Transcript EARTHQUAKE — Impact, Response, and Recovery

Seismic Monitoring
in the Utah Region
— Status and Needs
Walter Arabasz
August 14, 2006
First...
How We Got Where We Are

1971 — Small state line-item appropriation secured

1983-88 — NEHRP focus on Wasatch Front area, but
no funds for modernizing seismic network

1989 — Legislative blue-ribbon panel convened:
“What EQ instrumentation is needed in Utah?”
$2.7 million recommended

1990-94 — After four tries , gained only $75K/yr
increase in state line-item from legislature

Turned to national arena to plan, fund & build ANSS
(more)
How We Got Where We Are
(cont’d)

FY2000 — Language in President’s budget asking for $800K for
EQ instrumentation in San Francisco; $400K, Seattle, $400K,
Salt Lake City . . . Funding gained with help of Utah Senator
Bennett

FY2001-02 — Added ANSS funds gained to build urban SM
network and basic, end-to-end real-time EQ info system in
Wasatch Front urban corridor before 2002 Winter Olympics
(automated alarms, locations, ShakeMaps, with dual Earthworm
systems)

Since mid 1970’s, state-federal partnership for seismic
monitoring in Utah with ~ 40% annual state contribution
What’s in Place...
UUSS Regional/Urban Seismic Network
Regional short-period/broadband net
221 stations
534 channels
Example UUSS Stations
Urban station, small building
Regional station, rock site
Urban station, open ground
Numbers for Utah Region

160 stations (424 channels)

85 SM, 58 SP, 17 BB

70 urban SM stations plus 5 BB/SM
stations in the Wasatch Front area

10 urban SM stations outside WFA
ShakeMap in
Utah Region
Thanks to Kris Pankow!
 ShakeMaps in Wasatch
Front Area in 2001
 ShakeCast for rapid
integration into HAZUS
implemented in 2005
 ShakeMap capability
expanded to entire Utah
region in 2005 
 18 ShakeMap scenarios
online
Co-operative project:
ANSS, NSMP, UUSS,
Utah Geol. Survey,
Utah OES
What Else is in Place?

Uncommonly strong state earthquake program
(solid partnership between UU Seismograph
Stations, Utah Geological Survey, and Utah Office
of Emergency Services)

Strong support from Utah Seismic Safety
Commission, created in 1994 by state legislature

State-level, 12-member ANSS advisory committee
for urban strong-motion monitoring
Prioritized Needs
1. Software development and support from ANSS
2. More BB stations in seismically active parts of
Utah with poor seismographic coverage
3. More stations (both regional and urban SM) in
dramatically growing St. George-Cedar City area
in SW Utah and in other seismically active parts
of rural Utah)  Currently pursuing through an
initiative to the Utah Legislature (handout)
(more)
Prioritized Needs (cont’d)
4. Upgraded computer hardware to ensure reliable
data recording, given increased number of
stations/channels recorded
5. Partial re-engineering of telemetry (including
links to NEIC) to guarantee continuity of data
recording/processing in event of a large
Wasatch Front EQ
6. More SM stations in the Wasatch Front urban
corridor