The new release of the Italian Macroseismic Intensity Database (DBMI08)

Abstract

Since the compilation of the last version of the Italian Macroseismic Intensity Database (DBMI04), a number of new studies has been published. With the aim of updating both the database and the catalogue, recent studies published after the CPTI04 have been inventoried, together with old studies not used for the catalogue and records from previous parametric catalogues. The resulting inventory, called ISMI (Inventory of Italian Macroseismic Studies) lists nearly 10000 studies related to more than 3500 earthquake. The analysis of the inventory allowed to: i) compare the studies and made the best choice for the catalogue compilation; ii) trace back the reason why some earthquakes are no longer in the present catalogue (fake events, etc.). The inventory will be published in the future through a dedicated website. The selected studies provided about 24000 intensity data points (IDPs) for 500 earthquakes either unknown or previously not supported by macroseismic data. More than 31000 IDPs derive from studies that are new or up-dated with respect to what is in DBMI04. The new release of the database (DBMI08) contains as a whole nearly 85000 IDPs related to more than 1500 earthquakes, used for updating the Italian catalogue (CPTI08). These data come from a varied set of studies and are heterogeneous particularly as regards the georeferencing of the macroseismic observations. Each in-tensity data point has been associated to a place listed in a standardized geographical reference directory, ex-pressly compiled, according to a procedure developed during the compilation of DBMI04. The reliability of the georeferencing has then been carefully checked. The database is published on-line through a web interface specifically developed for DBMI04, updated for the new release.