Project Info
Rapid estimation of transportation network impacts from earthquakes
Kate Allstadt
kate.allstadt@mines.edu
Project Goals and Description:
This project is designed for students interested in learning how earthquakes and their effects are monitored and estimated in near-real-time. The student would work with a team of geophysicists at the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Earthquake Information Center on the CSM campus. The team develops the near-real-time information products (including ShakeMap, PAGER, and Ground Failure) as part of the USGS’s response to national and international earthquakes. The project will focus on improving tools that rapidly estimate potential human impacts caused by earthquakes, with a focus on transportation network disruptions due to seismically triggered landslides. Students will be involved in updating and integrating a road and rail obstruction algorithm for inclusion in the operational codes for automated earthquake impact assessments.
More Information:
Grand Challenge: Restore and improve urban infrastructure.
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/data/ground-failure/background.php
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/data/shakemap/
https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930211020022
Primary Contacts:
Kate Allstadt, kate.allstadt@mines.edu
Student Preparation
Qualifications
Experience with coding in python is needed, experience with geospatial analysis (GIS) and earthquake hazards would be beneficial.
TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)
4
SKILLS/TECHNIQUES GAINED
The student will work on refactoring outdated Python codes for estimating road obstructions from earthquake-triggered landslides and optimizing them for inclusion in the seismic monitoring operational framework. The student will work with the latest geospatial roadway databases, learn collaborative coding techniques in Python and with Amazon Web Services tools, and develop a deeper understanding of geospatial analysis as part of a real-world application for improving disaster response.
MENTORING PLAN
The student would receive more structured support initially through training and more granular tasking, eventually transitioning towards more independent scientific work. Regular check-in meetings would ensure progress in on track, provide troubleshooting support, and allow time for discussion about project directions and relevant scientific literature.
Preferred Student Status
Junior
Senior