A Rapid Response Network to Record Aftershocks of the 2015 M 7.8 Gorkha Earthquake in Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 2399-2408
Author(s):  
Marianne S. Karplus ◽  
Mohan Pant ◽  
Soma Nath Sapkota ◽  
John Nábělek ◽  
Aaron A. Velasco ◽  
...  

Abstract The Himalaya has experienced large damaging earthquakes over the past few centuries, most recently the damaging 25 April 2015 M 7.8 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal. Because of the continued earthquake risk presented by the continental collisional plate boundary at the Main Himalayan thrust and the high population densities in the region, collecting and processing data related to recent large earthquakes in this region is critically important for improving our understanding of the regional tectonics and earthquake hazard. Following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, we deployed a National Science Foundation-funded rapid-response aftershock network known as the Nepal Array Measuring Aftershock Seismicity Trailing Earthquake network across the rupture area for 11 months beginning 7 weeks after the mainshock. The network consisted of 41 broadband and short-period seismometers, and 14 strong-motion sensors at 46 sites across eastern and central Nepal. The network spanned a region approximately 210 km along strike by 110 km across strike with a station spacing of 20–25 km. In this article, we report lessons learned from this deployment as well as details of the publicly accessible dataset including data recovery, data quality, and potential for future research.

2017 ◽  
Vol 714-715 ◽  
pp. 146-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Rajaure ◽  
D. Asimaki ◽  
E.M. Thompson ◽  
S. Hough ◽  
S. Martin ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (4) ◽  
pp. 1563-1570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zefeng Li ◽  
Egill Hauksson ◽  
Jennifer Andrews

Abstract Modern seismic networks commonly equip a station with multiple sensors, to extend the frequency band and the dynamic range of data recorded at the station. In addition, in our recent study we showed that comparison of data from co‐located seismometers and accelerometers is useful for detecting instrument malfunctions and monitoring data quality. In this study, we extend comparison of data from different co‐located sensors to two other applications: (1) amplitude calibration for data from vertical short‐period sensors with strong‐motion sensors as baseline and (2) measurement of orientation discrepancy between strong‐motion and broadband sensors. We perform systematic analyses of data recorded by the California Institute of Technology/U.S. Geological Survey Southern California Seismic Network. In the first application, we compare the amplitude of data from vertical short‐period sensors to that of data from co‐located strong‐motion sensors and measure the amplitude calibration factors for 93 short‐period sensors. Among them, 49 stations are measured at ∼1.0, 42 measured at ∼0.6, as well as two outlying stations: GFF at 0.3 and CHI at 1.3. These values are found to be related to the sensors’ sensitivity values. In the second application, we measure orientation discrepancy between 222 co‐located broadband and strong‐motion sensors. All the vertical orientation differences are found to be within 5°. However, the horizontal orientation differences of 22 stations are greater than 6°, among which four stations have reverse rotation or 180° from the expected orientation. These measurements have been communicated to network operators and fixes are being applied. This study, together with our previously developed data monitoring framework, demonstrates that comparison of different co‐located sensors is a simple and effective tool for a broad range of seismic data assessment and instrument calibration.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 729-751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Davis ◽  
Robin Coningham ◽  
Kosh Prasad Acharya ◽  
Ram Bahadur Kunwar ◽  
Paolo Forlin ◽  
...  

AbstractThe 2015 Gorkha Earthquake was a humanitarian disaster but also a cultural catastrophe that damaged and destroyed historic monuments across Nepal, including those within the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Property. In the rush to rebuild, traditionally constructed foundations are being removed and replaced with modern materials without assessments of whether these contributed to the collapse of a monument. Generally undertaken without scientific recording, these interventions have led to the irreversible destruction of earlier subsurface phases of cultural activity and the potential loss of evidence for successful traditional seismic adaptations and risk reduction strategies, with no research into whether modern materials, such as concrete and steel, would offer enhanced resilience. In response to this context, multidisciplinary post-disaster investigations were undertaken between 2015 and 2018, including archaeological excavation, geophysical survey, geoarchaeological analysis, linked to architectural and engineering studies, to begin to evaluate and assess the damage to, and seismic adaptations of, historic structures within Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley. Where possible, we draw on archaeoseismological approaches for the identification and classification of Earthquake Archaeological Effects (EAEs) at selected monuments damaged by the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake. Lessons learned from evidence of potential weaknesses, as well as historic ‘risk-sensitive tactics’ of hazard reduction within monuments, are now being incorporated into reconstruction and rehabilitation initiatives alongside the development of methods for the protection of heritage in the face of future earthquakes.


Author(s):  
Sasha Harris-Lovett ◽  
Kara L. Nelson ◽  
Paloma Beamer ◽  
Heather N. Bischel ◽  
Aaron Bivins ◽  
...  

Wastewater surveillance for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging approach to help identify the risk of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. This tool can contribute to public health surveillance at both community (wastewater treatment system) and institutional (e.g., colleges, prisons, and nursing homes) scales. This paper explores the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from initial wastewater surveillance efforts at colleges and university systems to inform future research, development and implementation. We present the experiences of 25 college and university systems in the United States that monitored campus wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 during the fall 2020 academic period. We describe the broad range of approaches, findings, resources, and impacts from these initial efforts. These institutions range in size, social and political geographies, and include both public and private institutions. Our analysis suggests that wastewater monitoring at colleges requires consideration of local information needs, sewage infrastructure, resources for sampling and analysis, college and community dynamics, approaches to interpretation and communication of results, and follow-up actions. Most colleges reported that a learning process of experimentation, evaluation, and adaptation was key to progress. This process requires ongoing collaboration among diverse stakeholders including decision-makers, researchers, faculty, facilities staff, students, and community members.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 101-128
Author(s):  
Mair E. Lloyd ◽  
James Robson

Abstract Between 2000 and 2013, over 8,000 students studied the module Reading Classical Latin at the Open University, the United Kingdom’s largest distance education provider. But while many learners attained high grades, a significant proportion withdrew from study or failed the module. In 2015, the original module was replaced with a completely new course, Classical Latin: The Language of Ancient Rome. This article details the innovative ways in which new technology and pedagogical theory from Modern Foreign Language (MFL) learning were drawn on by the team designing this new module, resulting in a learning experience which gives greater emphasis to elements such as spoken Latin, the intrinsic pleasure of reading, and cultural context. The (largely positive) effects of these pedagogical changes on student success and satisfaction are subsequently analysed using a rich mix of qualitative and quantitative data. Finally, the authors reflect on lessons learned and the possibilities for future research and enhancement.


2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-35
Author(s):  
Boubakr Nour ◽  
Hakima Khelifi ◽  
Rasheed Hussain ◽  
Spyridon Mastorakis ◽  
Hassine Moungla

Information-Centric Networking (ICN) has recently emerged as a prominent candidate for the Future Internet Architecture (FIA) that addresses existing issues with the host-centric communication model of the current TCP/IP-based Internet. Named Data Networking (NDN) is one of the most recent and active ICN architectures that provides a clean-slate approach for Internet communication. NDN provides intrinsic content security where security is directly provided to the content instead of communication channel. Among other security aspects, Access Control (AC) rules specify the privileges for the entities that can access the content. In TCP/IP-based AC systems, due to the client-server communication model, the servers control which client can access a particular content. In contrast, ICN-based networks use content names to drive communication and decouple the content from its original location. This phenomenon leads to the loss of control over the content, causing different challenges for the realization of efficient AC mechanisms. To date, considerable efforts have been made to develop various AC mechanisms in NDN. In this article, we provide a detailed and comprehensive survey of the AC mechanisms in NDN. We follow a holistic approach towards AC in NDN where we first summarize the ICN paradigm, describe the changes from channel-based security to content-based security, and highlight different cryptographic algorithms and security protocols in NDN. We then classify the existing AC mechanisms into two main categories: Encryption-based AC and Encryption-independent AC . Each category has different classes based on the working principle of AC (e.g., Attribute-based AC, Name-based AC, Identity-based AC). Finally, we present the lessons learned from the existing AC mechanisms and identify the challenges of NDN-based AC at large, highlighting future research directions for the community.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5744
Author(s):  
Innocent K. Tumwebaze ◽  
Joan B. Rose ◽  
Nynke Hofstra ◽  
Matthew E. Verbyla ◽  
Daniel A. Okaali ◽  
...  

User-friendly, evidence-based scientific tools to support sanitation decisions are still limited in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector. This commentary provides lessons learned from the development of two sanitation decision support tools developed in collaboration with stakeholders in Uganda. We engaged with stakeholders in a variety of ways to effectively obtain their input in the development of the decision support tools. Key lessons learned included: tailoring tools to stakeholder decision-making needs; simplifying the tools as much as possible for ease of application and use; creating an enabling environment that allows active stakeholder participation; having a dedicated and responsive team to plan and execute stakeholder engagement activities; involving stakeholders early in the process; having funding sources that are flexible and long-term; and including resources for the acquisition of local data. This reflection provides benchmarks for future research and the development of tools that utilize scientific data and emphasizes the importance of engaging with stakeholders in the development process.


Author(s):  
Randall Spain ◽  
Jason Saville ◽  
Barry Lui ◽  
Donia Slack ◽  
Edward Hill ◽  
...  

Because advances in broadband capabilities will soon allow first responders to access and use many forms of data when responding to emergencies, it is becoming critically important to design heads-up displays to present first responders with information in a manner that does not induce extraneous mental workload or cause undue interaction errors. Virtual reality offers a unique medium for envisioning and testing user interface concepts in a realistic and controlled environment. In this paper, we describe a virtual reality-based emergency response scenario that was designed to support user experience research for evaluating the efficacy of intelligent user interfaces for firefighters. We describe the results of a usability test that captured firefighters’ feedback and reactions to the VR scenario and the prototype intelligent user interface that presented them with task critical information through the VR headset. The paper concludes with lessons learned from our development process and a discussion of plans for future research.


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