Partner Spotlight: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki – Gathering knowledge for resilient futures.

As climate change accelerates the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the need for resilient infrastructure becomes more urgent. In Europe, critical infrastructure (CI) systems face growing threats from hazards like earthquakes, floods, and wildfires. Addressing these challenges requires deep expertise and collaboration across disciplines—a mission perfectly suited for the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH).

AUTH’s Research Unit of Soil Dynamics and Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (SDGEE) is a global leader in earthquake engineering and multi-hazard risk assessment. As a key partner in the Multi-hazard Infrastructure Risk Assessment for Climate Adaptation (MIRACA) project, AUTH brings its extensive expertise to the forefront, helping create innovative tools and frameworks to safeguard Europe’s infrastructure systems.

“The great impact of climate change, which has significantly increased the frequency of extreme events, was one of the most important reasons that motivated us to participate in MIRACA,” explains the team at AUTH. But their ambition goes beyond addressing immediate risks; they’re also working to extend their research to encompass hazards like floods, wildfires, and droughts, which pose significant threats to Greece and beyond.

Leading the way in data and risk assessment

AUTH plays a pivotal role in MIRACA by leading Work Package 1 (WP1): Hazard, Exposure, and Vulnerability Data Collection and Creation. Their objectives are both broad and impactful, as the team outlines:

• Reviewing and identifying gaps in existing CI exposure and vulnerability data.
• Creating a harmonized, pan-European database of CI exposure and vulnerability information.
• Evaluating multi-hazard risks for CI assets using this data.
• Applying MIRACA’s approach to a specific use case (UC4) focused on schools and hospitals in Greece, adapting to societal risks posed by geohazards.

This work not only fills critical knowledge gaps but also builds the foundation for the advanced tools and frameworks that MIRACA will develop.

Bringing expertise to the table

With decades of research and practical experience, AUTH is uniquely equipped to tackle the complex challenges of CI risk assessment. “We are experts in vulnerability modeling of different CI assets and networks, as well as seismic risk assessment of buildings and infrastructure,” the team shares. Their specialized knowledge includes assessing risks from induced phenomena like landslides and liquefaction, which often accompany seismic events.

This expertise enables AUTH to efficiently contribute to MIRACA’s efforts to create harmonized databases and develop methodologies for multi-risk assessment at the asset level.

Anticipating MIRACA’s impact

For AUTH, MIRACA’s potential lies in its ability to deliver tools and insights that drive real-world action. “The most significant outcomes of MIRACA will include a pan-European hazard, exposure, and vulnerability database, a framework for systemic CI risk and adaptation, and an online interactive viewer,” the team highlights. These innovations, combined with technical guidance and use case applications, will provide decision-makers with the resources they need to protect communities and critical infrastructure systems.

Collaboration: A key motivator

Another driving force behind AUTH’s involvement in MIRACA is the opportunity to collaborate with leading institutions and organizations across Europe. “Working with well-recognized partners allows us to expand our expertise and apply it to new hazards and scenarios,” the team emphasizes. This spirit of collaboration is central to MIRACA’s mission to unite diverse perspectives and expertise in the fight against climate change.

About Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Located in the heart of Thessaloniki, AUTH is the largest university in Greece. Its School of Civil Engineering, the oldest and largest engineering school at AUTH, is home to the SDGEE Research Unit. With a strong reputation in earthquake engineering and multi-hazard vulnerability assessment, AUTH combines cutting-edge research with practical applications to address pressing global challenges.

Learn more about their work:

• AUTH Civil Engineering Website
• SDGEE Research Unit
• ResearchGate – AUTH’s Lab
• Open-Access Publications on Zenodo

---

MIRACA: Driving action for climate-resilient infrastructure

Led by a consortium of top researchers, engineers, and climate specialists, the Multi-hazard Infrastructure Risk Assessment for Climate Adaptation (MIRACA) project is strengthening Europe’s critical infrastructure against the impacts of climate change. MIRACA equips public authorities with an innovative decision-support toolkit—featuring technical guidance, a resilience-testing workbench, and an interactive online viewer—to assess risks, explore adaptation strategies, and close data gaps. With open-access models and practical insights from five diverse European use cases, MIRACA empowers communities to implement cost-effective, resilient infrastructure solutions across the continent.