Italian accelerometric archive: geological, geophysical and geotechnical investigations at strong – motion stations

Geological, geophysical and geotechnical investigations, for the characterization of the strong-motion recording sitesmanaged by the ItalianCivil Protection, have been carried out in the framework of the project “Italian strong-motion database in the period 1972–2004”. The project aimed at creating an updated database of strong-motion data acquired in Italy by different institutions in the time span 1972–2004, and at improving the quality of disseminated data. This article illustrates the state of the recording site characterization before the beginning of the project, explains the criteria adopted to select the sites where geophysical/ geotechnical investigation have been performed and describes the results of the promoted field surveys.