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Background: Iran is a country with a high rate of natural disasters like earthquake. The environmental conditions slow down the delivery of health services, especially in the event of disasters. The modern technologies such as telemedicine are appropriate for facilitating disaster relief operations after an earthquake. This study aimed to develop a model for the implementation of telemedicine in an earthquake. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out using a mixed-methods research in three phases: 1. Review of the literature; 2. Qualitative study (modeling); and 3. Delphi method (validation of the model). Databases of Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed were searched from 1990 to 2019 with the keywords of "telemedicine" AND "disaster" OR "emergency" AND "earthquake". After screening of the retrieved records, 13 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review study. Ten experts extracted all key elements of telemedicine in the disaster from the articles and categorized them in 6 themes with 38 subthemes. The model of telemedicine in the earthquake was finalized with 2 rounds of Delphi with groups of selected volunteer experts. Results: In the first phase of the study, 6 key themes (telecommunication infrastructure, technical infrastructure, financial infrastructure, health infrastructure, organizational infrastructure, social infrastructure, and cultural infrastructure) with 38 subthemes of telemedicine for implementing in the disaster were obtained. At the conclusion of the third phase of the study, 6 key themes with 33 subthemes contributed to the model of telemedicine in the earthquake. Telecommunication infrastructure with a maximum score of 9.24 earned the priority, and social and cultural infrastructure themes with the minimum score of 7.53 came in the end. Conclusion: The model derived from this study can be used as an applied telemedicine model in an earthquake. We suggest that the results of this study be implemented as a theoretical model, or in a pilot study in a region of the country, and to be evaluated by regarding mortality reduction. We also recommend that a comparative study for using telemedicine in other types of disasters be undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iran is one of the earthquake-prone countries in the world that have experienced earthquakes with a magnitude of more than seven on the Richter scale, which has caused significant financial, human, economic, and social losses in society. In earthquakes where the vital arterial system is severely damaged, the community's life is threatened and sometimes causes significant damage. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the earthquake on vital arteries and to design a new approach to earthquake crisis management in the classification of vital arteries. Materials and Methods: This study was descriptive applied. The study population consisted of technicians and experts in management and civil engineering in Isfahan Province, Iran. Considering that the study population is 265 people, all of them were studied with the assumption of a confidence interval of 0.95 and an error of 0.05. The study data were collected by a questionnaire. Because of the normality of the data, the data were analyzed with the Pearson correlation coefficient in SPSS software. Results: The results of data analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient test show a significant relationship between the classification of vital arteries based on new structuring with crisis management and its key role in earthquake crisis control. The passive defense was the most important component and the most relevant among effective approaches to managing vital arteries crises. Conclusion: By creating this proposed model of earthquake crisis management, a new classification was made for the system of vital arteries. Also, It provides a proper performance in different situations of before, during, and after social crises. It is also necessary to form a headquarter called the Social Crisis Management Headquarter based on efficient strategies and the necessary implementation and training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iran is an earthquake-prone country, and a considerable rural population lives in earthquake-prone areas. With many worn-out areas, incompetent houses, and relatively underdeveloped rural areas, it is necessary to pay special attention to risk reduction and subsequent measures in these areas. Materials and Methods: Among the current methods, HAZUS is one of the most common methods in estimating potential losses in an earthquake. We used it to calculate the buildings' estimated losses in the earthquake based on the instructions. Because one of the main issues in disaster management is to choose locations for emergency or temporary settlement of population affected by the distracter, this research tries to carry this out based on the derived results from the damage using fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). After reviewing the previous studies and the experts' opinions, the major and minor criteria affecting the selection of temporary settlement locations were identified. Results: Results suggested that using the damage rate of the studied buildings in the studied area and after choosing six priorities in the pilot village of Vaneshan, priority number 1 was chosen as the best option for temporary settlement in this village. Ultimately, the required items for the evacuees were determined by using the standards of supplying the essentials for the evacuees. Conclusion: Regarding the study area, the results of the damage analysis of the area show that the rate of damage with extensive and complete levels in the villages is very high, which leads to a large number of homeless people with the urgent need to provide adequate shelter. This endower requires a lot of money, and the relevant managers should already be thinking about finding financial resources for it. This issue is not only related to the study area and applies to the whole of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: After the Kermanshah earthquake on November 12, 2017, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences dispatched a response team to the earthquake-stricken areas. This team provided the affected people with health services for 10 days. This article intends to examine the experience of this team in Kermanshah earthquake-stricken areas. Materials and Methods: After the team's return from Kermanshah, a meeting was held to examine the challenges and review the learned lessons with 60 participants, including authorities and the people who were members of the team. The discussed issues were coded using content analysis. The similar codes were merged, and then categories were extracted. Results: The analysis of discussions led to 9 categories of experiences that included delay in recalling process and its challenges, lack of preparedness, use of the virtual space capacity, lack of proper assessment of the health needs and the estimation of facilities, management experience of the team on the dispatch, shortcomings, and imperfections, managerial challenges, lack of coordination, and setting up of field hospitals without planning. Conclusion: Iran is susceptible to natural disasters, and from time to time, parts of the country are affected by these disasters. One of the priorities in these disasters is people's need for health services. Since health facilities in the area usually encounter problems in these circumstances, other medical universities should provide help and relief. The present experience shows that there are still many challenges that should be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Natural disasters are out of human control, often leading to loss of life and property, and particularly affecting public health. Natural disasters influence human lives in different ways. They may have severe, obvious, or hidden consequences. Therefore, the present study aimed at examining the environmental health condition of the cities affected by 2017 earthquake in Kermanshah Province. