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Collection and Management of Earthquake Data: Defining Issues for An Action Plan

cover imageThis 118-page report issued in 2003 represents the first step in developing an action plan to define a systematic protocol for the collection and management of earthquake data. It is the outcome of a September 2002 two-day invitational workshop organized by EERI as part of its Learning from Earthquakes Program, supported by the National Science Foundation. Over seventy members of the multidisciplinary earthquake community identified the following three major tasks that must be accomplished in order to develop an action plan: (1) improving data collection, (2) improving data access, and (3) improving data organization and use. This report discusses the problems with current data collection, the opportunities that have been lost from lack of data, types of data that need to be collected after earthquakes, and their purposes. This report also makes recommendations to serve as the framework for an effective action plan. The report includes several appendices, including background papers entitled “Learning from Earthquakes: A Survey of Surveys” and “An Overview of Post-Earthquake Damage Assessment in Italy.”

 
 
 
  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 1/30

    Damaged building, Bailu, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: V. Cedillos, Project Manager, GeoHazards Intl]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 2/30

    Ground settlement in Bailu, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: V Cedillos, GeoHazards Intl]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 3/30

    Fault rupture at Bailu Middle School did little damage to new building (left), Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 4/30

    Temporary housing in Bailu, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: V Cedillos, GeoHazards Intl]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 5/30

    Timber lace construction, Bailu, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: V Cedillos, GeoHazards Intl]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 6/30

    Bridge, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 7/30

    Collapsed spans of reinforced concrete arch bridge, Xiao Yu Dong [photo: Build Change]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 8/30

    GaoYuan Bridge [photo: Build Change]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 9/30

    Han Wang High School shear wall, external view [photo: Build Change]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 10/30

    Adjacent bldgs may have averted collapse of 5-story masonry bldg in Dujiangyan [photo: Build Change]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 11/30

    Ground floor column failure (see previous image) [photo: Build Change]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 12/30

    6-story unreinforced masonry bldg with precast concrete plank floors, Dujiangyan [photo: Build Change]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 13/30

    Precast concrete plank rubble, collapsed unreinforced masonry bldg, Dujiangyan [photo: Build Change]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 14/30

    Damaged multistory building, Dujiangyan, Wenchuan [photo: V Cedillos, GeoHazards Intl]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 15/30

    Damaged 6-story residential bldg, Dujiangyan, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 16/30

    Temporary housing, Dujiangyan, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: V Cedillos, GeoHazards Intl]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 17/30

    Dujiangyan Shelter, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 18/30

    Shelter in Dujiangyan, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 19/30

    Reconnaissance team near Gaoyuan Village, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 20/30

    Damaged buildings at Lidui Park, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 21/30

    Residential building, Phoenix Lane, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 22/30

    Shenxigou, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 23/30

    Tonji Middle School, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 24/30

    Xiaoyudong Bridge damaged by fault rupture thrusting abutment, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 25/30

    Collapse of bldgs straddling fault running through town of Xiaoyudong, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 26/30

    Damaged aluminum plant at Xuankou, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 27/30

    Landslide in Yinchanggou, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 28/30

    Damaged building in Yingxiu, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 29/30

    Interview with local colleague in Yingxiu, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

  • China Wenchuan earthquake, 30/30

    Extensive damage in Yingxiu, Wenchuan 2008 [photo: M Lew]

Additional images avalable on CD-ROM
  • El Salvador 2001, 1/6

    Church in town of Santa Cruz Analquito not damaged at all in January and seriously damaged in February

  • El Salvador 2001, 2/6

    Seriously damaged church in Sonsonate

  • El Salvador 2001, 3/6

    View of a destroyed adobe house in Candelaria

  • El Salvador 2001, 4/6

    Damage to house in Cojutepeque

  • El Salvador 2001, 5/6

    Significant lateral spreading on banks of Rio Lempa

  • El Salvador 2001, 6/6

    Corroded pilings at the Port of Triunfo fell during the earthquake

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