systems, the support of policy-based access control, the access to processing capabilities provided by external platforms, the management resources for publishing and sharing new products, the integration with significant global systems such as GEOSS and EPOS. MED-SUV adopted a System of Systems (SoS) approach to address interoperability with the identified heterogeneous systems supplying data and information. The SoS approach is based on a brokering architecture, where a specialized component (i.e the MED-SUV Broker: MSB) connects the existing and next-coming data sources leaving them autonomous. MSB carries out all the necessary mediation and harmonization tasks exposing standard interfaces enabling the interconnection with external systems like GEOSS and EPOS. In addition, MSB is accessible via a JavaScript library implementing Web APIs to facilitate the development of Web and mobile applications.178 7 - PublicationRestrictedAwareness on Seismic Risk: How can Augmented Reality help?(Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature, 2019-01)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; To communicate the importance of knowing the risk of non-structural damage caused by earthquakes, we developed applications based on Augmented Reality (AR) features. These applications run on mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones, by using their video camera and other on-board sensors, such as GPS, accelerometer, and gyrocompass, from which AR users do take advantage. Combined with a specifically designed exhibit, our AR applications can contribute to increase the common awareness on seismic risk, providing useful information on how to have safer homes in case of an earthquake. Building codes do not take into account non-structural elements, leaving communities at risk of injuries, blocking escapes and even causing deaths. In this framework, the personal preparedness is of paramount importance. The development of our AR applications is supported by the European project KnowRISK (Know your city, Reduce seISmic risK through non-structural elements).108 11 - PublicationOpen AccessImproving natural risk management by means of virtual surveys through hazardous volcanic contexts by using Augmented and Virtual Reality(EGU, 2019-04-07)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; To ensure an efficient natural risk management, we need an in-depth understanding and assessment of risk as well as the adoption of effective prevention measures. Modern techniques such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) offer the opportunity to explore our environment for professional as well as educational purposes, conveying useful information not only to scientists, but also to at-risk populations. “Virtual navigation on volcanoes by Augmented Reality and 3D-headset” was a geoevent we organized in the framework of the 6th edition of the Italian “Settimana del Pianeta Terra” (Week of Planet Earth) in October 2018. The geoevent featured AR and Virtual Reality exhibits, highlighting the benefits of these tools in applications for Earth monitoring, also with positive contributions in mitigation actions to reduce the impact of natural hazards. We proposed virtual 3D models of volcanic regions in Iceland and Italy (at Etna volcano), which guided the visitors in a virtual survey through hazardous contexts like landslide prone areas and fault zones. The event was supported as part of the 3DTeLC project funded through the Erasmus+ Key Action 2 Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education scheme (Project Reference: 2017-1-UK01-KA203-036719).106 39 - PublicationOpen AccessAugmented Reality applications as dissemination tools for the mitigation of non-structural damage from earthquakes(MISCELLANEA INGV, 2016-12-15)
; ; ; ; ;Falsaperla, Susanna; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Reitano, Danilo; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Merenda, Riccardo; Università di Catania, Catania, DIEEI, Italy ;Benbachir, Miriam; Università di Catania, Catania, DIEEI, Italy; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;Falsaperla, Susanna; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Langer, Horst; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Mangiagli, Salvatore; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Scarfì, Luciano; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia; ; ; Mt. Etna covers a region prone to earthquakes with low to moderate magnitude in southern Italy. Nevertheless, its seismicity can yield serious non-structural damage due to the superficial seismic foci. For this reason, it is necessary an effective prevention activity of education and preparedness to seismic hazard for the local populations. One of the fundamental tasks of the European KnowRISK project (Know your city, Reduce seISmic risK through non-structural elements) is the dissemination of information to reduce non-structural damage from earthquakes in three pilot areas (Portugal, Iceland, and Italy). Focusing on tools that can convey such a useful information among laypersons and students, we choose Augmented Reality (AR) for its interactivity, simplicity and efficacy. AR enhances the user's perception of and interaction with the real world. It has inspired the “Intelligence Amplification” concept (Brooks, 1996) in which computers are tools to make easier human being life. Elements that “increase” reality are visible using a mobile device, such as a smartphone, through a video camera on board on a tablet, or any new wearable devices. We tested our first AR application during ScienzAperta in May 2016, an open-door event organized at INGV in Catania, and addressed to pupils and students who live in the Etna region. For that application, we referred to Wikitude trade mark framework provided by Wikitude GmbH (www.wikitude.com), under Android OS version 4+. Throughout ScienzAperta, all visitors were astonished by the AR experience, as the majority of them never heard before about AR applications. What’s happened after the Pokémon Go! revolution? Actually, the worldwide success of the game makes easy to understand the potential impact of AR, which is not only useful for games. This new video game experience represents indeed a milestone for the future of AR: “the success of AR games such as Pokémon Go!, which was downloaded more than 100 million times in its first month, reportedly earning $10m per day at the height of its popularity, has attracted widespread attention and investment” (The Gardian, 2016). As mobile devices (like glasses, smartwatches, etc.) will be even wearable in the next future, many important groups among the biggest technology communities are working hard to create some amazing smart devices (Fig. 1). This will increase the great success of AR technology among the “digital native” generation, raising our motivation to use this new way of communication to disseminate a better culture of safety.217 140 - PublicationOpen AccessThe talking poster: An example application of Augmented Reality for the mitigation of non-structural damage from earthquakes(MISCELLANEA INGV, 2016-12-15)
; ; ; ; ; ;Merenda, R.; Università di Catania, DIEEI, Catania, Italy ;Benbachir, M.; Università di Catania, DIEEI, Catania, Italy ;Giordano, D.; Università di Catania, DIEEI, Catania, Italy ;Reitano, D.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Falsaperla, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;Falsaperla, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Langer, H.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Mangiagli, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Scarfì, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia; ; ; The concept of Augmented Reality (AR) has spread out since the development of the famous game “Pokémon Go!” The game contains all the main features of AR and was downloaded more than 100 million times only in its first month of life (The Guardian, 2016, (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/23/augmented-reality-development-future-smartphone)). AR is part of the Virtual Reality approach, but creates a new experience around the user’s world in real time, adding some useful information based on the pointed target. Elements that “increase” reality can be detected through a mobile device, such as a smartphone, through a video camera on board on a tablet, or any new wearable devices. In addition, mobile on-board sensors, such as GPS, accelerometer, and gyrocompass, are exploited to enrich AR user’s experience. In the framework of the European KnowRISK (Know your city, Reduce seISmic risK through non-structural elements) project, we focus on tools for the dissemination of science education in the field of seismic hazard and, in particular, for the mitigation of the non–structural damage caused by earthquakes. In this light, we develop new dissemination formats using AR features. In this paper, we propose a “talking poster” that deals with seismic hazard, providing useful information to increase common awareness on earthquakes. The poster covers different sections containing static images: they are the “virtual buttons” to start the KnowRisk software application. Based on a Tablet or similar mobile device, it is possible to run a demo scenario that highlights potential non-structural damage inside a house or in public buildings (schools, roads, public workspaces). The tool is developed by using the Wikitude™ framework provided by Wikitude GmbH (www.wikitude.com), under Android OS version 4+.134 156 - PublicationOpen AccessBuilding-up AR Applications for field survey purposes(2016-12-15)
; ; ; ; ; ; ;Reitano, Danilo; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Falsaperla, Susanna; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;D'Amico, Salvatore; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Azzaro, Raffaele; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Merenda, Riccardo; Università di Catania - DIEEI, Catania, Italy ;Benbachir, Miriam; Università di Catania - DIEEI, Catania, Italy; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;Falsaperla, Susanna; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Langer, Horst; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Mangiagli, Salvatore; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia ;Scarfì, Luciano; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia; ; ; Augmented Reality (AR) is a new way to interact with the world around us by means of the alteration of reality perceived through specific sensors. Virtual elements are indeed overlapped to our visual perception using a video camera or special glasses. In the light of this experience, the AR user will see real images mixed with virtual objects and movies, hear sounds, perceive tactile sensations and, in the next future, have olfactory experiences. We exploit AR features for dissemination purposes in the field of non-structural damage caused by earthquakes as part of our activities within the European project KnowRISK (Know your city, Reduce selSmic risK through non-structural elements). In this presentation, we propose an AR application that allows the user on the field to access information based on a geo database. Accordingly, the application can work in outdoor guided tours as well as field surveys in the form of a virtual assistant. The application requires a tablet and is developed using the WikitudeTM framework, provided by Wikitude GmbH (www.wikitude.com), under Android OS version 4+. From a technical point of view, it is based on the Wikitude Software Development Kit (SDK), which represents an all-in-one AR solution including image recognition and tracking, video overlay, and location based AR service. We developed our prototype application as field trip experience of the town of Noto (Italy), destroyed by an earthquake in 1693. In the middle Ages, the old town of Noto was an important and rich stronghold chosen by Arabs as chief town of one of the three districts (Val di Noto) in which Sicily was divided. Houses, churches, convents and monasteries in Noto were totally destroyed by earthquakes with intensity I=X-XI MCS between 1542 and 1693. The victims were 3,000 out of a total population of 12,000 inhabitants. Our AR application provides historical information on Noto along images and seismic data. Building-up similar tools can be useful not only for laypersons, but also for professionals in support to their field surveys.165 137 - PublicationOpen AccessAwareness on Seismic Risk: How can Augmented Reality help?(2017-06-12)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; To communicate the importance of knowing the risk of non-structural damage caused by earthquakes, we developed applications based on Augmented Reality (AR) features. These applications run on mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones, by using their video camera and other on-board sensors, such as GPS, accelerometer, and gyrocompass, from which AR users do take advantage. Combined with a specifically designed exhibit, our AR applications can contribute to increase the common awareness on seismic risk, providing useful information on how to have safer homes in case of an earthquake. Building codes do not take into account non-structural elements, leaving communities at risk of injuries, blocking escapes and even causing deaths. In this framework, the personal preparedness is of paramount importance. The development of our AR applications is supported by the European project KnowRISK (Know your city, Reduce seISmic risK through non-structural elements).102 119