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The environmental health experts gathered and analyzed the study data regarding the environment health condition of public places, food safety, solid waste management, types and number of water supplies, number of healthcare facilities and local health centers, etc. Results: According to the results, the lowest and highest number of damaged villages in Kermanshah Province were located in Sarpol-e Zahab (205 villages) and Qasr-e Shirin (29 villages), respectively. In addition, Eslamabad-e Gharb and Salas-e Babajani had the highest and lowest urban and rural populations, respectively. A total of 138564 people were affected by the earthquake. The improved water sources in the affected areas included 51 low-risk water sources, 171 moderate-risk water sources, 2 high-risk water sources, and 0 very high-risk water sources. In addition, 5059 m³ water was chlorinated by the environmental health experts and 1805 households were under the coverage of methoxymethyl chloride. Moreover, public healthcare centers (1059 intact and 605 damaged), 4564 food safety centers (3204 intact and 1360 damaged), and 20 solid waste management centers (16 intact and 4 damaged) were available in the area after the earthquake. Conclusion: Overall, the results indicate that the environmental health activities in the areas affected by the earthquake were adequate in terms of providing healthy drinking water, garbage and wastewater management, distribution of healthy foods, and so on. Thus it can be used as a good model to response the needs of the survivors from the future natural disasters and crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives of Rehabilitation is the property of Negah Institute for Social Research & Scientific Communication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigates the impact of the earthquakes that occurred in the first half of the 3rd millennium BCE on Western Anatolian settlements, aiming to determine the dates of the earthquakes that happened during the prehistoric period using the earthquake layers of the settlements and associated C14 data. The focus of the paper is the investigation of the effects of two earthquakes that occurred in the region during the first half of the 3rd millennium BCE on the settlements of the region. The first earthquake occurred around 2800 BCE and damaged settlements in the area of İzmir. Evidence of this damage is provided by traces of fire and destruction in the archaeological layers. In addition to the building materials and techniques of the period, the common use of side walls of buildings 25 m in length and their construction in blocks increased the destructive effects of earthquakes. In the wake of earthquakes, some structural changes were made, and the masons of the period tried to take measures against earthquakes by using new construction techniques. The earthquakes of the first quarter of the 3rd millennium BCE may have caused political turmoil in Western Anatolia, as they had the potential to create social unrest. The earthquakes that hit the İzmir region in the first half of the 3rd millennium BCE led to the abandonment of settlements, a reduction in the sizes of settlements, or changes in social organisation. In this paper, the earthquake layers of Bakla Tepe and Liman Tepe, which contain the oldest archaeological earthquake remains found to date in Western Anatolia, are analysed in detail for the first time. Highlighting the importance of archaeological data, this paper also offers new perspectives for understanding the profound and permanent impacts that natural disasters had on ancient societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the first results of the application of an innovative methodology for the development of a walkability overall index for urban street infrastructure, aimed at the application of urban design techniques to improve the urban form and its use by pedestrians. The general objective of the research is to identify the performance of the current city walkable network, to structure public policies and strategies consistent with it aimed at rebalancing settlements and infrastructure, and above all at the development of active mobility. The methodology defined integrates three approaches on walkability analysis: geometric–morphological, proximity, and sociality. In this paper, the analysis process related to the geometric–morphological component and partly to that of proximity will be described. It will be applied to the case study of the city of L'Aquila (Italy), a city undergoing reconstruction after the 2009 earthquake. From the first results of the application of the methodology to the case study, it emerges that the urban area analyzed is not capable of hosting walkable infrastructures unless urban design interventions are aimed at structuring an efficient network of pedestrian paths. In the future development of the study, it is expected to conclude the analysis of the proximity and social components, the other two groups of analysis considerations for walkability, which will complete the experimentation of the general methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquake death tolls are a basic statistical measure of the capability of a country to manage seismic risk. The extremely high Turkish death toll of 50,000 from the Kahramanmaras earthquake doublet of 6 February 2023 is the product of a cascade of detrimental factors. These need to be explained if lessons from this disaster are to be learned. This is the purpose and objective of this paper, which is a contribution to the interdisciplinary Frontiers research topic on integrated perspectives on the 2023 Turkey and Syria earthquakes: advancing understanding and preparedness across earth sciences, engineering and public health. This paper covers these three disciplines by focusing on casualties, and identifying crucial aspects of earth sciences and engineering which contributed to the high death toll. First, there was a surprising combination of multiple fault segment ruptures, and a high level of ground motion relative to the risk-based Turkish code, indicative of the under-representation of the M7.5+ earthquake doublet event in the national probabilistic seismic hazard model. This combination of fault segment ruptures was missing from all seismic source models. Furthermore, the capability of buildings to cope with strong ground motion was much reduced by informal construction methods, which eroded the margin of safety needed to avoid building collapse. The extent of building code non-compliance was widely underestimated in seismic risk models. Noncompliance is often hard to identify, but construction amnesties make noncompliance more transparent and trackable. The disastrous outcome of the Kahramanmaras earthquake doublet of 6 February 2023 has drawn global attention to systemic building code non-compliance, and the open official acceptance of informal housing. To demonstrate that this key systemic risk is far from being just a Turkish problem, notably in Istanbul, the challenge of Italian informal housing is highlighted within the context of international building code non-compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing concerns about seismic events enforced structural engineers and architects to embrace the hazardous effect of ground motion in design. To address this, researchers have developed various base isolation (BI) techniques. This study comprehensively reviews BI system types, techniques, and implementation. Exploring the dynamic response of three-dimensional BI devices and the mutual effects of isolation devices and soil-structure interaction during strong ground motion, the paper covers topics such as seismic isolation of nuclear power plants, cost analysis, and various optimization techniques. Furthermore, the paper investigates the behavior of isolation devices in beyond-design events, including blast and aircraft impact loading. In general, the seismic isolation and control device response is demonstrated through shaking table tests and computational analysis. The study sheds light on the functions of seismic isolation system by comparing them with fixed base structures. Additionally, the paper presents codal recommendations, recent advancements, and current practices, aligning them with historical developments and past reviews of different BI techniques, along with their advantages and disadvantages. In conclusion, the closing remarks emphasize the future research prospects in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of seismic resilience has been introduced in the design of buildings in the last decade. In this regard, the delay time may be defined as the time that occurs between the event and the moment the repair process begins. In the literature, only a few contributions have considered delay time, and even its definition is still under discussion. However, it is a key parameter in the assessment of resilience after earthquakes since it may significantly increase the total time after which a structure may be considered recovered. The principle at the base of the paper is that seismic structural health monitoring (S2HM) may play a significant role in reducing the delay time. Therefore, delay time needs to be considered since it may significantly reduce the seismic resilience of structural systems. The paper aims to consider this important issue demonstrating the relationship between S2HM and the assessment of the seismic resilience of buildings. In particular, the assumption herein is that the accuracy of the S2HM may be described with different levels, and in correspondence with these levels, certain values of the delay time may be considered. In addition, the delay time is considered as a percentage of the total repair time. A multidimensional definition that includes the accuracy of S2HM in the description of the delay time is herein proposed to be included in methodologies that aim to assess seismic resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a method to reduce seismogram variability as a determining factor in its interpretation, processing, and clustering. By introducing the concept of single