Quantitative Near-real-time Estimates of Earthquake-triggered Ground Failure Hazards and Impacts

Abstract:

Since 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Ground Failure (GF) earthquake product has provided near-real-time spatial estimates of earthquake-triggered landslide and liquefaction hazard, along with qualitative hazard and population exposure “alert levels” for M>6 earthquakes worldwide. Both the interactive map layers and downloadable formats have proven useful in a number of recent domestic and international events. Since GF’s initial deployment, more detailed loss datasets (fatalities, economic losses) have become available, along with improved shaking estimates for historical earthquakes (ShakeMap Atlas 4.0). These developments allow us to provide an updated GF product that provides quantitative, overall hazard and loss estimates with quantified uncertainties. Prioritizing post-earthquake inspections can be further informed by producing geospatial intersections of modeled ground failure hazard and infrastructure. Based on these improvements and feedback from users, we have updated the presentation of the GF product to improve communication and usefulness of the products.