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Nicolas Luco
Geologic Hazards Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey
Research Civil Engineer
Expertise: Seismic Risk Analysis, Ground Motions for Engineering Analysis/Design
About Me
Publications
As one of a growing handful of civil/structural engineers in the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP), and with statistics expertise, my research primarily focuses on probabilistic methods for seismic design and retrofit of buildings and other structures. These methods make use of and provide feedback on the USGS National Seismic Hazard Model and other EHP science and products. To both motivate and apply my research, I serve as a liaison on numerous external committees that develop the seismic provisions of US building codes. I also research risk assessment methods for natural hazards, mostly for earthquakes but also for rockfalls, with an interest in other hazards. Prior to joining the USGS in 2004, for three years I worked at a catastrophe risk modeling company.
SCEC Participation
Current Roles
SCEC Science Steering Committee, Liaison Member (2024 - Present)
Past Roles
SCEC Board of Directors, Liaison Member (2017 - 2024) SCEC Science Planning Committee, Group Leader (2012 - 2016) SCEC Science Planning Committee, Group Co-Leader (2007 - 2011)
Field, E. H., Milner, K. R., & Luco, N. (2021). The Seismic Hazard Implications of Declustering and Poisson Assumptions Inferred from a Fully Time-Dependent Model. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 112(1), 527-537. doi: 10.1785/0120210027. SCEC Contribution 11111
Liu, T., Luco, N., & Liel, A. B. (2016, 09). Seismic Risk from Induced and Natural Earthquakes for the Central and Eastern United States. Poster Presentation at 2016 SCEC Annual Meeting. SCEC Contribution 6407
Luco, N., & Jordan, T. H. (2012). Progress of the Southern California Earthquake Center Technical Activity Group on Ground Motion Simulation Validation. Seismological Research Letters, 83(2). SCEC Contribution 1686