fluctuations (SFs), the seismogram can be parsed into a sequence of random impulses with subsequent ordering. This rearrangement of SFs, if they are assigned by positive integers, represents the formal mapping of a regular string of integers into a random one, which can be represented with a bipartite random graph (bigraph). Due to its specific randomness, such a bigraph is considered a new type of random balanced bigraph. The R-envelope and RQ-envelope, its equidistant version, are defined by tracing the peak envelope over ordered SFs. The equivalence and complementariness of the RQ and bigraph are considered and discussed, forming a combined characteristic of the seismogram. The R/RQ provided a considerable reduction in seismogram variability, which was confirmed by creating and analyzing an ensemble of RQ from several seismograms. In the RQ domain, distance is defined as a possible basis for metrics and clustering, but the ensemble variability was quite narrow and not as suitable for this purpose. Otherwise, the ensemble shows high redundancy hidden in the seismogram population. As for the bigraph, the mesh of its edges is structuralized in bundles, forming a skeleton, which reflects the internal structural content of the seismogram. The distance over the domain of bigraphs is proposed to show the possibility of clustering. This means that only a combined RQ and bigraph provides a suitable frame for seismogram representation with reduced variability and, thus, the potential for more effectively organizing seismic databases and a deeper interpretation of seismograms; therefore, RQs and bigraphs can be considered as a transform of a seismogram. Many aspects of these concepts are thoroughly discussed. The similarity between concepts of SF and wavelets is briefly considered. This very complex theme is new and promises broad further research. All issues considered in the paper are abundantly illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The landslide inventory of the western flank of Mount Oku, Cameroon, includes spreads or complex landslides, indicating sudden soil weakening, possibly due to seismic activity or heavy rainfall causing groundwater rise. These landslides were likely triggered between 2009 and 2018 based on the dates of the aerial imagery. Identifying triggers for past landslides remains a major unresolved issue in landslide science. However, understanding these triggers is crucial for accurately assessing future landslide hazards. Methodology: In this paper, we investigate the possibility of earthquakes to precondition landslide development or reactivation during climatic events. By assuming a magnitude 5.2 earthquake, an epicenter of 10 km from this area, and different wetness conditions, the factor of safety (FS) and Newmark displacement (ND) models were calculated for shallow and deep-seated landslides with sliding depths of 3 and 7.5 m. Afterward, the relationship between FS, assumed ND, and observed landslides was analyzed in a cluster analysis, to derive patterns of climatically and seismically triggered landslides. Results: The comparison of FS maps and FS values of the observed landslides revealed that especially for landslides at 7.5 m depth, most sites that are stable during dry conditions become instable under saturated conditions, indicating a climatic trigger. At 3 m depth, however, some landslide sites that are still marginally stable under saturated conditions, display relatively high ND values for the investigated hypothetical earthquake, indicating a possible seismic influence. In the cluster analysis, we clustered the observed landslides according to their distances to rivers and topographic ridges and obtained three clusters. Landslides from cluster 3 with 31% of the landslides display medium to high ND for the assumed earthquake, and were found near ridges and farther away from rivers, suggesting seismic triggering. Cluster 2, with 12% of landslides closer to rivers, suggested climatic origins. Thus, while climate is a critical landslide contributing factor, seismic events may also contribute, either by predisposing to landslides or by reactivating them alongside climatic factors. These results enable the establishment of more precise and effective landslide mitigating measures considering mostly rainfall but also earthquakes as possible triggers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The axial force will be altered as a result of the overturning influence exerted by both horizontal and vertical seismic events, as well as the secondary effects induced by gravitational loads. The variation of the axial force will greatly affect the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) columns, thus warranting close attention. This paper proposes a hysteresis model of RC columns considering the cumulative damage effect under the action of variable axial force. First, three groups of cyclic loading tests were performed across three distinct groups. Subsequently, numerical analysis models were constructed, employing fiber-based finite element methods. Furthermore, according to the test and finite element simulation results, the existing damage value was modified to describe the degradation of the stiffness and load-bearing capacity. Next, through a regression analysis, the skeleton curve was established. Finally, the hysteresis behavior under the influence of variable axial load was ascertained. The results, when compared with the experimental data, show that the proposed hysteresis model can accurately describe the seismic performance of RC columns under the influence of variable axial force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Launched on 22 November 2013, Swarm is the fourth in a series of pioneering Earth Explorer missions and also the European Space Agency's (ESA's) first constellation to advance our understanding of the Earth's magnetic field and the near-Earth electromagnetic environment. Swarm provides an ideal platform in the topside ionosphere for observing ultra-low-frequency (ULF) waves, as well as equatorial spread-F (ESF) events or plasma bubbles, and, thus, offers an excellent opportunity for space weather studies. For this purpose, a specialized time–frequency analysis (TFA) toolbox has been developed for deriving continuous pulsations (Pc), namely Pc1 (0.2–5 Hz) and Pc3 (22–100 mHz), as well as ionospheric plasma irregularity distribution maps. In this methodological paper, we focus on the ULF pulsation and ESF activity observed by Swarm satellites during a time interval centered around the occurrence of the 24 August 2016 Central Italy M6 earthquake. Due to the Swarm orbit's proximity to the earthquake epicenter, i.e., a few hours before the earthquake occurred, data from the mission may offer a variety of interesting observations around the time of the earthquake event. These observations could be associated with the occurrence of this geophysical event. Most notably, we observed an electron density perturbation occurring 6 h prior to the earthquake. This perturbation was detected when the satellites were flying above Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite Croatia experiencing two strong earthquakes in 2020, Rijeka was not directly affected, underscoring the importance of proactive seismic assessment and strengthening in all seismic regions. This paper presents a comprehensive case study on the seismic strengthening of a 20th-century concrete building located in Rijeka, Croatia, originally designed according to Austro-Hungarian construction norms and practices. As a heritage-protected structure, the building's architectural features and construction practices were examined and contextualized within its historical background. The assessment and renovation phases of this project are discussed in detail, demonstrating the practical application of modern seismic strengthening techniques while preserving the building's historical integrity. This case study aims to highlight the need for such measures to protect heritage structures and to show the implementation of rapid and new (ad hoc) norms for earthquake-damaged buildings in Croatia. This study serves as a reference for engineers, architects, and conservationists involved in the preservation of heritage buildings, demonstrating that it is possible to enhance their structural safety without compromising their architectural authenticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the concept of geotechnical seismic isolation (GSI) systems, characterized by new principles of action, to reduce seismic loads on buildings. The advantages and disadvantages of GSIs and their environmental and economic reliability are analyzed. The aim of the study is to develop a geotechnical seismic isolation system in the form of vertical barriers, using a rubber–soil mixture (RSM). The novelty of the work lies in the definition of effective structural and technical solutions of vertical seismic barriers made of RSM, characterized by reliability in providing seismic isolation. The ground and superstructure interactions are modeled in PLAXIS 2D software from 2021, using the finite element method, using the accelerogram of the Kobe and Northridge