The amplification of seismic motion in seismic microzonation maps is usually done by mapping of amplification factors. These parameters, as proposed by the current national and regional standards, allow for a relative evaluation of the local seismic hazard which are only valid at a local scale. A representation allowing a comparison and classification that is valid at all scales, from local to regional and national levels, would be more useful. To this end, Naso et al. (2016) proposed mapping the local seismic hazard through the new HMS parameter. To verify the feasibility and potential of applying this proposal, a test was carried out in four municipalities of Emilia-Romagna. The test demonstrates the simplicity and the highly important advantages of seismic microzonation through the HMS parameter:
- the maps provide ground shaking values resulting from reference seismic hazard and site effects, i.e. show a more realistic representation of the seismic hazard;
- the values of ground motions are absolute; this allows an effective comparison of seismic hazard among areas with different seismicity and geology and, therefore, an exact classification of the territory in terms of seismic hazard.