The SCEC Broadband Platform: Open-Source Software for Strong Ground Motion Simulation and Validation

Fabio Silva, Philip J. Maechling, Christine A. Goulet, & John E. Vidale

Published August 13, 2018, SCEC Contribution #8446, 2018 SCEC Annual Meeting Poster #015

The Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) Broadband Platform (BBP) is a carefully integrated and validated collection of modular open-source scientific software programs that can simulate broadband (0-20+ Hz) ground motions for earthquakes at regional scales. The BBP uses earthquake rupture and wave propagation modeling software to simulate ground motions from earthquakes. Users input an earthquake location, fault plane geometry and moment magnitude, along with a list of station locations, and then the BBP software calculates ground motions for the specified stations. The BBP simulations are based on 1D layered velocity models, which are provided with Green’s functions for a suite of pre-defined regions. The platform also includes validation tools to be used for cases in which the simulated historical events have recordings, which also allows for the refinement of simulation techniques and the development of new simulation methods that are consistent with data.

The BBP scientific software modules implement kinematic rupture generation, low- and high-frequency seismogram synthesis using wave propagation through 1D layered velocity structures, a site-effects module, several ground motion intensity measure calculations, and various ground motion goodness-of-fit tools. These modules are integrated into a software system that provides user-defined, repeatable calculation of ground-motion seismograms, using alternative simulation methods, and software utilities to generate tables, plots, and maps. The BBP has been developed over the last eight years in an international collaborative project involving geoscientists, earthquake engineers, graduate students, and SCEC software developers.

The BBP is continuously evolving and new versions are released periodically on GitHub. The latest SCEC BBP software can be compiled and run on recent Linux systems with GNU compilers. It includes eight simulation methods, nine simulation regions covering California, Japan, Central and Eastern North America, and the ability to compare simulation results against empirical ground motion models. The current release also includes updated ground motion simulation methods, and the ability to simulate multi-segment ruptures.

Key Words
Broadband Platform, Ground Motion Simulations

Citation
Silva, F., Maechling, P. J., Goulet, C. A., & Vidale, J. E. (2018, 08). The SCEC Broadband Platform: Open-Source Software for Strong Ground Motion Simulation and Validation. Poster Presentation at 2018 SCEC Annual Meeting.

Related Projects & Working Groups
Ground Motions