Conference Papers
Science Quality and Integrity
The USGS provides unbiased, objective, and impartial scientific information upon which our audiences, including resource managers, planners, and other entities, rely.
The USGS provides unbiased, objective, and impartial scientific information upon which our audiences, including resource managers, planners, and other entities, rely.
Browse almost 5,000 conference papers authored by our scientists and refine search by topic, location, year, and advanced search.
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Evolution of design ground motions in California: NEHRP 2009 to 2020
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) is used in construction codes, such as the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP) Provisions, to develop ground motions for structural and geotechnical design. When the NSHM is updated (e.g. changes to its earthquake rupture forecast or ground motion models), or the manner in which it is implemented in constructio
Authors
Stephen Eugene Waldvogel, Andrew James Makdisi, Katrina Sanguyo Peralta, Henry (Ben) Mason, Nicolas Luco, Sanaz Rezaeian
A theoretical framework for integrating ground failure models into regional seismic performance assessments of buried pipelines
A variety of models exist for characterizing earthquake-induced ground failures, but application of these models towards regional seismic performance assessments of buried pipelines remains challenging. One challenge is that ground failures often occur at localized geospatial scales while buried pipelines are spatially distributed over long distances. In this study, we propose a theoretical framew
Authors
N. Simon Kwong, Kishor S. Jaiswal
Spatially continuous models of aleatory variability in seismic site response for southern California
We develop an empirical, spatially continuous model for the single-station within-event (ϕSS) component of earthquake ground motion variability in the Los Angeles area. ϕSS represents event-to-event variability in site response or remaining variability due to path effects not captured by ground motion models. Site-specific values of ϕSS at permanent seismic network stations were estimated during o
Authors
Grace Alexandra Parker, Annemarie S. Baltay, Eric M. Thompson
Performance of NGA-East GMMs and site amplification models relative to CENA ground motions
We investigate bias in ground motions predicted for Central and Eastern North America (CENA) using ground motion models (GMMs) combined with site amplification models developed in the NGA-East project. Bias is anticipated because of de-coupled procedures used in the development of the GMMs and site amplification models. The NGA-East GMMs were mainly calibrated by adjusting CENA data to a reference
Authors
Maria E. Ramos-Sepulveda, Grace Alexandra Parker, Meibai Li, Okan Ilhan, Youssef M. A. Hashash, Ellen Rathje, Jonathan P. Stewart
Applicability of the NGA-West2 damping scaling factors to ground motions recorded in France
This paper presents a summary of the applicability of the NGA-West2 damping scaling factors to ground motions recorded in France. In developing ground motion models for response spectra, generally, the damping of the oscillator is set to a reference value of five percent of the critical damping. Damping scaling factors (DSF) are used to translate the predictions of 5%-damped ground motion models t
Authors
M. Bahrampouri, Sanaz Rezaeian, P. Traversa, L. Al Atik, S. Mazzoni, Y. Bozorgnia
Earthquake scenario development in the 2023 USGS NSHM update
Earthquake scenarios are generally selected to serve a wide variety of local and regional needs ranging from testing a community’s ability to respond to earthquakes to developing proactive targeted mitigation strategies for minimizing impending risk. These deterministic scenarios can also be used to communicate seismic hazard and risk to audiences who are not well versed in more complex methods li
Authors
Robert Edward Chase, Kishor S. Jaiswal, Mark D. Petersen
Earthquake scenario selection for portfolio holders in CEUS: A case study with Oklahoma DOT
Portfolio managers of spatially distributed assets in the central and eastern United States (CEUS) and other low- to moderate seismic hazard regions require scenario-based seismic risk assessment for the purpose of emergency management and planning. Uncertainties regarding the long-term seismicity of the region, unknown faults, and limited historical records complicate the selection of an earthqua
Authors
Yolanda C Lin, L. L. Rotche, Kuo-wan Lin, Eric M. Thompson, David Lallemant, W. Peters, David J. Wald
Implementation of basin models and sediment depth terms in the 2023 update of the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model: Example from Reno, Nevada
We present a framework to evaluate the inclusion of candidate basin depth models in the U.S. Geological Survey National Seismic Hazard Model. We compute intensity measures (peak and spectral amplitudes) from uniformly processed earthquake ground motions in and around the basin of interest and compare these to ground-motion model (GMM) estimates over a range of oscillator periods. The GMMs use dept
Authors
Sean Kamran Ahdi, Morgan P. Moschetti, Brad T. Aagaard, Kaitlyn Abernathy, Oliver S. Boyd, William J. Stephenson
Estimates of kappa in the San Francisco Bay area
Site characterization is a critical component of seismic hazards studies, especially in the development and use of ground motion models (GMMs). One such parameter, kappa (Κ0), represents local site attenuation and effectively describes regional variations in ground motion [1]. However, estimates of Κ0 are limited. We estimate the site parameter Κ0 for 296 broadband and accelerometer stations in th
Authors
Tara A. Nye, Valerie J. Sahakian, E.L. King, Annemarie S. Baltay, Alexis Klimasewski
Earthquake early warning: Toward modeling optimal protective actions
Over the past few years early earthquake warning systems have been incorporated into earthquake preparation efforts in many locations around the globe. These systems provide an excellent opportunity for advanced warning of ground shaking and other hazards associated with earthquakes. This study aims to optimize this advanced warning for individuals inside a building when the alert is received. A c
Authors
M. Wood, X. Zhang, X. Zhao, Sara McBride, Nicolas Luco, D. Baldwin, T. Covas
2018 M7.1 Anchorage and 2021 M7.2 Nippes, Haiti earthquake case studies for Virtual Earthquake Reconnaissance Team (VERT) activation protocols, policies, and procedures to gather earthquake response footage
The collection of online videos and imagery to use in disaster reconnaissance is increasing in frequency, due to accessibility of platforms and the ubiquitous nature of smartphones and recording devices. In this short article, we explore the processes, goals, and utility of Virtual Emergency Reconnaissance Teams (VERTs) to collect footage and imagery of geohazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis
Authors
Sara McBride, J. Bellizzi, S. Gin, G. Henry, D. F. Sumy, D. Baldwin, E. Fischer
Integrated strategies for enhanced rapid earthquake shaking, ground failure, and impact estimation employing remotely sensed and ground truth constraints
Estimating earthquake impacts using physical or empirical models is challenging because the three components of loss estimation-shaking, exposure, and vulnerabilities-entail inherent uncertainties. Loss modeling in near-real-time adds additional uncertainties, yet expectations for actionable information with a reasonable level of confidence in the results are real. The modeling approaches describe
Authors
David J. Wald, Susu Xu, H. Noh, J. Dimasaka, Kishor S. Jaiswal, Kate E. Allstadt, Davis T. Engler