DISASTER AND EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
(AFAD)
EARTHQUAKE DEPARTMENT
STRONG MOTION AND RAPID
DAMAGE ESTIMATION
SYSTEMS
WORKING GROUP
1. INTRODUCTION
It is well known that destructive earthquakes pose a continuing major threat to lives and
property throughout Turkey. Since Turkey has been affected seriously from different kinds of
disasters, it may be termed as an open laboratory for scientific community. %66 (sixty-six percent) of
our lands are located on first and second degree earthquake zones according to the Earthquake
Zonning Map of Turkey. Earthquake likelihood is very high over 11 metropolitan cities, %75
(seventy-five percent) of all mega industrial areas and %70 (seventy percent) of total population are on
high risk zones. Approximately 32.000 (thirty two thousand) people lost their lives due to earthquakes
since 1950.
One of the lessons we have particularly learned from the 1999 Kocaeli earthquake, considered
by many to be the most destructive earthquake in Turkey, is the importance of evaluating strong
ground motions from future earthquakes to mitigate earthquake damage in urbanized areas surrounded
by active faults and located close to earthquake zones. One of the most advanced methods for
minimize earthquake damages, strong-motion measurements shed light on predicting of sitedependent ground motion resulting from earthquakes. The recordings are fundamental for
understanding and characterizing the physics of seismogenic failure, the generation and propagation of
damaging ground motions, and the shaking performance of structures. Strong motion records include
basic engineering information for earthquake-resistant building design and upgrading of building
codes. Besides thanks to the SM records, the damage can be estimated at the various distances by
using attenuation relationships. Therefore, rapid reporting of shaking levels helps to focus emergency
response efforts in areas where damage is likely to be the greatest.
As a result of attempts to understand, predict, and mitigate this hazard, strong-motion
seismology was firstly initiated in 1973 in Turkey with the name of TR-NSMN. In this connection, in
general, the TR-NSMN seeks to mitigate the impact of future earthquakes by collecting, processing,
and disseminating critical earthquake information in a timely way.
The following document provides detailed information regarding strong-motion definitions,
observation stations, including sitting, construction, site characterization, documentation and its site
investigations, and practices on data acquisition, monitoring and analysis of the records.
2.
STRONG MOTION OBSERVATIONS IN TURKEY
2.1. HISTORY OF STRONG MOTION NETWORK
The First Strong Motion Observations in Turkey was initiated in 1973 under the Ministry of
Republic Works and Settlement General Directorate of Disaster Affairs. But since 2009, it has carried
on its activities under the Prime Ministry, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency
Earthquake Department.
At the beginning, the network commenced to first undertaking with 67 accelerometers, which
are named SMA-1 (by Kinemetrics). In those years, all instruments were analog due to the existing
technology. These instruments were recorded on photographic paper or films. In 1993, 19 digital
accelerometers named SM-2 were integrated into the Network initially. One year later, at the
beginning of 1997, 15 GSR-16 type accelerometers, produced by Geosig, were added to the network.
Both of them were connected to Ankara via telephone line and their records were transmitted to data
center by dial-up modem. Over the years, instruments were augmented and as of 1997, total number of
the stations reached to 108. After 9 years later, in 2006, SMA-1 type accelerometers were transformed
into QDR. As for new generation instruments, those were begun to install in 2008 with 30
accelerations called CMG-5TD. During the last 15 years, thanks to augmentation of the new
instruments, number of the stations has increased significantly. As for GMSplus type accelerometers,
these are totally 90 accelerometers, they have been integrated into the network in 2013 initially. As of
2014, old-fashioned instruments have been removed and thus system consists of the instruments that
give opportunity for on-line communication. Increase of the accelerometers throughout the years is
