Insights from the management of a large research infrastructure in Romania: National Network for the Seismic Monitoring and Protection of Building Stock at NIRD URBAN-INCERC

The National Network for the Seismic Monitoring and Protection of Building Stock is a key infrastructure of the National Institute for Research and Development in Construction, Urban Planning and Sustainable Spatial Development "URBAN-INCERC" in Romania. This infrastructure includes at present, among other research facilities, a strong-motion network of 64 permanent seismic stations, to which other temporary stations are added for various short-term vibration monitoring projects. Since its establishment in 1967, the seismic network has played an essential role in recording the earthquakes that affect Romania. Today, the seismic stations are distributed all over the country, according to its characteristic seismicity patterns. Most of them use state-of-the-art recording and communication equipment, being permanently connected online to the Data Center in Bucharest. The management of the network implies conducting a complex set of activities, centered on the recording, processing, analysis and interpretation of natural- and human-induced vibrations. All of these are seconded, in parallel, by various maintenance, reporting, logging, communication and dissemination tasks. The logistic and financial management also plays an important role. A rational and efficient administration of the seismic network cannot be acquired without a rigorous organization of data flows pertaining to the various activities performed. The paper provides insights from the organization of the network, highlighting the intercorrelation between the hierarchical levels of its functionality and the logical course of operation. A brief review of the challenges and solutions gradually developed and implemented by the members of the network team, in order to provide the required functionality, is presented. (paper)