earthquakes. The results confirm the positive impact of using an RSM as an effective GSI geometrical. The results show that the GSI system using an RSM reduces horizontal accelerations by 60%. Significant acceleration reductions of 40–60% are also observed when the thickness and depth of GSI seismic barriers are increased. The results of the study contribute to the substantiation of methodology and scientific and technical efficiency of geotechnical seismic isolation as an economically favorable design alternative to the traditional seismic isolation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research question in this paper concerns elements of nature, such as earth, water, fire, and air, as they have a dual meaning, indicating both hazard and heritage. The relationship of cities with blue–green infrastructure is an example of this. Cities might be surrounded by either water or forest, though the latter has been less investigated as a nature-based solution for climate change adaptation. The connection between water and architecture can also be seen in the seafront type of architectural design, in the architecture of harbours, port facilities, aquariums or thermal baths. This paper aims to present a comprehensive analysis of all of these various architecture programs that were carried out during the first half of the twentieth century. Although the styles of Art Nouveau and Interwar were widely spread, otherness in regional geographical locations drew lessons from the vernacular architecture. Inspiration was drawn mainly from southern Europe in the Cycladic islands for the interwar/international style and towards the east and centre of the continent in Romania and Hungary and up to the north in the Baltic states for the national romantic art nouveau style. A local seismic culture is prevalent in areas that are affected by earthquakes. In the context of the geological conditions related to water and earthquake hazard, the anthropic reshaping of rivers and canals (and alluvial soil deposits) generates liquefaction vulnerability. Significant also is the way in which the urban wildland interface shapes the relationship between wild green space and cities. Urban protected nature parks and urban forests contribute to wellbeing but are also vulnerable to wildfire. This research attempts to find equivalents to the local seismic culture in cases of climate change-induced hazards, such as floods and wildfires, in Romania, Italy and Portugal. As part of the project presented for the case study featured in this paper, significant documentation was achieved through literature reviews and field trips. For the latter, walkscape methodology was used, which was also useful for the first round of results and the mapping required to indicate earthquake hazards near water locations in Bucharest, Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Progress in Earthquake Sciences is the property of China Earthquake Administration, Institute of Geophysics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In view of the great impact of the pipeline system in a delayed coker unit (DCU) on production and operation safety, we applied computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to investigate the flow in a fractionator overhead vapor line connected to an air cooler in a previous study. The causes of the pipeline damage and the strategies to alleviate the occurrence of the damage were discussed. It is found that if two 24″ pipes are connected and five 18″ pipes are also connected, the force uniformity can be improved, and the forces on the caps, reducers, and T-junctions can be reduced. In this paper, we further applied the finite element method to perform structure analysis to confirm the strength of the original and the improved pipeline system. It is found that the static stress is larger when the pipelines are connected. The first four modes of the pipeline vibration are primarily affected by the vibration of the 30″ main pipe, while the fifth and the sixth modes are primarily affected by the vibration of the smaller pipes. In the case of a magnitude 1 earthquake (parallel mode) and a magnitude 2 wind, the maximum harmonic response stresses (stresses obtained from harmonic response analysis) occur at the same locations. After the pipelines are connected, some positions of the maximum harmonic response stresses are shifted from the 30″ main pipe to the 24″ pipe. In terms of the wind effect, the pipelines connected or unconnected can both withstand moderate typhoons of magnitude 13 without fatigue damage. In terms of the seismic effect, the pipelines connected can withstand a strong earthquake of magnitude 5(+) without fatigue damage, while the pipelines unconnected can withstand a very strong earthquake of magnitude 6(−) without fatigue damage, which is better than the pipelines connected. Under the action of a magnitude 17 severe typhoon, the stresses for the pipelines connected or unconnected are both lower than the yield strength and the ultimate tensile strength (UTS). There is no danger of immediate damage in terms of the wind effect. The pipelines connected or unconnected can withstand magnitude 7 earthquakes up to accelerations of 1718 gal (17.18 m/s2) and 2236 gal (22.36 m/s2), respectively, without exceeding the UTS. The pipelines unconnected are slightly better than the pipelines connected in terms of earthquake resistance. The purpose of this series study is to explore the flow development and the structural strength of the DCU pipeline system to improve its operational safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In designing control systems, it is known that fractional-order proportional integral derivative (FOPID) controllers often provide greater flexibility than conventional proportional integral derivative (PID) controllers. This higher level of flexibility has proven to be extremely valuable for various applications such as vibration suppression in structural engineering. In this paper, we study the optimization of FOPID controllers using twelve well-established algorithms to minimize structural responses under seismic excitations. The algorithms include crystal structure algorithm (CryStAl), stochastic paint optimizer, particle swarm optimization, krill herd, harmony search, ant colony optimization, genetic algorithm, grey wolf optimizer, Harris hawks optimization, sparrow search algorithm, hippopotamus optimization algorithm, and duck swarm algorithm. In addition to highlighting the benefits of fractional calculus in structural control, this study provides a detailed analysis of FOPID controllers as well as a brief description of the algorithms used to optimize them. To evaluate the efficiency of the proposed techniques, two building models with different numbers of stories are examined. FOPID controllers are designed based on oustaloup's approximation and the El Centro earthquake data. Using five well-known metrics, the performances of the developed methods are evaluated against five earthquake scenarios, including the recent earthquake in Turkey. A non-parametric (Friedman) test is also employed to compare the algorithms based on their corresponding vibration reduction. The findings of this analysis show that CryStAl consistently performs better than the other algorithms for both building models, thus resulting in superior vibration suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The earthquake landslide hazard assessment method is mainly based on the traditional Newmark model. However, when the landslide hazard assessment is carried out along the fault zone, the calculated results are often different from the actual situation because the influence of fault effect is not fully considered. Therefore, how to construct a landslide hazard assessment model suitable for the fault zone is a technical problem to be solved by researchers. Taking the Lixian-Luojiabu fault zone in Gansu Province in China as the study area, this paper put forward the concept of fault effect correction coefficient exploringly, systematically studied the relative distance relationship between the landslide and fault zone, and the relative position relationship between landslide and upper and lower sides of the fault zone. The value table of the fault effect correction coefficient along the Lixian-Luojiabu fault zone was established, and the corresponding distribution map of the fault effect correction coefficient was drawn. Based on this, an improved Newmark model for the landslide hazard assessment along the fault zone was constructed. On the basis of systematic analysis of the slope and engineering geological rock group in the study area, the traditional Newmark model and improved Newmark model considering fault effects were used, respectively, to carry out the earthquake landslide hazard assessment under the condition of 10% exceeding probability in 50 years, and the ROC curve and Kappa coefficient methods were used to compare and analyze the evaluation results. The results showed that the AUC value and Kappa coefficient of the danger area obtained by the improved model with the Newmark model were 0.841 and 0.822, respectively, which were significantly higher than the calculated