  A web application prototype is described, aimed at the generation of
synthetic seismograms for user-defined earthquake models. The web application
graphical user interface hides the complexity of the underlying computational
engine, which is the outcome of the continuous evolution of sophisticated
computer codes, some of which saw the light back in the middle '80s. With the
web application, even the non-experts can produce ground shaking scenarios at
the local or regional scale in very short times, depending on the complexity of
the adopted source and medium models, without the need of a deep knowledge of
the physics of the earthquake phenomenon. Actually, it may even allow neophytes
to get some basic education in the field of seismology and seismic engineering,
due to the simplified intuitive experimental approach to the matter. One of the
most powerful features made available to the users is indeed the capability of
executing quick parametric tests in near real-time, to explore the relations
between each model's parameter and the resulting ground motion scenario. The
synthetic seismograms generated through the web application can be used by
civil engineers for the design of new seismo-resistant structures, or to
analyse the performance of the existing ones under seismic load.
