Research Opportunity Description
Estimates of earthquake-induced ground failure due to soil liquefaction or co-seismic landsliding are an essential component of USGS earthquake hazard products. The USGS undertakes ongoing research on earthquake-induced ground failure within the context of both near-real time assessment of impacts (e.g., Allstadt et al., 2022) as well as longer-term probabilistic forecasting of earthquake risk (e.g., Makdisi & Kramer, 2024). Ground failure due to liquefaction and co-seismic landsliding has caused tremendous damage and losses in past earthquakes and continues to pose substantial threats to a variety of infrastructure. Assessment of the likelihoods of future occurrence, severity, and impacts of earthquake ground failure is particularly challenging for a number of reasons, including: relatively limited sets of historical observations; a wide variety of damage and failure modes, and a related lack of models for predicting ground failure consequences (e.g., extent, severity, or infrastructure damage); high uncertainties in existing empirical or semi-empirical models for predicting ground failure occurrences; and difficulties in regional-scale ground failure estimates for portfolio loss assessments.
Given these challenges and the importance of ground failure as a component of earthquake risk, there is a clear need for a systematic framework that integrates seismic ground shaking hazard information (e.g., the USGS National Seismic Hazard Model [Petersen et al. 2023], ShakeMap [Wald et al., 2022]) with statistical models for liquefaction and landslide triggering and impacts. Such a framework ideally includes thorough quantification and inclusion of aleatory variabilities and epistemic uncertainties in earthquake ground failure estimation.
This Mendenhall opportunity seeks proposals that advance the modeling of earthquake-induced liquefaction or landslide hazards and their impacts, with particular focus on the ways that such research can be readily integrated into USGS earthquake hazards products. Broadly, this opportunity may be suited for proposals that focus on (1) the development of new probabilistic or statistical models for predicting earthquake-induced ground failure and its impacts (e.g., occurrence, extent/magnitude, or damage), or (2) development of new methodologies for integrating existing ground failure models into regional- or national-scale ground failure hazards and impact assessments. Specific proposal ideas may involve one or more of the following research elements:
- Synthesizing existing field data (e.g., geotechnical subsurface data, ground failure case histories), or performing new field studies for use in model development or calibration.
- Use of geostatistical methods, for example, to characterize spatial variability of liquefaction or landslide-susceptible materials, or to integrate site-specific forecasts with geospatial data to improve regional-scale assessments.
- Exploration of remote sensing data or geospatial proxies as tools for predicting earthquake-induced ground failure.
- Use of numerical modeling/physics-based simulations to fill in gaps in historical observations and constrain various types of liquefaction- or landslide-related mechanisms.
- Development of empirical or semi-empirical statistical models to predict various ground failure-related metrics (e.g., occurrence, extent/magnitude, severity, damage).
Proposals beyond these suggested topics are welcome, and we encourage applicants to consider USGS strategic priorities as outlined in the USGS Plan for Risk Research and Applications (Ludwig et al., 2018) and the USGS Subduction Zone Science Plan (Gomberg et al., 2017).
Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Research Advisor(s) early in the application process to discuss project ideas.
References
Allstadt, K. E., Thompson, E. M., Jibson, R. W., et al. (2022). The US Geological Survey ground failure product: Near-real-time estimates of earthquake-triggered landslides and liquefaction. Earthquake Spectra, 38(1), 5–36.
Gomberg, J.S., Ludwig, K.A., Bekins, B., et al. (2017). Reducing risk where tectonic plates collide – U.S. Geological Survey subduction zone science plan. U.S. Geological Survey Circular no.1428
Ludwig, K.A., Ramsey, D.W., Wood, N.J., et al. (2018). Science for a risky world – A U.S. Geological Survey plan for risk research and applications. U.S. Geological Survey Circular no. 1444
Makdisi, A. J., & Kramer, S. L. (2024). Improved computational methods for probabilistic liquefaction hazard analysis. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 176, 108272.
Petersen, M. D., Shumway, A. M., Powers, P. M., et al. (2023). The 2023 US 50-State National Seismic Hazard Model: Overview and implications. Earthquake Spectra, 87552930231215428.
Wald, D.J., Worden, C.B., Thompson, E.M. and Hearne, M., (2022). ShakeMap operations, policies, and procedures. Earthquake Spectra, 38(1), pp.756-777.
Proposed Duty Station(s)
Golden, Colorado
Areas of PhD
Geotechnical engineering, engineering seismology, engineering geology, geophysics, computer science, statistics, or related fields (candidates holding a Ph.D. in other disciplines, but with extensive knowledge and skills relevant to the Research Opportunity may be considered).
Qualifications
Applicants must meet one of the following qualifications: Research Civil Engineer, Research Geophysicist, or Research Geologist.
(This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for the occupations stated above. However, other titles may be applicable depending on the applicant's background, education, and research proposal. The final classification of the position will be made by the Human Resources specialist.)
