Timișoara, Romania – 20–25 October 2025 – Within the framework of the TRANSFORM2 project, an international team of geoscientists and engineers is conducting a comprehensive experimental campaign in Timișoara, Romania. The experiment brings together specialists from several European partner institutions to develop and validate innovative, real-time monitoring solutions for seismic and structural dynamics applications.
Hosted by the National Institute for Earth Physics (NIEP), the Timișoara experiment integrates both natural and anthropogenic seismic inputs to simulate realistic ground motion scenarios. The study focuses on assessing the performance, sensitivity, and complementarity of various monitoring instruments — including high-rate GNSS receivers, accelerometers, and tiltmeters — mounted on a controlled shaking table.
Institutional Contributions
Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di GeofisicaSperimentale(Italy) participates with its LZER0 GNSS device, a cost-effective sensor designed for geodetic monitoring applications. Installed on the Romanian shaking table, LZER0 will undergo testing under controlled dynamic conditions and be compared with other instruments. Among the input waveforms, one reproducing the 1976 Friuli earthquake will be used, providing both symbolic and scientific significance for seismic research.
The Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformatics, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences (Poland) contributes several geodetic-grade and low-cost GNSS receivers (Septentrio Mosaic x5, Javad Delta 3S, u-blox F9R), capable of high-rate, multi-GNSS observations. Some receivers are synchronized with an external rubidium clock provided by UPWr. A GNSS antenna, accelerometer, and tiltmeter will be installed on the shaking table to evaluate the combined response of these instruments to simulated earthquake-induced vibrations.
The Department of Geology, University of Patras ( Greece) participates with NET-G5 (1-TBD Hz), SOUTH NET S10 mini, and NET S9 (1–50 Hz) receivers. One of the devices will be connected to an external rubidium clock to ensure precise timing corrections. Simulations will reproduce three moderate earthquake events with available strong-motion (SM) data from stations at various epicentral distances and azimuths, resulting in a range of peak ground displacements (PGD). UPAT’s objective is to compare the GNSS recordings with seismic data to enhance Earthquake Early Warning Systems and improve earthquake source characterization.
National Institute for Earth Physics (Romania) conducts an advanced set of tests using the ANCO R-303 triaxial shaking table to reproduce realistic seismic motions similar to those generated in the Vrancea NFO region. The experiment involves a Leica GR50 high-rate GNSS receiver, a Leica Nivel210 biaxial leveling sensor, and a Kinemetrics Etna2 accelerometer, tested under controlled vibration conditions. The goal is to calibrate, validate, and compare the dynamic responses of these instruments, while analyzing noise behavior, data quality, and measurement accuracy.
Collaborative Impact
The Timișoara experiment exemplifies interdisciplinary collaboration between European research. This coordinated effort leverages expertise in geodesy, geophysics, and earthquake engineering to advance monitoring systems capable of supporting real-time seismic deformation analysis and early warning applications.
By testing both high-end and cost-effective instruments under identical dynamic conditions, TRANSFORM2 seeks to establish new standards for seismic monitoring accuracy, interoperability, and affordability. The experiment also contributes to the broader goals of improving infrastructure resilience and public safety through better understanding of ground motion and structural response.
About TRANSFORM2
TRANSFORM² is a pan-European initiative, funded by the European Union within the HORIZON-INFRA-2024-DEV-01-01 call, aiming to upgrade, advance, and transform the Near Fault Observatories (NFOs) into the next generation.
Disclaimer Statement Views and opinions expressed reflect only the views of TRANSFORM2 project.
The National Institute for Earth Physics (Romania) conducts an advanced set of tests using the ANCO R-303 triaxial shaking table to reproduce realistic seismic motions similar to those generated in the Vrancea NFO region. (video taken on 20th October 2025)
Timișoara, Romania – 20–25 October 2025 – Within the framework of the TRANSFORM2 project, an international team of geoscientists and engineers is conducting a comprehensive experimental campaign in Timișoara, Romania. The experiment brings together specialists from several European partner institutions to develop and validate innovative, real-time monitoring solutions for seismic and structural dynamics applications.
Hosted by the National Institute for Earth Physics (NIEP), the Timișoara experiment integrates both natural and anthropogenic seismic inputs to simulate realistic ground motion scenarios. The study focuses on assessing the performance, sensitivity, and complementarity of various monitoring instruments — including high-rate GNSS receivers, accelerometers, and tiltmeters — mounted on a controlled shaking table.
Institutional Contributions
Collaborative Impact
The Timișoara experiment exemplifies interdisciplinary collaboration between European research. This coordinated effort leverages expertise in geodesy, geophysics, and earthquake engineering to advance monitoring systems capable of supporting real-time seismic deformation analysis and early warning applications.
By testing both high-end and cost-effective instruments under identical dynamic conditions, TRANSFORM2 seeks to establish new standards for seismic monitoring accuracy, interoperability, and affordability. The experiment also contributes to the broader goals of improving infrastructure resilience and public safety through better understanding of ground motion and structural response.
About TRANSFORM2
TRANSFORM² is a pan-European initiative, funded by the European Union within the HORIZON-INFRA-2024-DEV-01-01 call, aiming to upgrade, advance, and transform the Near Fault Observatories (NFOs) into the next generation.
For more information about TRANSFORM2, visit https://www.transform2-project.eu/
Disclaimer Statement
Views and opinions expressed reflect only the views of TRANSFORM2 project.
The National Institute for Earth Physics (Romania) conducts an advanced set of tests using the ANCO R-303 triaxial shaking table to reproduce realistic seismic motions similar to those generated in the Vrancea NFO region. (video taken on 20th October 2025)
Recent Posts
Popular Categories
Popular Tags
Archives