CalTech Awarded Grant to Help Develop Earthquake Early Warning System

On the same day President Barack Obama ordered improved seismic standards for federal buildings, authorities announced Tuesday the start of advanced testing on a prototype earthquake early warning system, while Caltech was awarded part of a $3.6 million grant to help develop the system.

Obama signed an executive order mandating seismic upgrades to federal buildings as part of a White House Summit on Earthquake Resilience. As part of that event, federal authorities announced the next phase of work on the “ShakeAlert” early warning system prototype aimed at eventually giving residents time to move into a safe area before shaking begins.

“Today’s event is about our commitment to sound science and innovation as we move to institute next-generation resilience to earthquake threats,” U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said. “While no one can predict earthquakes, the study of natural hazards and their causes and impacts has put us on the path to creating more effective tools to prevent these hazards from becoming disasters.”

In conjunction with the summit, the Bay Area-based Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation announced a $3.6 million grant for developing the warning system. The money will be shared by Caltech, UC Berkeley, University of Washington and U.S. Geological Survey.

Caltech is expected to use the money to help develop a “humanlike decision-making process” to quickly gather information from seismic sensors and issue prompt and reliable alerts.

“We are delighted to advance the science of earthquakes in a way that promises a great benefit to the public,” said Robert Kirshner, chief program officer for science at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. “Supporting excellent scientists to learn more about nature while creating a warning system that can save lives and property is an objective we are proud to support.”

According to the foundation, it is expected to cost about $38.3 million to implement an early warning system for California, Oregon and Washington, an another $16.1 million a year to operate and maintain it.

“Californians know the next big earthquake is inevitable,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said. “That’s why an earthquake early warning system is so important to save lives, reduce property damage and protect critical infrastructure.

“Significant progress has been made in developing the system, and I’m pleased that the federal government has secured significant private sector support for the system and will soon begin testing a prototype,” she said.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock