FASTER

    

FASTER (First Impact Assessment Systems and Tools for Earthquake Rapid Response) is a project funded by the European Union within the framework of civil protection (linked to the UCPM program) that aims to improve the efficiency of earthquake rapid response tools (Earthquake Rapid Response - RRE) and to facilitate the content of rapid earthquake warning communications to be useful for rapid, reliable and coordinated decision-making by Civil Protection authorities.

Since earthquakes cannot be predicted, the project works to be able to know, in the first hours after an earthquake, what the damage has been and which areas have been most affected. To achieve this, FASTER connects and improves the rapid response systems that already exist in different countries: Spain/Andorra (ERDS tool: Rapid Earthquake Damage Scenarios), France, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey and Romania.

The project also promotes the creation of a “Community of Practice” (CoP), made up of representatives of the organizations responsible for emergency management and intervention teams from the different partner countries, with a vocation for continuity beyond the duration of the project. FASTER brings together public administrations, researchers and technical experts to share knowledge, work together and respond to real needs in emergency situations.

The project will last two years (from March 2026 to February 2028). The coordinator is the Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) of France and other organizations with expertise in damage scenarios and rapid response tools are participating. On the part of Spain, and more specifically Catalonia, the Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya (ICGC) is participating and on the part of Andorra, Andorra Recerca + Innovació. Representatives of the civil protections of Catalonia, Andorra (Departament de Protecció Civil i Gestió d'Emergències del Govern d'Andorra), France, Italy, Turkey, Ireland and Romania are also participating.
 

Throughout the project, the following working package groups will work:

1. Project management and coordination
2. Faster Community of Practice on rapid response to earthquake
3. Mapping existing capabilities and gaps
4. Funcional improvements and cross-fertilization of RRE tools
5. Recommendations and knowledge transfer to enhance the impact of RRE
6. Dissemination and communication

 

LinkedIn del projecte FASTER