The GEObyIT project, completed in 2024, was an urban seismology initiative analysing vibrations from human activities and assessing seismic risk in Oslo. Conducted with the municipality's Emergency and Water and Sewage Departments, NGU, and UiO, it integrated seismic data, image analysis, and remote sensing to enhance urban safety. 

Monitoring infrastructures and operations in cities relies on different kinds of sensors providing information for local authorities and the public. The data used in the project are recorded on seismic sensors in the city of Oslo deployed since 2021.The recorded data allowed collection of information about events that produce ground shaking. Mainly from ongoing construction of tunnels and under-ground storage facilities under populated areas in Oslo. Approaches such as machine learning and seismic signal processing methods were employed to efficiently handle the large datasets acquired. 

Key achievements include a prototype for an automatic urban seismic monitoring system which enabled the detection of over 2,000 construction blasts. Seismic data also provided valuable insights into potential quick clay hazards by tracking subsurface variations related to freezing, thawing, and extreme weather events. Furthermore, the project developed a high-resolution model for seismic risk assessment, considering Oslo's building typologies ground conditions. Finally, mapping of topographic lineaments provided valuable insights for the planning and placement of future tunnel projects and contributed to seismic hazard analysis for improved urban risk management. All these findings support infrastructure safety, emergency response, and future urban planning in Oslo. 

Read more about the GEObyIT project here.