The Quake-Catcher Network (QCN) is a transformative approach to earthquake detection, science, and outreach. The QCN is a distributed computing project that links internal (no cost, built-in) or external (low cost, USB-based) accelerometers connected to any participating computer for earthquake research. Leveraging an innovative set of cyber-enabled seismic observations, this approach will enable the creation of a very dense, low-cost seismic network that can explore earthquake fault rupture in real-time, establish ground response to seismic wave passage, and quantify the shaking effects on critical structures. Results from a one-year exploratory grant from the NSF Cyber-Infrastructure Teaching, Education, Advancement and Mentoring program indicate QCN has the ability to be a new and transformative type of network, which is scalable and easy to deploy world-wide. Increasing the number of QCN sensors from 1,000 to more than 30,000 worldwide and developing efficient schemes to ingest, process, and distribute Terabytes of data will allow us to (1) explore fault mechanics (including directionality, slip distribution, and rupture velocity) at unprecedented resolutions, (2) study ground motions to assess seismic hazard and building response and (3) analyze data in real time for earthquake early warning and rapid response. This proposal will result in network with 6,000 new USB sensors and tens of thousands of no-cost sensors commonly built internal to laptops and other devices. Additionally, QCN will provide the cyberinfrastructure to process and analyze the large new seismic data sets in near-real time and to foster collaboration between 1000?s of researchers and interested participants around the world. The framework laid by this project will enable rapid expansion of the network internationally and will allow us to grow the network at a fraction of the cost of traditional seismic instrumentation and infrastructure, providing valuable data to augment the existing seismic networks.The success of the Quake-Catcher Network is intrinsically linked to the broader participation of the general public; members of the public, schools (K-12, undergraduate and graduate), and community organizations host QCN sensors. These ?citizen-scientists? will receive real-time earthquake information, seismic data and results, and interactive educational materials.
This project placed thousands of sensors in homes, offices and schools to help study earthquakes. We developed a cyber-social-seismic network for monitoring earthquakes. We demonstrated that the new micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) sensors were useful for locating and characterizing earthquake ground shaking. We were able to detect and characterize hundreds earthquakes. By providing sensors to teachers, we were able to increase the effecacy of earthquake instruction at K-12 levels. We collaborated with a series of earthquake outreach specialists, including IRIS and SCEC to reach a broader audience, including a network of museums, in which QCN is a prominent exhibit. We demonstrated that MEMS technology and a cyber-social-seismic network could be used for rapid earthquake detection and potentially even earthquake early warning (particularly when blended with more traditional earthquake monitoring equipment). The accelerations recorded on Quake-Catcher Network (QCN) sensors are equivalent to those recorded by other sensors, but with a bit more noise because they are near humans who make noise. The infrastructure developed under this grant will perpetuate beyond the duration of this grant. Mirror projects are currently running in Mexico, Taiwan and Europe. Due to the low cost and high impact (education as well as science), this type of network is very appealing to scientists and earthquake hazard professionals in developing and developed countries.