shown in the Figure 1.
Figure 1. The number of the stations by years.
2.2.
NETWORK DESCRIPTION
At present, the TR-NSMN is equipped with 546 three-component digital accelerometers. It is
aimed to have 1000 stations in the network until 2017. In parallel with this aim, approximately, 150
new stations are planned to be added to the existing network for each year.
Accelerometers are mostly deployed around dense cities where suffer from strong earthquakes
and broad fault rupture zones such as North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), East Anatolian Fault Zone
(EAFZ) and Aegean Graben Systems on which the big earthquakes occurred or the expected active
areas (Fig. 2).
Figure.2. The national strong-motion network of Turkey (TR-NSMN) as of September 2015.
2.2.1. LOCAL NETWORKS
Local networks have also been operated within the framework of the different projects or
cooperation. Local networks are deployed with specific geometrical arrays on active fault
systems in order to observe seismic activity closely.
Currently, with different regions and arrays, 11 local- scale networks around the
populated cities where located very close to active faults have been operated under the TRNSMN (Table 1 and Fig 3).
Table 1. Local Networks.
N
LOCAL
NETWORKS
PROVINCE
NUMBER OF THE
STATIONS
1
BYT-NET
Bursa-Yalova
27
2
MAT-NET
K.Maraş-Hatay-G.Antep-Osmaniye-Kilis
55
3
DAT-NET
Denizli-Aydın
18
4
DUZ-NET
Düzce
8
5
KOC-NET
Kocaeli
25
6
ANT-NET
Antalya
14
7
ANA-NET
Eskişehir
15
8
IZMIR-NET
İzmir
32
9
ISK-NET
İskenderun
10
10
KKTC-NET
Kıbrıs
10
11
ANKARA-NET
Ankara
19
Figure 3. General appearance of local networks.
Apart from local networks, within the framework of the AFAD RED Project (Rapid Loss
Estimation Project), designed for estimation of probable damage and loses after the
earthquake immediately, 20 accelerometers were installed both K.Maraş and Hatay provinces
in 2013. Similarly, 20 accelerometers have been deployed in south-west part of the Turkey
covering Muğla, Denizli, Burdur, Aydın and Antalya in 2014 (Fig 4).
While installing it, conditions such as density of buildings and population, different sites and
geological units etc. were primarily taken into consideration.
With a specific purpose, scope of the project will be extended and implemented at the various
regions in the next years as well.
Figure 4. General appearance of AFAD-RED network.
2.3. THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ACCELEROMETERS
There are 3 different model digital accelerometers in the network (Fig.6). These are GSR by
GeoSIG (8), CMG-5TD by Guralp (320), GMSplus by GeoSIG (218).
Figure 5. Percentage of the accelerometer types.
GSR type accelerometers have 16 and 18 bit digital converter, after storing the record to its
memory the instrument automatically dials the predetermined telephone number of Ankara Center.
GSR brings a 72/96 dB dynamic range. GSR sensor is a triaxial accelerometer sensor designed for
Strong Motion and industrial applications where a high sensitivity is required. The dynamic range
performance is more than 125 dB at ± 2 g full scale within the 0.1 to 100 Hz range.
Figure 6. GSR type accelerometer and its sensor.
CMG-5TD is an integrated DM-24 high resolution digitizer. The full range of flash storage
and triggering options is available. The CMG-5TD combines the triaxial sensor with the DM24 24-bit
Digitiser Module in a single case. The CMG-5TD sensor system has an extremely large dynamic
range, combining the 140dB sensor with the 132dB noise-free resolution digitizer.
Figure 7. CMG-5TD type accelerometer.
GMSplus type accelerometers have been integrated into the network at the beginning of 2013.
It has 24 bit resolution and enables transmission for all records as both continuous and trigger mode at
the same time. AC-73 sensors have true Electro-mechanical Force Balance Accelerometer with
dynamic Range 165 dB.
Figure 8. GMSplus type accelerometer.
2.4. THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE STATIONS
Accelerometers are deployed dense urban areas as free fields and mounted in the standardized
galvanize hut produced with specific purposes (Fig. 9). Each recorder has been installed by keeping
away from buildings to avoid from its effects.
The instruments are located in governmental building fields owing to ensuring safety and ease
of maintenance.
While installing,

