SCEC Award Number 24027 View PDF
Proposal Category Collaborative Research Project (Multiple Investigators / Institutions)
Proposal Title Toward a Comprehensive Statewide Community Fault Model (CFM 7.0)
Investigator(s)
Name Organization
Scott Marshall Appalachian State University Andreas Plesch Harvard University John Shaw Harvard University Philip Maechling University of Southern California
SCEC Milestones A3-1, A1-1, C1-1 SCEC Groups CEM, Seismology, PBS
Report Due Date 03/15/2025 Date Report Submitted 03/13/2025
Project Abstract
 In 2024, we delivered the first comprehensive statewide SCEC Community Fault Model, CFM 7.0 (Plesch et al., 2024), and a significantly updated set of web-based tools, the CFM Explorer. The new CFM 7.0 covers California with a statewide scope using uniform guidelines on inventory, fault hierarchy, documentation and model access. This first statewide CFM provides 556 fault objects (113 new in central and northern California), in the preferred model. These faults accommodate relative motions across the Pacific, Gorda, and North American plate boundaries and are capable of generating destructive earthquakes. The model builds on and fully incorporates CFM 6.1, which is the latest representation of the southern California fault system. Importantly, all CFM 7.0 fault representations use the hierarchical naming system established for CFM 6.1 and expand the unified database of metadata which supports the model by providing auxiliary information such as source data, slip sense, and surface area. CFM 7.0 is publicly available through both the updated CFM Explorer (https://central.scec.org/research/cfm-explorer/), which provides quick access to map and 3D viewer interfaces, a new statewide relocated earthquake catalog (Waldhauser 2009, and Hauksson et al. 2012, and updates to these catalogs), and a complete and fully-documented Zenodo archive (https://zenodo.org/records/13685611). The model is intended to support a wide range of applications in seismology, tectonic geodesy, and probabilistic and deterministic seismic hazard assessment.
SCEC Community Models Used Community Fault Model (CFM)
Usage Description This project focused on developing and releasing the first statewide SCEC Community Fault Model (CFM).
Intellectual Merit The SCEC Community Fault Model is a state-of-the art, comprehensive 3D representation of the major known faults that pose earthquake hazards in southern California. The model is used as the basis for many research and hazard assessment efforts, within and beyond SCEC. As the most established CEM effort, the CFM and its web-based resources are also being directly used to support other community models.
Broader Impacts During this project, PI Plesch hosted a postdoctoral researcher from the CRESCENT group and trained her on how to use 3D CAD software for fault meshing and the process by which the SCEC CFM is constructed.
Having a unified fully three-dimensional model is critical for a wide range of seismic hazard assessments and the model is now easily accessible for anyone, novice or expert, that wants to use 3D fault surfaces in their work. The CFM Explorer has greatly reduced the barriers to access the CFM.
Project Participants PIs, Marshall, Plesch, Shaw also worked with Mei-Hu Su, Philip Maechling, Edric Pauk, and Tran Huynh (SCEC/USC). PI Plesch also worked to train a postdoctoral researcher from the CRESCENT group. We have had numerous meetings with a wide range of stakeholders that have interests in faults and earthquakes.
Exemplary Figure Figure 1: Perspective view CFM 7.0. Small dots are relocated hypocenters (Hauksson et al., 2012; Waldhauser et al., 2008, and updates) which are colored by their time of occurrence. Faults are colored by fault area, the top level in the fault hierarchy. The hierarchy is preliminary and a subject of active research.
Linked Publications

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