values of the traditional Newmark model, indicating that the model had a good improvement effect. The Newmark improved model, considering the fault effect, fully considered the influence of distance from the fault zone and fault upper and lower side effects, and the research results can provide a new reference for the landslide hazard assessment along the fault zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On December 18, 2023, an Ms 6.2earthquake occurred in Jishishan County, Linxia Prefecture, Gansu Province, causing a large number of geological disasters and threatening people's lives and the safety of infrastructure. After the earthquake, Gansu and Qinghai provincial governments quickly deployed hundreds of geology professionals to carried out the investigation and verification geological disasters in the earthquake area. Based on the results of the earthquake geohazard investigation and verification, this paper analyses the characteristics, control factors and development trend of the earthquake-induced geohazards, and puts forward suggestions on disaster prevention and risk mitigation measures. Till December 23, a total of 2044 geohazards have been checked, including 78 new geohazards, 88 existing geohazards with intensified deformation due to earthquake, and 1 878 existing geohazards without obvious different from before. Most of new and intensified deforming geohazards are collapse, accounting for 67.5%, followed by landslide, accounting for 31.9%. Most of new and intensified deforming geohazards are small in scale, accounting for 84.9%, followed by medium, accounting for 10.8%. Disaster mode of new and intensified deforming geohazards are mostly small collapse threatening houses and roads. The co-seismic geohazards are densely distributed along the seismic fault, and the spatial density increases with the enhancement of earthquake intensity. Data from 206 groups of accelerate-meters within 50 km from the epicenter of the National Geological Safety Monitoring Network showed that the peak acceleration of the earthquake area was 30.4-1969.7 mg. and decayed logarithm with the increase of the distance from the epicenter. In addition, the surface deformation monitoring equipment also recorded the co-seismic displacement curve of a typical landslide. Analysis shows, earthquake put a deteriorate effect to rock and soil, which decreased their integration and strength. There is a magnificent geohazard after-effect of earthquake; collapse, landslide and debris flow will be much often than before. So the authors suggest: (1) update earthquake geohazard database as soon as possible, (2) work out targeted prevention and control measures for the geohazards with large potential danger, (3) conduct comprehensive remote sensing monitoring and research of earthquake-induced geohazard mechanism, (4) improve the meteorological early warning model and threshold. By all this efforts the risk of geohazards after earthquake will be reduced and controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquakes can cause serious damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure. The large amount of dust and particulate matter generated when these structures collapse and are damaged can quickly enter the air, leading to a decline in air quality. At the same time, earthquakes may cause secondary disasters such as fires and landslides, which will also produce large amounts of soot and particulate matter, which will have a negative impact on air quality. Therefore, earthquake disaster risk assessment studies are carried out to identify potentially hazardous areas and facilities in advance in order to reduce the air pollution problems that may be caused by earthquakes. Existing research on earthquake disaster risk assessment mainly evaluates earthquake risk from the perspective of geology or seismology, but there are few studies based on multidisciplinary assessment that integrates geology, seismology, engineering and social sciences into socioeconomic factors. To this end, based on remote sensing and GIS technology, this paper takes Qinghai Province, a seismically active area, as the research area, and integrates land use data, natural environment data, social environment data and seismic parameter zoning data to construct a comprehensive assessment model for earthquake disaster vulnerability and risk. The results showed that there were 5 very high-risk areas, 7 high-risk areas, 10 medium-risk areas, 11 low-risk areas and 12 very low-risk areas in Qinghai Province. The high-risk areas are mainly distributed in the central and western parts of Qinghai Province, where the earthquake breeding environment is sufficient, the scale of active faults is huge and the adaptability of the carrier is low. The results of an earthquake disaster risk assessment can provide a reference for the government to formulate environmental protection policies. According to the assessment results, the government can formulate targeted measures to strengthen air pollution control and improve air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of seismic activity precursors as part of an alarm system will provide opportunities for minimization of the social and economic impact caused by earthquakes. It has long been envisaged, and a growing body of empirical evidence suggests that the Earth's electromagnetic field could contain precursors to seismic events. The ability to capture and monitor electromagnetic field activity has increased in the past years as more sensors and methodologies emerge. Missions such as Swarm have enabled researchers to access near-continuous observations of electromagnetic activity at second intervals, allowing for more detailed studies on weather and earthquakes. In this paper, we present an approach designed to detect anomalies in electromagnetic field data from Swarm satellites. This works towards developing a continuous and effective monitoring system of seismic activities based on SWARM measurements. We develop an enhanced form of a probabilistic model based on the Martingale theories that allow for testing the null hypothesis to indicate abnormal changes in electromagnetic field activity. We evaluate this enhanced approach in two experiments. Firstly, we perform a quantitative comparison on well-understood and popular benchmark datasets alongside the conventional approach. We find that the enhanced version produces more accurate anomaly detection overall. Secondly, we use three case studies of seismic activity (namely, earthquakes in Mexico, Greece, and Croatia) to assess our approach and the results show that our method can detect anomalous phenomena in the electromagnetic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rockfalls are incidents of nature that take place when rocks or boulders break from a steep slope and fall to the ground. They can pose considerable threats to buildings placed in high-risk zones. Despite the fact that the impact of a rockfall on a building can cause structural and non-structural damage, few studies have been undertaken to investigate the danger associated with this event. Most of these studies indicated that the risk resulting from rockfall hazards is hard to forecast and assess. A comprehensive quantitative risk assessment approach for rockfalls on buildings is developed and described in this paper and applied for the Mtein village in Mount Lebanon. This method employs a 3D model to simulate the rockfall trajectories using a combination of digital elevation data, field surveys, and orthorectified aerial photographs. The spatial and temporal probability of rockfalls were evaluated using the analysis of historical data in two triggering-factor scenarios: earthquake and precipitation. The findings show that, during the period of 1472 years between the years 551 (the first observed large earthquake in Lebanon) and the current year of the study (2023), the temporal probability will potentially be equal to 0.002 and 0.105 in the cases of earthquake- and rainfall-triggered rockfalls, respectively, while the maximal damage values are expected to be 232 USD and 10,511 USD per year, respectively. The end result is a final map presenting the risk values assigned to each building that could be damaged by rockfalls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a multi-parameter ionospheric disturbance analysis of the total electron content (TEC), density (Ne), temperature (Te), and critical frequency foF2 variations preceding two significant earthquake events (2015 Mw 7.5 and 2023 Mw 6.3) that occurred in Afghanistan. The analysis from various ground stations and low-Earth-orbit satellite measurements involved employing the sliding interquartile method to process TEC data of Global Ionospheric Maps (GIMs), comparing revisit trajectories to identify anomalies in Ne and Te from Swarm satellites, applying machine learning-based envelope estimation for GPS-derived TEC measurements, utilizing the least square method for foF2 data and ionograms obtained from available base stations in the Global Ionosphere Radio Observatory (GIRO). After excluding potential influences caused by solar and geomagnetic activities, the following phenomena were revealed: (1) The GIM-TEC variations displayed positive anomalies one day before the 2015 Mw 7.5 earthquake, while significant positive anomalies occurred on the shock days (7, 11, and 15) of the 2023 Mw 6.3 earthquake; (2) the Swarm satellite observations (Ne and Te) for the two earthquakes followed almost the same appearance rates as GIM-TEC, and a negative correlation between the Ne and Te values was found, with clearer appearance at night; (3) there were prominent positive TEC anomalies 8 days and almost 3 h before the earthquakes at selected GPS stations, which were nearest to the earthquake preparation area. The anomalous variations in TEC height and plasma density were verified by analyzing the foF2, which confirmed the ionospheric perturbations. Unusual ionospheric disturbances indicate imminent pre-seismic events, which provides the potential opportunity to provide aid for earthquake prediction and natural hazard risk management in Afghanistan and nearby regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dynamic analysis of the Makhool dam using Geo-studio software is presented in this paper for the purpose of investigating the seismic behavior of earth dams. With emphasis on the dam's height, soil characteristics, and input motion, this study examines the effect of earthquake excitation on the dam's behavior. With input from the SEEP/W program, the analysis was conducted using the QUAKE/W program. In this study, the horizontal component of motion was taken at three different values: 0.04g, 0.06g, and 0.08g. In addition to total stress in x-direction and y-direction, pore water pressure, and x-displacement, the results were presented in figures. Study findings showed that the horizontal displacement and shear strain of the dam increased with dam height, with the maximum displacement of the dam equal to 94 cm at the end of the earthquake. Besides the type of dam soil, the acceleration of the dam was also affected by the strength of the soil, since weaker soil reduced the acceleration of the dam. The pore-water pressure at the dam's base was the highest, with the horizontal movement increasing with depth. In earthquake zones, seismic evaluation is vital for dam construction, and the research provides valuable advice for designing and building earth dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase in industrial accidents induced by natural disasters, the study of earthquake risk assessment has been widely considered by scholars. However, the cascade evolution of Natech (natural–technological) disasters has not been thoroughly studied, especially in chemical parks with complex technological processes. From the perspective of scenario deduction, combined with cross-impact analysis and a damping interpretation structural model, this paper analyzes the evolution process of cascade disaster in a chemical industrial park after the Wenchuan earthquake. At the same time, a visual network risk assessment model is constructed to identify the impact of earthquake cascade disasters on the park. The simulation results show that the scenario-driven risk assessment method proposed in this paper can directly reflect the coupling relationship and propagation path among the derived events and realize dynamic, intuitive and structured disaster expression to deal with the earthquake Natech (natural–technological) disaster scenario effectively and quickly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial in "Frontiers in Earth Science" discusses the challenges faced by Latin America, such as tailing dam collapses, earthquake risks, and water resource management. Near-surface geophysics (NSGeo) is highlighted as a crucial tool for addressing these challenges, with a focus on practical, non-invasive solutions. The research papers in the special issue showcase how NSGeo methods are being applied to tackle natural disasters, pollution, and infrastructure risks in Latin America, emphasizing the technical advancements and societal impact of these techniques. The integration of advanced computational tools and field techniques with traditional geophysical methods enhances the effectiveness of NSGeo applications, making them essential for informed decision-making and sustainable development in the region. [Extracted from the article]

In this paper, we provide a characterisation of the ionosphere from April 2018 to September 2022 for 48 investigated months. We used the data of the China Seismo Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES-01), which is a sun-synchronous satellite with five days of revisit time and fixed local time of about 2 a.m. and 2 p.m. The unique orbit of CSES-01 permitted us to produce a monthly background of the ionosphere for night- and daytime with median values acquired during geomagnetic quiet time in equatorial and mid-latitude regions (i.e., between 50° S and 50° N of geographical latitude). We compared the obtained CSES-01 monthly median values with the solar activity in terms of sunspot numbers, and we found a high correlation of 0.89 for nighttime and 0.85 for daytime between the mean sunspot number and the maximum of the characterised CSES-01 Ne map values. In addition, we extracted all the anomalous positive increases in CSES-01 electron density and compared them with the Worldwide M5.5+ shallow earthquakes. We tested two different definitions of anomaly based on median and interquartile range or (mild) outliers. We tried two relationships between anomalies inside Dobrovolsky's area before the earthquake and the magnitude of the same seismic events: one which considers distance in space and time and a second which only uses the anticipation time of the anomaly before the earthquake. Using both anomaly definitions, we searched the best coefficients for these two laws for mid-latitude and equational regions. We found that the best coefficients are independent of the anomaly definition, but better accuracy (greater than 80%) is obtained for the outlier definition. Finally, using receiving operating characteristic (ROC) curves, we show that CSES-01 increases seem statistically correlated to the incoming seismic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The air temperature changes in the Palu MW7.5 earthquake in Indonesia on 28 September 2018 were analyzed, based on the additive tectonic stress caused by celestial tidal-generating forces (ATSCTF) and air temperature data from the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). This paper explored the variation characteristics of three-dimensional stratified of air temperature caused by seismic activity and the coupling relationship between air temperature changes and the tidal force. The background information for air temperature calculation was obtained from the tidal force changes, and the air temperature increment method was used to study the temperature evolution process of different periods in the study area. The results found that the tidal force acting on the critical state earthquake faults may be an important external factor inducing earthquakes, and there was indeed a significant air temperature increase anomaly during the Palu MW7.5 earthquake. The paper also summarized the abnormal characteristics of air temperature caused by seismic activity: the air temperature closer to the land's surface has greater anomaly amplitude and a wider anomaly area than that of the upper air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 14 August 2021, an earthquake of moment magnitude Mw = 7.2 hit Haiti Island. Unfortunately, it caused several victims and economic damage to the island. While predicting earthquakes is still challenging and has not yet been achieved, studying the preparation phase of such catastrophic events may improve our knowledge and pose the basis for future predictions of earthquakes. In this paper, the six months that preceded the Haiti earthquake are analysed, investigating the lithosphere (by seismic catalogue), atmosphere (by climatological archive) and ionosphere by China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES-01) and Swarm satellites, as well as Total Electron Content (TEC) data. Several anomalies have been extracted from the analysed parameters using different techniques. A comparison, especially between the different layers, could increase or decrease the probability that a specific group of anomalies may be (or not) related to the preparation phase of the Haiti 2021 earthquake. In particular, two possible coupling processes have been revealed as part of the earthquake preparation phase. The first one was only between the lithosphere and the atmosphere about 130 days before the mainshock. The second one was about two months before the seismic event. It is exciting to underline that all the geo-layers show anomalies at that time: seismic accumulation of stress showed an increase of its slope, several atmospheric quantities underline abnormal atmospheric conditions, and CSES-01 Ne depicted two consecutive days of ionospheric electron density. This suggested a possible coupling of lithosphere–atmosphere and ionosphere as a sign of the increased stress, i.e., the impending earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a safety tool to