2017 USEIT: Hazard and Risk Visualization of Earthquake Scenarios

Yipeng Li, Sophia Belvoir, Abigail Edwards, Amelia Midgley, Rafael Uribe, Resherle Verna, Jozi K. Pearson, Thomas H. Jordan, Gabriela R. Noriega, Kevin R. Milner, & Hope A. Seligson

Published August 3, 2017, SCEC Contribution #7405, 2017 SCEC Annual Meeting Poster #310

As part of the 2017 Undergraduate Studies in Earthquake Information Technology (USEIT) research challenge, the Hazard and Risk Visualization (HaRVi) Team applied a multidisciplinary approach to address a complex earthquake hazard problem. The HaRVi team analyzed probable multi-event earthquake sequences that could threaten the Los Angeles region using visualization tools to illustrate expected ground shaking, economic losses, and casualties. Based on conditional probabilities, we selected critical earthquake scenarios from Rate-State earthQuake Simulator (RSQSim) catalogs. We then visualized the area of surface slip in each scenario and used SCEC Virtual Display of Objects (SCEC VDO) to identify potential damage to southern California aqueducts. We also applied the Java based platform OpenSHA to create shakemaps for Hazards United States-Multi Hazards (HAZUS-MH) analysis. We utilized ArcGIS to visualize the potential effects of three earthquake ruptures with a magnitude near 6.0 on the Parkfield, Mojave, and Coachella segments of the San Andreas Fault, followed by a larger rupture (>M7.6) on the southern San Andreas. The Parkfield segment was chosen due to a quasi-regular recurrence interval of ~20 years[1]. The Coachella segment was chosen due to past earthquake swarm activity (Brawley seismic zone near Bombay Beach)[2]. The Mojave segment was chosen due to its close proximity to our focus region of Los Angeles. In addition, we selected an earthquake scenario with similar characteristics to the 2008 ShakeOut scenario to enable us to infer fire following earthquakes. We integrated ArcGIS maps into an Esri StoryMap to serve as an interactive medium to communicate earthquake probability research along with socioeconomic loss to the general public.

Key Words
USEIT, HAZUS, ARCGIS, HAZARD, RISK

Citation
Li, Y., Belvoir, S., Edwards, A., Midgley, A., Uribe, R., Verna, R., Pearson, J. K., Jordan, T. H., Noriega, G. R., Milner, K. R., & Seligson, H. A. (2017, 08). 2017 USEIT: Hazard and Risk Visualization of Earthquake Scenarios . Poster Presentation at 2017 SCEC Annual Meeting.

Related Projects & Working Groups
Communication, Education, and Outreach (CEO)