Active tectonic lines,

Population of cities and the density of building,

Different geological structures,

Energy lines,

Communication,

Security,

Environmental noise,

Transportation etc.
conditions are considered.
Figure 9. Typical view of a strong-motion station as both outside and inside.
The instruments are located in governmental building fields owing to ensuring safety and ease
of maintenance. While installing, some significant conditions are taken into consideration such as
active tectonic lines, population of cities and the dense of buildings, different geological structures,
energy lines, communication, security, environmental noise and transportation.
Infrastructure of the stations is built according to a specific plan as seen in the Figure 10.
Containers are mounted on the base-concrete, the dimension of which is 220cmx220cmx30cm. The
middle-concrete, on which accelerometers are installed, is 40cmx40cm x60cm. While half of middleconcrete is on the ground, the other half is under the ground. There is 20cm space between base and
the middle- concrete. Space between them is full of mixture of sand-grovel.
Figure 4.10. The cross sectional image of infrastructure of the stations.
The data coming from field are transmitted to the data center by means of Dial-Up, ADSL,
GPRS and Satellite. Data transferring is mostly provided via GPRS (EDGE) as seen in the Figure 11.
Figure 11. Communication types of SM stations.
2.5. SITE INVESTIGATIONS
The local site conditions of stations were obtained by in-situ geotechnical and geophysical
surveys. The average of shear-wave velocity for upper 30m soil layer (VS30) is obtained at the each
strong-motion site thanks to multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW), which is used for
determining of soil classification.
On the web page, VS30 values are available in the station information form through which
related researchers are able to access to it by selecting station in the search engine (Fig 12).
Figure 12. An example of station information form shown on the web site.
2.6. DATA FORMAT
The first strong ground motion was recorded in 1976. Since the establishment of TR-NSMN
data center (1973), it is possible to access to all accelerograms on the web site.
File names are generated and saved as in this example:
Date (yyyymmdd)+time(hhmmss)+abbreviation of the station (1201)(ex.20030501002704_1201).
All records are created as ASCII format as seen in Figure 4.13. Beneath the header
information there are three components of acceleration data like; N-S (North-South), E-W (East-West)
and U-D (Up-Down). Besides, sample interval value for each record can be found in the header
information.
There isn’t any process implemented on acceleration data, except for base-line correction, in
the other words, records on the web page are entirely raw data and unit of PGA values is cm/sn2 (gal).
Figure 13. The ASCII data format of TR-NSMN in data base.
In accordance with increasing number of the stations, records have also considerably
soared as seen in the Figure 14. To date, much high-quality strong ground motion data has
been recorded. Such data are crucial for designing earthquake-resistant structures and
understanding the source mechanism of earthquakes and the propagation of seismic waves
from source to site, including local site effects. As of May 2015, totally, 16.102 records,
belonging to 4982 earthquakes, are submitted to the users via (http://kyh.deprem.gov.tr).
Figure 14. The number of the events recorded by SM stations by years.
In this web page, daily strong motion records, earthquake reports (M≥4), station information,
including station characteristics and photographs from external and internal, and maps are available
and also always up to date. By using search engine users can easily provide the station or earthquake
information and also download the Raw Data and its wave form. Detailed Special Reports including
significant strong motion parameters are also published after the destructive earthquake.
2.7. ACQUISITION- MONITORING AND ANALYSIS OF THE RECORDS
Thanks to the software applications, instrument configuration, real-time acquisition and
monitoring can be done. It is also used for calculating PGA and transforming format to ASCII. Each
instrument has its own software for example “Scream” for CMG-5TD, “GeoDas” for GMSplus.
2.7.1. GeoDAS
GeoDAS is a graphical Microsoft Windows-based application running under Windows
XP/Vista/W7. This Program is used for instrument configuration and for acquisition of data provided
by any standard GeoSIG instrument.
Data is delivered through serial communication channels. Two types of data delivery are
supported. The first type is event downloading. In this case the instrument is configured as a seismic
recorder, which detects events and keeps them locally in the instrument memory. These files are
transferred to the PC via telephone line or direct link to GeoDAS. The second type is a continuous
telemetry link or direct connection via cable or a network link providing near real-time data from the
instrument, which is configured as digitiser in such case. If the serial channels to an instrument are bidirectional ones, GeoDAS can perform full configuration of the remote instrument and can monitor its
state of health.
GeoDAS Features the following basic functionalities:
 Instrument setup to change any configuration parameters of any instrument(s)
 State of Health (SOH) monitoring for permanent or periodical monitoring of instrument/system
status
 Downloading of the event files from recorder(s)
 Real-time data viewer and recorder for instrument(s) providing data streams
 Off-line data viewer
 Convert/Export to ASCII, SUDS, SAC, SEISAN, ARTeMIS, MATLAB
 Logger features to store important system messages in a log file
 Station Map
 Network Monitor
 Network Links
 Statistics of Communications
Additionally to the features above, GeoDAS provides data analysis, which has been developed
mainly for civil engineering purposes and preliminary seismic analysis of recorded data. The
following operations can be performed:
 Lowpass Filter
 Highpass Filter
 Baseline correction
 Integration
 Differentiation
 Vector Sum
 Cumulative Absolute Velocity (CAV)
 Time-domain Filtering
 Effective Values
 Damping
 Power Spectra
 FFT Magnitude
 Terzband Spectra
 Response Spectra
 JMA Intensity
 STA/LTA Ratio
 Signal Characteristics
 Analysis Templates
Figure 15. GeoDas Software.
2.7.2. Scream
Scream! 4.5 is a software application for Güralp seismometer configuration, real-time
acquisition and monitoring. It runs on Linux and Windows (from 98 onwards). It can be used for
decompressing, viewing, printing, recording, transmitting and replaying GCF data from any Guralp
Systems digital device. Scream! 4.5 can be used in two modes:
• As a stand-alone, real time application for real-time data acquisition, including a network server and
client, file replay, recording and analysis tools; or
• As a “helper” application for viewing pre-recorded GCF files, which also allows you to convert data
formats and launch analysis tools.
The main window is the control centre for the whole program. The data stream can be viewed
by opening a Waveview window. Any number of Waveview windows can be opened, each containing
any number of streams. The same stream can appear in several Waveview windows, if desired. Each
Waveview window has its own amplitude and time scaling, colour scheme, and display parameters.
Waveview windows provide simple filtering capabilities, allowing you to examine seismic signals in a
particular frequency range of interest. When more detailed analysis is required, data can be passed to a
range of Scream! extensions with a simple selection.

Scream! performs extensive checks on all incoming GCF data, and logs errors to disk. You
can see details about the incoming data, including any errors detected by Scream!, using
ShowInfo, Network Control, Summary and Status windows.

Scream! provides logging facilities, and can e-mail operators when a potential problem is
detected.

Scream! provides an easy-to-use graphical interface for configuring Guralp Systems digitisers.
Output streams, triggering, calibration and mass control can all be managed by Scream!.

A Network Control window provides full control of Scream!'s network connections. The
Scream! server can be configured to allow remote clients to configure digitisers and control
instruments over the network.

Scream! supports GCF, SAC, miniSEED, SEGy, PEPP, SUDs and GSE formats, among
others, allowing you to transfer the data quickly and easily for further analysis or processing.
Figure 16. Scream Software.
2.8.
DATA PROCESS
Within the framework of the project entitled “Compilation of The National Strong Motion
Network Database According to International Standart“, 3000 events and 4600 raw accelerometric
data (between 1976 and 2007) is prosessed uniformly with a consistent methodology through the
software called USDP (Utility Software for Data Processing) .
Windows-based software (USDP) was developed during the project for the filter process
(Akkar and Bommer, 2006) of records in the database.
Elastic spectral parameters of all records were also determined for researchers by using the
same filter method.
Figure 17. An example of the processed data from the web-site.
2.9. WEB PAGE
In the web page, daily strong motion records, earthquake reports (M≥4), station information
including station characteristics and photographs from external and internal, and maps are available
and also always up to date. By using search engine users can easily provide the station or earthquake
information and also download the Raw Data and its wave form (Fig 4.18,19,20). Detailed Special
Reports including significant strong motion parameters are also published after the destructive
earthquake.
Figure 18. Main web page of the TR-KYH.
Figure 19. Some appearances including station and earthquake information from the web site.
Figure 20. Some appearances including wave form, header information and earthquake map from the web site.
2.10. PROJECTS
 Shake Map Implementation (Ongoing)
Thanks to this project, shaking and intensity maps rapidly and automatically will be generated
by combining instrumental measurements of shaking with information about local geology
and earthquake location and magnitude to estimate shaking variations throughout a effected
earthquake area.
 Determination of Station Site Information (Ongoing)
Site investigation of the stations that are lack of site parameters will be completed.
 EPOS-IP (EU Project) (Start-up Phase)
 Developing of Early Warning and Alarm System based on Network and
Amplitude for Engineering Application (GETAlarm) ( Submitted)
According to this Project, it is planning to establish a new stations with a 5 km interval along
the existent fault line within this year (source zone) between Hatay and K.Maraş. In addition
to existing stations 10 new stations will be deployed.
Figure 21. Planned Early Warning System indicating source zone, warning centers and stations.
Figure 22. Planned Stations for Early Warning System.
2.11. COOPERATIONS
Figure 23. The Chart of Cooperations
2.12. AFAD-RED SYSTEM
The technological advances in seismic instrumentation and telecommunication permit the
development of rapid estimation of earthquake losses in order to enhance the rapid response
and emergency operation after the earthquake.
Current earthquake rapid loss estimation methodologies have different approaches to measure
and estimate the ground shaking of earthquake area, in order to estimate the intensity and
damage maps. The first approach uses the seismic source parameters (hypocenter, magnitude,
intensity) in order to compute the ground shaking and potential damage.
The second approach use the direct engineering parameters such as peak ground acceleration
(PGA), peak ground velocity (PGV), spectra displacements (SD) and Intensity maps to
compute the potential damage. The second approach requires a large number of seismic
stations (strong motion instruments), which are distributed uniformly over an urban area.
