Active Fault Database Research Articles

THE GREEK CATALOGUE OF ACTIVE FAULTS AND DATABASE OF SEISMOGENIC SOURCES

The new reasearch project to create the Greek Catalogue of Active Faults and Database of Seismogenic Sources has three major goals: (i) the systematic collection of all available information concerning neotectonic, active and capable faults as well as broader seismogenic volumes within the Aegean Region; the search will be mainly based on geological and geophysical data; (ii) the quantification of the principal seismotectonic parameters of the different sources and the associated degree of uncertainty; (iii) to supply an integrated view of potentially damaging seismogenic sources for a better assessment of the Seismic Hazard of Greece. The informatic framework of the database follows that used for the Italian Database of Individual Seismogenic Sources (DISS). In this paper we present the architecture of the new Database of Active faults of the broader Aegean Area relative to Greece, the progress made up to present and the following activities yet to be accomplished.

Active fault database of Turkey

We have updated the active fault map of Turkey and built its database within GIS environment. In the study, four distinct active fault types, classified according to geochronological criteria and character, were delineated on the 1:25,000 base map of Turkey. 176 fault segments not included in the former active fault map of Turkey, have been identified and documented. We infer that there are 485 single fault segments which are substantially potential seismic sources. In total 1964 active-fault base-maps were transferred into the GIS environment. Each fault was attributed with key parameters such as class, activity, type, length, trend, and attitude of fault plane. The fault parameters are also supported by slip-rate and seismogenic depth inferred from available GPS, seismological and paleoseismological data. Additionally, expected maximum magnitude for each fault segment was estimated by empirical equations. We present the database in a parametric catalogue of fault segments to be of interest in earthquake engineering and seismotectonics. The study provides essential geological and seismological inputs for regional seismic hazard analysis of all over Turkey and its vicinity.

The New Zealand Active Faults Database

ABSTRACTThe New Zealand Active Faults Database (NZAFD) is a national geospatial database of active faults – including their locations, names and degrees of activity – that have deformed the ground surface of New Zealand within the last 125,000 years. The NZAFD is used for geological research, hazard modelling and infrastructure planning and is an underlying dataset for other nationally significant hazard applications such as the National Seismic Hazard Model. Recent refinements to the data structure have improved the accuracy of active fault locations and characteristics. A subset of active fault information from the NZAFD, generalised for portrayal and use at a scale of 1:250,000 (and referred to as NZAFD250), is freely available online and can be downloaded in several different formats to suit the needs of a range of users including scientists, governmental authorities and the general public. To achieve a uniform spatial scale of 1:250,000 a simplification of detailed fault locational data was required in some areas, while in other areas new mapping was necessary to provide a consistent level of coverage. Future improvements to the NZAFD will include the incorporation of data on active folds and offshore active faults.

A summary of hazard datasets and guidelines supported by the Global Earthquake Model during the first implementation phase

<div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p>The Global Earthquake Model (GEM) initiative promotes open, transparent and collaborative science aimed at the assessment of earthquake risk and its reduction worldwide. During the first implementation phase (2009-2014) GEM sponsored five projects aimed at the creation of global datasets and guidelines toward the creation of open, transparent and, as far as possible, homogeneous hazard input models. These projects concentrated on the following global databases and models: an instrumental catalogue, a historical earthquake archive and catalogue, a geodetic strain rate model, a database of active faults, and set of ground motion prediction equations. This paper describes the main outcomes of these projects illustrating some initial applications as well as challenges in the creation of hazard models.</p></div></div></div>

The Quaternary Active Faults Database of Iberia (QAFI v.2.0)

The Quaternary Active Faults Database of Iberia (QAFI) is an initiative lead by the Institute of Geology and Mines of Spain (IGME) for building a public repository of scientific data regarding faults having documented activity during the last 2.59 Ma (Quaternary). QAFI also addresses a need to transfer geologic knowledge to practitioners of seismic hazard and risk in Iberia by identifying and characterizing seismogenic fault-sources. QAFI is populated by the information freely provided by more than 40 Earth science researchers, storing to date a total of 262 records. In this article we describe the development and evolution of the database, as well as its internal architecture. Additionally, a first global analysis of the data is provided with a special focus on length and slip-rate fault parameters. Finally, the database completeness and the internal consistency of the data are discussed. Even though QAFI v.2.0 is the most current resource for calculating fault-related seismic hazard in Iberia, the database is still incomplete and requires further review.

A pilot GIS database of active faults of Mt. Etna (Sicily): A tool for integrated hazard evaluation

A pilot GIS-based system has been implemented for the assessment and analysis of hazard related to active faults affecting the eastern and southern flanks of Mt. Etna. The system structure was developed in ArcGis® environment and consists of different thematic datasets that include spatially-referenced arc-features and associated database. Arc-type features, georeferenced into WGS84 Ellipsoid UTM zone 33 Projection, represent the five main fault systems that develop in the analysed region. The backbone of the GIS-based system is constituted by the large amount of information which was collected from the literature and then stored and properly geocoded in a digital database. This consists of thirty five alpha-numeric fields which include all fault parameters available from literature such us location, kinematics, landform, slip rate, etc.Although the system has been implemented according to the most common procedures used by GIS developer, the architecture and content of the database represent a pilot backbone for digital storing of fault parameters, providing a powerful tool in modelling hazard related to the active tectonics of Mt. Etna. The database collects, organises and shares all scientific currently available information about the active faults of the volcano. Furthermore, thanks to the strong effort spent on defining the fields of the database, the structure proposed in this paper is open to the collection of further data coming from future improvements in the knowledge of the fault systems. By layering additional user-specific geographic information and managing the proposed database (topological querying) a great diversity of hazard and vulnerability maps can be produced by the user. This is a proposal of a backbone for a comprehensive geographical database of fault systems, universally applicable to other sites.

