| 20 Nov 2025
The INGV macroseismic photographic database (DFM): a structured photographic collection of earthquake effects in Italy
Abstract. The Macroseismic Photographic Database (DFM) is a FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) dataset developed and maintained by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV). It provides a structured archive of photographic evidence documenting the effects of moderate to strong earthquakes in Italy since the late 1970s. The data collection is primarily carried out by the INGV's QUEST (QUick Earthquake Survey Team) during post-event macroseismic field campaigns. The database was initially conceived to preserve at-risk analogue photographic material but has evolved into a comprehensive digital resource where each image is catalogued with detailed metadata. The classification of building typologies and damage grades is standardised according to the principles of the European Macroseismic Scale 1998 (EMS-98). The DFM is designed for full interoperability within the INGV data ecosystem, linking each photograph to earthquakes, localities, and macroseismic observations contained in primary databases such as the Italian Seismological Instrumental and Parametric Database (ISIDe), the Parametric Catalogue of Italian Earthquakes (CPTI15), and the Italian Macroseismic Database (DBMI15). This paper describes the database structure, the data collection protocol, the metadata schema, and the technical solutions adopted to ensure data quality and accessibility. The DFM represents a valuable resource for scientific research in engineering seismology, historical seismology, and for training operators involved in damage assessment, providing crucial ground-truth data for seismic hazard studies and civil protection purposes. The dataset is publicly accessible at https://doi.org/10.13127/dfm (Quick Earthquake Survey Team, QUEST, 2023).
The purpose of the paper is very important supporting the research activity but also the training activity for new surveyor. The DFM here descripted is a powerful mean that collects a large amount of image from numerous seismic events very that can be used in future to better understand the macroseismic effect of an earthquake.
The rules at the basis of the DFM are sharable; it is important to state how to establish the vulnerability of the structure. This is important to guide the novel researcher, especially in case of reinforced concrete structures, because they can be more vulnerable if the evaluation doesn’t take into account the rules and the legislation in force at the time they were realized.
It could be useful to add, when possible, the image of the structure before the event. In many cases, using Google Street View, should be possible obtain the situation before the structure has been subjected to the earthquake. Sometimes, especially for heavy damaged building, it is important visualize the original defects that subsequently cause the damage.
Fig.1 It is better to add in “Classification” also the term “Vulnerability”, otherwise “Typology” may appear as a synonymous of “Vulnerability” and we know that’s not true
Fig. 2 It has said that the data start from 1976 Friuli earthquake, but this event is not represented in this figure, why?
Table 1 is missing; in the text they make reference to table 1 but there isn’t at all.
LINE 48 the link is uncorrected because contain also “in Italian” that must be removed