assess the risk of road blockage during and after emergency situations, mainly due to earthquakes. This method can be used by public authorities to calculate the risk of road paths prone to blockage in case of seismic events. Typological classes of elements interfering with roads, such as unreinforced masonry and reinforced concrete buildings, unreinforced masonry and reinforced concrete bridges, retaining walls, and slopes, are considered. The mean annual frequency (MAF) of exceedance of a blockage limit state is calculated for a path with redundant road segments considering fragility curves from the literature. A practical example is presented for Amatrice, a town in Central Italy hit by the 2016 earthquake. After verifying that the MAF of exceedance demand is lower than the capacity for two roads, a strengthening solution is assumed for two buildings in the path, resulting in a reduction by more than 50% of the MAF demand. For a higher safety level, a bypass is proposed obtaining a demand/capacity ratios four orders of magnitude lower than that obtained with strengthening solutions, highlighting and quantifying the beneficial effect of removing vulnerable structures along the path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquakes are unpredictable natural disasters causing massive injuries. We aim to review the surgical management of earthquake musculoskeletal injuries and the critical care of crush syndrome. We searched the English literature in PubMed without time restriction to select relevant papers. Retrieved articles were critically appraised and summarized. Open wounds should be cleaned, debrided, receive antibiotics, receive tetanus toxoid unless vaccinated in the last 5 years, and re-debrided as needed. The lower limb affected 48.5% (21.9%-81.4%) of body regions/patients. Fractures occurred in 31.1% (11.3%-78%) of body regions/patients. The most common surgery was open reduction and internal fixation done in 21% (0%-76.6%), followed by plaster of Paris in 18.2% (2.3%-48.8%), and external fixation in 6.6% (1%-13%) of operations/patients. Open fractures should be treated with external fixation. Internal fixation should not be done until the wound becomes clean and the fractured bones are properly covered with skin, skin graft, or flap. Fasciotomies were done in 15% (2.8%-27.2%), while amputations were done in 3.7% (0.4%-11.5%) of body regions/ patients. Principles of treating crush syndrome include: (1) administering proper intravenous fluids to maintain adequate urine output, (2) monitoring and managing hyperkalemia, and (3) considering renal replacement therapy in case of volume overload, severe hyperkalemia, severe acidemia, or severe uremia. Low-quality studies addressed indications for fasciotomy, amputation, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Prospective data collection on future medical management of earthquake injuries should be part of future disaster preparedness. We hope that this review will carry the essential knowledge needed for properly managing earthquake musculoskeletal injuries and crush syndrome in hospitalized patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Korea, the underground silo structure for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facilities has been constructed and operated since 2014. Large-scale earthquakes occurred in 2016 and 2017, respectively, in Gyeongju and Pohang areas near the underground silo structures, and interest in the stability of the underground silo increased significantly. In this paper, one-dimensional free-field analyses have been carried out before the three-dimensional silo dynamic analyses subjected to earthquake loadings. As an additional study, a new form of the finite element equilibrium equation is derived in terms of relative motions, which is essentially the same equation expressed in terms of total motions where the base shear force is applied to the earthquake load. The accuracy of conventional finite element solutions is evaluated by directly comparing them with closed-form solutions by frequency domain analysis such as SHAKE91. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's railway network is wide, and some of them cross the seismic zone, and the ratio of high-speed railway (HSR) bridges is high. Therefore, the safety of trains on the bridge may be endangered in the event of an earthquake. Because the response of track–bridge system is sensitive to the randomness of bridge structural parameters during the earthquake, while the train wheelset is directly in contact with the track system, the running safety of train (RST) may be also sensitive to the randomness of structural parameters. In this paper, the model of train–bridge coupled system (TBCS) under earthquake was established, and the accuracy of the model was verified by test results. To efficiently calculate the safety performance of trains considering the randomness of structural parameters, the point estimation method (PEM) was used in this paper, and the applicability of PEM was proved by comparing with the calculation results of Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). Then, PEM was used to discuss the running safety performance of trains under different ground motion (GM) intensities, different train speeds, and different pier heights. Finally, based on the maximum probability, the GM intensity threshold of a bridge based on running safety is determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The devastating earthquake of 2015 in Nepal overwhelmed the Nepal government, which resulted in the government seeking help from the international community. The call from the Nepal government was responded to quickly by many countries. While the government accepted the help from far countries, the Nepal government rejected the humanitarian aid offered by Taiwan saying that Nepal only takes such aid from its neighboring countries. This paper examines the reasons behind the aid rejection of Taiwan by Nepal and tries to answer what could have happened if it was accepted. Though Nepal is one of the Least Developed countries, even during the disaster time, the aid was rejected. The paper concludes that, even during the most crucial time, there is politics in accepting aid. Nepal's rejection of Taiwan's aid was because of the pressure to obey the diplomatic relation with China, as Nepal is dependent on China but not on Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this paper is to develop a quantitative resilience assessment framework for a supply chain system exposed to multiple risk factors. Most existing studies on supply chain resilience have primarily focused on assessing the system's ability to withstand and recover from disruptions caused by a single type of hazard. However, a supply chain system is exposed to multiple exogenous and endogenous events and conditions over a planning horizon, and a comprehensive assessment of resilience should take into account multiple risk factors. Moreover, contrary to the conventional resilience assessment methods focusing on the short duration during which the system is impacted by a disaster event, the proposed framework measures the resilience capacities of the system over a long-term horizon through multi-risk assessment and multi-component resilience assessment. Specifically, a new multi-component resilience index is proposed to measure (a) hazard-induced cumulative loss of functionality, (b) opportunity-induced cumulative gain of functionality, and (c) non-hazard-induced cumulative loss of functionality. The case study results indicate that all three types of risk factors contribute to the overall resilience index significantly and ignoring any one of them may result in inaccurate supply chain performance and resilience assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level of destruction caused by an earthquake depends on a variety of factors, such as magnitude, duration, intensity, time of occurrence, and underlying geological features, which may be mitigated and reduced by the level of preparedness of risk management measures. Geospatial technologies offer a means by which earthquake occurrence can be predicted or foreshadowed; managed in terms of levels of preparation related to land use planning; availability of emergency shelters, medical resources, and food supplies; and assessment of damage and remedial priorities. This literature review paper surveys the geospatial technologies employed in earthquake research and disaster management. The objectives of this review paper are to assess: (1) the role of the range of geospatial data types; (2) the application of geospatial technologies to the stages of an earthquake; (3) the geospatial techniques used in earthquake hazard, vulnerability, and risk analysis; and (4) to discuss the role of geospatial techniques in earthquakes and related disasters. The review covers past, current, and potential earthquake-related applications of geospatial technology, together with the challenges that limit the extent of usefulness and effectiveness. While the focus is mainly on geospatial technology applied to earthquake research and management in practice, it also has validity as a framework for