Release of Active Fault Database in Japan

Release of Active Fault Database in Japan

Active faults in Africa: a review

The active fault database and Map of active faults in Africa, in scale of 1:5,000,000, were compiled according to the ILP Project II-2 “World Map of Major Active Faults”. The data were collected in the Royal Museum of Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium, and in the Geological Institute, Moscow, where the final edition was carried out. Active faults of Africa form three groups. The first group is represented by thrusts and reverse faults associated with compressed folds in the northwest Africa. They belong to the western part of the Alpine–Central Asian collision belt. The faults disturb only the Earth's crust and some of them do not penetrate deeper than the sedimentary cover. The second group comprises the faults of the Great African rift system. The faults form the known Western and Eastern branches, which are rifts with abnormal mantle below. The deep-seated mantle “hot” anomaly probably relates to the eastern volcanic branch. In the north, it joins with the Aden–Red Sea rift zone. Active faults in Egypt, Libya and Tunis may represent a link between the East African rift system and Pantellerian rift zone in the Mediterranean. The third group included rare faults in the west of Equatorial Africa. The data were scarce, so that most of the faults of this group were identified solely by interpretation of space imageries and seismicity. Some longer faults of the group may continue the transverse faults of the Atlantic and thus can penetrate into the mantle. This seems evident for the Cameron fault line.

Active faults in Eurasia: general remarks

The database and map of active faults of Eurasia, 1:5,000,000, have been compiled according to the ILP Project II-2 “World Map of Major Active Faults.” The map shows the complicated distribution of active faulting. The major faults group in broad mobile belts between relatively weakly faulted parts of the main plates. The faults form the plates, microplates and crustal blocks boundaries there and are accompanied by deformation of the boundary areas. Using active fault data for the seismic hazard assessment (estimation of maximum possible magnitudes of earthquakes in fault zones), it is necessary to take into account the total neotectonic activity of the territory and average rate and sense of motion on the fault. Because trenching gives a possibility to determine only vertical earthquake offset on a fault, it is necessary to make corrections for strike–slip faults to estimate the earthquake magnitude by using this parameter.

地震災害を考える 予測と対策 ナショナルセンターを目指した活断層研究センターの試み

Active Fault Research Center (AFRC) was launched in April 2001 as one of major research units for the new Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ), according to the establishment of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) AFRC is one of the responsible organizations for active fault studies in Japan under the Japanese government Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion (HQERP) AFRC conducts the following researches that is closely related to active faults.Study of active faults : HQERP has selected 98 active faults that are subject to prompt survey. These major active faults will be surveyed using various methods such as geological mapping, trenching and boring, in order to reveal the distribution and extent of each fault, timing of the last rupture event and recurrence intervals. On the basis of such paleoseismological data, the AFRC evaluates the possibility of future rupture and earthquake magnitude for each fault.Study of fault segmentation : A long active fault consists of several segments which can produce both single- and multiple-segment earthquakes. The important factors for segmentation study are the geometry, length, displacement and paleoseismicity of the surface faults of recent earthquakes to reveal the characteristics of fault segments. Modeling a faulting behavior using seismological and geodetic data for the evaluating future earthquakes on long active faults is also an essential part of this study. The North Anatolian fault in Turkey and the San Andreas fault in California, USA are two major on going international studies field being undertaken with the cooperation of the MTA-Turkey and the US Geological Survey, respectively.Studies in earthquake hazard assessment : On the basis of active fault study and fault modeling, AFRC estimates ground shaking from earthquakes. Earthquake ground shaking and damage is strongly dependent upon the epicentral distance, the way rupture propagates in a fault, and the characteristics of the subsurface structure. Considering these factors, simulation of the generation and propagation of seismic waves will be studied.Maintenance of an active fault database : AFRC publishes Annual Reports on Active Fault and Paleoearthquake Researches, and also publishes active fault strip maps and 1 : 500, 000- scale seismotectonic maps. There are plans to publish maps showing possible hazards from future earthquakes, in addition to maps showing rupture probabilities of major active faults in Japan. The AFRC will collect as much existing geological data as possible that is related to active faults and their activities. The AFRC will also create and maintain a database for longterm evaluation dataset and survey results of major active faults. All literature and databases will be open to the public and researchers.The author sincerely hopes that the new AFRC will become a key research institutes for earthquake hazard mitigation in Japan and play an important role as the national center for active faults in Japan.

GISを活用した地震損害評価システムの構築

A loss estimation system for earthquake hazard capable of evaluating all of Japan was developed. A GIS (Geographic Information System) for personal computers is utilized for this system, which assists in interactive selection of the assumed earthquake and representation of the estimated results on a computer screen. Source parameters of the assumed earthquake can be derived from a database of active faults and historical earthquakes. Earthquake ground motion, liquefaction and earthquake-triggered fire are considered in order to estimate building damage ratios. An insurance company's exposure can quickly be estimated by linking this system to an insurance contract database.