Le attività di formazione al rilievo macrosismico del Gruppo Operativo QUEST (Quick Earthquake Survey Team) – INGV

Performing macroseismic surveys in areas that have just been hit by an earthquake requires specific preparation and skills. For this reason, continuous training is essential for those working in these critical areas. The QUEST Group (QUick Earthquake Survey Team) of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) has been dedicated for years to training new personnel, providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle these situations effectively and professionally. Macroseismic survey training courses are designed to prepare INGV staff, researchers and technicians, to conduct accurate and systematic surveys following a seismic event. These training programs cover various theoretical and practical aspects of seismology and seismic emergency management, taking also into account recommendations for field personnel to be observed in the areas of intervention. In recent years, QUEST has decided to complement the traditional theoretical training of new personnel with periodic practical exercises in earthquake-affected areas. These locations offer participants the opportunity to directly observe the tangible effects of past earthquakes on buildings and infrastructures, to identify and classify damage using the latest approaches, and to simulate emergency scenarios, thus refining response and intervention capabilities. Choosing these areas for training adds significant value, offering a real context for learning. This publication aims to look back over the last decade of training activities that the QUEST group has put on through theoretical and practical events which have seen the active participation of researchers, technologists and technicians.