natural disaster risk assessments, emergency management, mitigation, and remediation, in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquake early warning systems are used as important tools in earthquake risk management, providing timely information to residents and both public and private emergency managers. By doing this, the potential impact of large magnitude seismic events is significantly reduced. These systems use seismic sensors in order to acquire real-time data for the weaker but fast moving P wave (usually the first 3–5 s of the earthquake) and specific algorithms to predict the magnitude and the arrival time of the slower but more destructive surface waves. Most of these projection algorithms make use only of the vertical component of the acceleration and need extensive training in earthquake simulators in order to enhance their performance. Therefore, a low-inertial-mass uniaxial shaking table is proposed and analyzed in terms of frequency response in this paper, providing an effective cost/control ratio and high daily duty cycle. Furthermore, with the large variety of prediction algorithms, which use different frequency ranges, a new concept of selective frequency band error is also introduced and discussed in this paper as being a necessary tool for the final assessment of magnitude estimation algorithm error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research is to improve the efficiency of monitoring and analysis of seismic activity of multi-storey buildings, by automating this process. The system being designed consists of a database and a web application, which together allow you to achieve this goal. The obtained results can be used by seismological engineers during the construction and operation of multi-storey buildings. This work is the first part of the research results, namely the theoretical basis. The paper considers not only the methodology of developing a geographic information system for monitoring the seismic activity of buildings, but also focuses on historical areas. Historic areas are very vulnerable to natural hazards, including earthquakes, which can cause serious damage if not complete destruction. The paper proposes methods that can be implemented through a geographic information system to assess the physical damage caused by the earthquake and the results of the impact on the functions and monitoring their stability. Turning to continuous sustainability monitoring, an index-based assessment method is proposed to quantify how HA functions recover over time. In order to accelerate the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) in the field of engineering earthquake research, the effectiveness of GIS is demonstrated through originally developed systems and applications. Such a complex problem as earthquake prevention can be solved by accumulating and synthesizing knowledge and data in a visualized interactive GIS environment. First, an object-oriented analysis of the technical problem of the earthquake was carried out and the essence of the problem was erased using the method of object-oriented modeling. Based on this analysis, the conceptual design of the overall system was unified in such a way that each system has a built-in common structure of method and data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disaster risk management (DRM) has always been important, but nowadays, with the increasing number of disasters due to climate changes, it is becoming even more so. Every phase of DRM is heavily reliant on geodata. First of all, each disaster occurs at a specific location, and this location contains geodata, which can be used in DRM, e.g., cadastral data, GNSS data, aerial images, topographic data, elevation data, etc. Geodata are important for making faster and more accurate decisions in disaster situations. It is possible to collect these geodata from many different sources, e.g., the public sector, private sector and citizens. Nevertheless, official geodata coming from competent authorities should be the most accurate and reliable. In this paper, we investigate the importance of official geodata in DRM on several examples from recent disasters in Croatia. Official geodata produced by the Croatian State Geodetic Administration (SGA) were used in managing disasters such as floods, forest fires, earthquakes and war. Our research findings show that DRM is an area in which National Mapping and Cadastral Authorities (NMCAs) should focus more on collecting and sharing geodata and provide more dynamic and innovative products. In these challenging times, more and more geodata are becoming available from different sources, besides official ones. With this plethora of geodata, in order to be relevant and competitive, NMCAs must change their business models and offer more attractive and useful services in order to satisfy the increasing user needs and demands. This paper shows that the SGA in Croatia is on the path towards achieving this goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Earthquakes and landslides pose significant threats to human safety and property, necessitating early warning systems. However, the high construction costs of earthquake early warning systems present a challenge. Purpose: Landslide warnings are more prevalent, so linking them to earthquake warnings could address cost concerns. Hence, it is crucial to validate the feasibility of utilizing GNSS landslide monitoring as assistance for earthquake early warning systems. Methods: This paper analyzes acceleration anomaly data from 31 GNSS landslide monitoring points near the epicenter of the May 2, 2023, MW = 5.2 Baoshan earthquake in Yunnan. The response time was determined as the time difference between an earthquake's occurrence and GNSS's acceleration anomalies. This calculation helps measure the time delay and sensitivity between these two events. Data were obtained from the geological disaster monitoring and early warning management system. Results: GNSS landslide monitoring showed high sensitivity to nearby earthquakes. The fastest response time among the 31 data points was 8 seconds, while the slowest was 56 seconds, all falling within the one-minute mark. A linear correlation was found between acceleration anomaly response time and distance from the epicenter, indicating the feasibility of GNSS landslide monitoring-assisted earthquake monitoring. Conclusion: A proposal is made for a GNSS landslide monitoring cluster to establish a multi-dimensional landslideearthquake disaster warning system. This approach offers new methods for combining earthquake and landslide early warning systems, leveraging existing infrastructure for cost-effectiveness and enhancing disaster preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responsible mining considers the three pillars of sustainability, namely the environment, the economy and social welfare. As a result, exploitation of deposits of useful mineral substances, as an economic activity, must be carried out taking into account several requirements, among which is the generation of a reduced impact on the environment and local communities. Sliding of open pits and waste dumps slopes represents a major risk, which endangers workers and machinery, as well as the components of the natural and built environment in the influenced area. In order to avoid such phenomena and their consequences, it is imperative to analyze the stability conditions whenever their possible triggering factors appear (such as earthquakes). Between February and March of 2023, the region of Oltenia (south-west Romania) was affected by intense seismic activity, out of normal patterns. Considering this series of seismic events, in this paper we aimed at reevaluating the stability conditions of the slopes of the working fronts and of the internal dumps in the lignite open pits located in the region in this new context. Research focused on three lignite open pits, namely Peșteana North (Rovinari mining perimeter), Jilț North (Jilț mining perimeter), Berbești–Alunu (Berbești mining perimeter). After describing the general geology and tectonics of the areas under study, the seismic episode that affected the region at the beginning of 2023 (which in fact extended until November) is highlighted, with increased attention given to the earthquakes of 13 and 14 February 2023, with a local magnitude ML ≥ 5. The most important part of the study is represented by the stability analyses, carried out for normal conditions (considering the characteristics of the rocks at natural humidity and in the absence of the influence of external factors) and under seismic conditions, characterized by a peak ground acceleration equal to the maximum acceleration considered for the location area of the mining perimeters taken into study. The results of the study showed that, for most of the analyzed situations, a renewal of the technical exploitation documentation is required, which, taking into account the results of this study, must adopt new geometries of the excavation and deposition fronts, so that the objectives in terms of operational and workplace safety imposed by legislation are respected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]