SCEC Award Number 26054 View PDF
Proposal Category Community Workshop
Proposal Title UNREST Workshop: How Can Geologic Slip, Slip-Rate and Paleoseismic Data Advance Earthquake Models?
Investigator(s)
Name Organization
Sally McGill California State University, San Bernardino Kim Blisniuk San Jose State University Michael Oskin University of California, Davis Scott Marshall Appalachian State University
SCEC Milestones A1-3, A1-1, A1-2, A3-4 SCEC Groups Geology, CEM, SDOT
Report Due Date 07/05/2026 Date Report Submitted 07/16/2026
Project Abstract
 The UNREST workshop brought together earthquake geologists with modelers to advance how earthquake geology datasets are used to test and validate earthquake-cycle, seismic hazard, and geodetic models. The goals were (1) to foster collaboration between modelers and providers of geologic records of past earthquake slip, rupture length, slip-rate as well as timing and regularity or irregularity of past earthquakes throughout California, (2) to identify and prioritize the types and locations of geologic data that are most needed to reduce uncertainties in seismic hazard models and validate earthquake simulators, and (3) to investigate the implications of differences between deformation models based on geologic data and those based on geodetic data. This report (A) summarizes the proposed Digital Twin approach to be developed by the UNREST group to enable more rapid testing of hypotheses related to earthquake recurrence through interactivity between models and curated geologic datasets, and (B) summarizes discussions of the areas in which collaboration between modelers and geologists can be fruitful and the types geologic data to be curated in the Physical Twin.
SCEC Community Models Used Community Fault Model (CFM), Community Geodetic Model (CGM), Community Rheology Model (CRM), Community Stress Model (CSM), Community Thermal Model (CTM)
Usage Description t the 2026 UNREST workshop, the UNREST group began to envision a seamless integration between (1) the SCEC community models (CFM, CGM, CRM, CSM, CTM) and SCEC geologic databases (Geologic Slip Rate database and the proposed Paleoseismic database)that are relevant for modeling earthquake recurrence, and (2) the theoretical models of earthquake recurrence (physics-based earthquake cycle models, dynamic rupture models, earthquake simulators) that are used by SCEC researchers, as well as other related applications (e.g., seismic hazard models).
Intellectual Merit At the 2026 UNREST workshop, geologists and modelers from all career stages worked collectively to outline the cutting edge of research on earthquake recurrence and the outstanding research questions pertaining to the physical mechanisms that can explain the observed features of natural earthquake recurrence, such as temporal clustering of earthquakes (super cycles) and the resultant variable slip rate in complex fault systems. They also identified the geologic data and improved modeling approaches that are needed to address the outstanding questions and set priorities for the curation of relevant geologic data in digital databases that are machine readable by modeling programs.
Broader Impacts The 2026 UNREST workshop brought together geologists and modelers from all career stages who are working to better understand earthquake recurrence.  Post-workshop survey comments indicated that multiple geologists and modelers gained new ideas and greater confidence for interdisciplinary collaboration as well as greater awareness of available databases.
Project Participants The workshop included 34 participants from 23 different institutions, including 17 early career scientists.
Exemplary Figure Figure 1: Overview of the Digital Twin vision for UNREST research (Understanding Natural Earthquake Recurrence and Slip over Time.
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