Many cities in several countries are expanding at a rapid pace with pressure from the increasing population. Some such cities are located near river basins with thick recent sediments and proximity to active faults. The accurate seismic hazard assessment, on large scale, is the key to help prevent any disaster due to future large earthquakes. However, such exercise is a challenge for measurements and ground-based investigations, particularly in old settlements due to cramped open spaces. The anthropogenic noises created due to traffic and factories are another challenge that needs attention. Many new techniques have been developed in recent years that take care of such limitations. An integrated approach comprising of geological, seismological, geotechnical and geophysical investigations with inputs from powerful satellite imageries may be applied to carry out seismic hazard assessment of these metropolitan cities.
Estimation of local site response, an essential component of seismic hazard assessment, can be a difficult task. Moreover, the scenario is more challenging for older cities having heritage structures and buildings of religious importance and similar. Site-effect estimation without disturbing the built environment is a real challenge. Additionally, the anthropogenic noise created by rail and road traffic movement, factories and construction activities is a problem that cannot be avoided. The reluctance of people to allow field investigation in their premises is another complex issue, which may perhaps be attended to via the involvement of municipal authorities and creating awareness among the population. However, finding open spaces for geophysical and geotechnical investigations and avoiding the underground facilities, cables etc., remains a big challenge to accomplish the task. The science of hazard assessment has progressed in leaps and bounds in the last 2-3 decades. Latest and modified techniques, including the space based and modeling tools may be employed to quell such issues.
Themes:
• Microtremor investigations in metropolitan areas for site characterizations;
• Shallow geophysical investigations for microzonation;
• Geotechnical investigations in large cities;
• Site response studies in walled city complexes;
• Geological mapping of metropolitan cities;
• Application of latest techniques, both ground and space-based and modelling, etc.;
• Challenges in hazard assessment of large cities;
• Assessment of seismic hazard of large urban conglomerates;
• Smart cities vis-a-vis hazard assessment.
Article type: Original research, review and methods
Topic Editor Sumer Chopra is the Director of the Institute of Seismological Research, Govt. of Gujarat. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
Many cities in several countries are expanding at a rapid pace with pressure from the increasing population. Some such cities are located near river basins with thick recent sediments and proximity to active faults. The accurate seismic hazard assessment, on large scale, is the key to help prevent any disaster due to future large earthquakes. However, such exercise is a challenge for measurements and ground-based investigations, particularly in old settlements due to cramped open spaces. The anthropogenic noises created due to traffic and factories are another challenge that needs attention. Many new techniques have been developed in recent years that take care of such limitations. An integrated approach comprising of geological, seismological, geotechnical and geophysical investigations with inputs from powerful satellite imageries may be applied to carry out seismic hazard assessment of these metropolitan cities.
Estimation of local site response, an essential component of seismic hazard assessment, can be a difficult task. Moreover, the scenario is more challenging for older cities having heritage structures and buildings of religious importance and similar. Site-effect estimation without disturbing the built environment is a real challenge. Additionally, the anthropogenic noise created by rail and road traffic movement, factories and construction activities is a problem that cannot be avoided. The reluctance of people to allow field investigation in their premises is another complex issue, which may perhaps be attended to via the involvement of municipal authorities and creating awareness among the population. However, finding open spaces for geophysical and geotechnical investigations and avoiding the underground facilities, cables etc., remains a big challenge to accomplish the task. The science of hazard assessment has progressed in leaps and bounds in the last 2-3 decades. Latest and modified techniques, including the space based and modeling tools may be employed to quell such issues.
Themes:
• Microtremor investigations in metropolitan areas for site characterizations;
• Shallow geophysical investigations for microzonation;
• Geotechnical investigations in large cities;
• Site response studies in walled city complexes;
• Geological mapping of metropolitan cities;
• Application of latest techniques, both ground and space-based and modelling, etc.;
• Challenges in hazard assessment of large cities;
• Assessment of seismic hazard of large urban conglomerates;
• Smart cities vis-a-vis hazard assessment.
Article type: Original research, review and methods
Topic Editor Sumer Chopra is the Director of the Institute of Seismological Research, Govt. of Gujarat. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.