The European Centre for Urban Risks (CERU), established in 1999, is a private non-profit association, endorsed by the Ministry of Internal Administration, and operates within the framework of the EUR-OPA Majors Hazards Agreement, a partial open agreement on the prevention, protection and organisation of emergency response to major natural and technological risks.
CERU aims to support and disseminate study and research projects carried out by the technical and scientific community, in close collaboration with various municipal departments and members of the civil community, in particular with the various civil protection services (at local, regional and national levels).
By disseminating the results, CERU aims to support, stimulate and facilitate the transfer of knowledge, enabling the general public to implement actions aimed at minimising risks and increasing their resilience.
CERU will also facilitate the exchange of experiences and knowledge with foreign colleagues, particularly in the context of actions to be developed between the various centres under the EUR-OPA agreement
The main objective of CERU is to establish a unified strategy and a common framework for the coordination and integration of various activities in the field of technical and scientific research into risk issues, through measures aimed at:
Organisation of training courses for trainers aimed at providing the tools and resources necessary for identifying, analysing and reflecting on the issue of urban risks, with a view to fostering a coordinated approach to understanding measures for minimising and mitigating such risks.
Organisation of symposia and conferences on urban risks, aimed at fostering dialogue and the sharing of knowledge and the development of key technical and scientific contributions in this field.
Organisation of seminars on public information and training regarding prevention, protection and emergency response measures.
Preparation of specialist publications addressing the issue of urban risks, whether in the field of fundamental scientific research, in the context of the operational development of prevention, protection and emergency response tools, or in relation to emergency management systems.
The creation of a specialist library through the publications produced as part of CERU’s work and research, as well as the collection and cataloguing of existing texts, articles, books, journals and other materials on this subject.
CERU is well placed to address the strategic dimensions and priorities facing modern societies in terms of security, as highlighted within the framework of the principles set out in the Action Plan of the EUR-OPA Agreement.
CERU is the result of study and research projects on urban risk issues carried out by the scientific community, together with the commitment demonstrated by the National Civil Protection Authority, both in supporting and driving this effort forward, and in collaborating and participating, bringing together the conditions and resources necessary to carry out this joint work.
This centre, which brings together technical staff from various municipal departments and members of the technical and scientific community, has as its primary objective the organisation and planning of emergency response to risks, both in the context of civil protection and urban intervention, and in the context of infrastructure.
Mónica Amaral Ferreira (Instituto Superior Técnico)
Alexandra Carvalho (Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil)
Manuel João Ribeiro (Instituto Superior de Educação e Ciências)
Luís Carvalho (SMPC Câmara Municipal da Amadora)
Cristina Oliveira (Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal)
A Comissão Executiva é estatutariamente composta pelo Presidente, pelo Tesoureiro e por um Relator eleito pela Direcção.
President: Cláudia Pinto (Câmara Municipal de Lisboa)
Secretary: Telma Guerreiro (SMPC Loulé)
Rapporteur: Diogo Guia (Vereador da Câmara Municipal de Torres Vedras)
Mónica Amaral Ferreira (Instituto Superior Técnico)
Esmeralda Paupério (Museus e Monumentos de Portugal, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto)
Humberto Varum (Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto)
José Manuel Mendes (Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra)
Ricardo Trigo (Instituto Dom Luiz, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa)
Agostino Goretti (Departamento de Proteção Civil Nacional, Itália)
Guido Rianna (Centro Euro Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Itália)
President: José Luis Zêzere (Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território, Universidade de Lisboa)
Vice-President: Paulo Gil Martins (ISEC Lisboa – Instituto Superior de Educação e Ciências)
Secretary: Maria Luísa Sousa (Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil)
Luis Alberto Mendes Victor (Universidade de Lisboa, Instituto Dom Luiz)
Armando Taborda (Serviço Nacional de Protecção Civil)
Maria Almeida Figueirinhas (Câmara Municipal de Lisboa)
Maria Fernanda Dias (Univ. Lisboa, Instituto Geofísico do Infante Dom Luiz)
Pedro Miranda (Universidade de Lisboa, Instituto Dom Luiz)