Project details

Full title: Development of an EArthquake Risk Model for Schools in the Republic of Croatia

Acronym: EARS

Funding: Croatian Science Foundation

Grant: UIP-2025-02-3985

Project start: April 2026

Duration: 5 years

Host institution: University of Zagreb Faculty of Civil Engineering

Summary

Schools are a vital part of every community, and their safety and resilience to earthquakes must be a priority. The 2020 earthquakes in central Croatia highlighted the vulnerability of many school buildings and the urgent need for a systematic seismic retrofitting strategy.

The EARS project aims to develop a reliable earthquake risk model for elementary schools in Croatia, enabling the assessment and prioritization of buildings for seismic strengthening in both the short and long term. The model will be implemented through an advanced web platform and will support risk assessment, decision-making and the protection of children and school communities.

At the same time, the project will establish a young research group in earthquake engineering, strengthen scientific capacities through international training and collaboration, and generate new knowledge with both scientific and wider societal value.

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