A team of scientists and technicians from DTM traveled to Italy in June to install an array of 6 strainmeters in the Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei volcanic zones. While neither of these areas are currently active, they are areas of great concern for volcanologists. Millions of people live close to Vesuvius, and its historical activity strongly suggests the possibility of eruptive activity in the near future. Campi Flegri, a volcanic zone located approximately 25 km west of Vesuvius, has experienced large elevation changes within the last 20 years.

In addition to the array at the two locations mentioned above the group is collaborating with Italy to arrange for the installation of two strainmeters on Stromboli, a volcano which is continuously active and generated a major slope collapse in December 2002. Broadband seismic studies indicate that there are processes occurring on timescales of hours within the volcano, and strainmeter data provide the best means to investigate such activity. The long-term plan for this project also calls for one site on the next nearest island with the objective of searching for deep-seated activity.