AFAD-RED system are planned to estimate the earthquake risk loses all over Turkey.
Therefore, combination of the above two methodologies are adopted (Figure 24). The existing
online accelerometers operated by AFAD are integrated into the system. Therefore AFADRED system is designed to utilize both weak and strong earthquake monitoring systems that
operated by AFAD.
It is worth to say that, KOERI is operating an earthquake rapid response and early warning
system for Istanbul area. The rapid response part constitutes of extensive array of strong
motion accelerometers that placed in populated areas of Istanbul, within an area of
approximately 50x30km, to constitute a network that will enable rapid shake map and damage
assessment after a damaging earthquake (Erdik, et al. 2003).
AFAD-RED system can also be utilized to run earthquake scenarios for the risk assessment
due to a scenario earthquake. The output of risk assessment analysis is used for planning and
execution of the management and mitigation of the seismic disaster and damage within the
study area. Knowing the seismic risk and potential losses allows for proper budgetary
planning, raising public awareness, assessment and allocation of the necessary manpower for
mitigation and disaster management operations, educating the public and professionals on
preparedness and mitigation, and prioritization of retrofit applications (EERI, 1997).
1st Approach
Source Parameters
(Epicenter Coordinate,
Magnitude)
Theoretical relations
Attenuation
2nd Approach
• Engineering
Parameters
• (PGA, PGV,
Intensity,
displacement spectra)
from the real recorded
data
Figure 24. Integration of Shaking maps approaches (Estimated and Real Recorded parameters)
AFAD-RED Rapid Estimation of Earthquake Loses System
The main objective of AFAD-RED project is to develop a methodology and a software for
“Rapid Loss Estimation” after an earthquake in Turkey. With realizing “Rapid Loss
Estimation System” it is expected to minimize chaos and information pollution and enable
effective emergency response to disaster area.
The system is designed for nearly real time estimation of losses after a major earthquake in
disaster area by the integration of the online data provided by the two existing monitoring
systems National Seismological Monitoring Network and National Strong Motion Network of
Turkey. “Rapid Loss Estimation System” combines the estimated and recorded strong ground
parameters to produce the shaking maps for the earthquake. Then, a procedure to estimate the
building losses is performed.
The procedure utilizes the seismic hazard information, local soil conditions, and building
inventory data within the geographic information systems (GIS) platform to compute the
losses maps.
Estimation of Shake Map Parameters
To ensure fast and reliable Shake maps generations, three approaches are considered. The
schematic algorithm of the three approaches is given in Figure 24.
The first approach is performed automatically as soon as the earthquake epicenter and
magnitude are announced on the AFAD-Earthquake Department server. The approach use the
attenuation relationship to estimate the shake map parameters then the soil amplification
effects are considered to produce the PGA, PGV, spectral Acceleration (SD) and Intensity
parameters for all the area in the vicinity of the earthquake epicenter.
The second approach can be used whenever further information about focal mechanism of the
earthquake is available. The fault geometry with any number of points can be introduced. The
closest distance to the fault is computed based on provided fault information.
The third approach is performed automatically by checking the avialiabity of the strong
ground motion records on the data server. The recorded accelerograms are processed
automatically and the recorded PGA, PGV, SA are computed for the location of the
corresponding accelerometers. In order to combine with the shake map generated by the first
approach, the following procedure is used:
 Processing of strong ground motion records to compute shaking map parameters PGA,
PGV and SA for the accelerometers locations.
 Removing the soil effects of the computed parameters to have the shaking parameters
for B/C soil level.
 Estimating the shaking parameters for all the area of the vicinity of the earthquake
epicenter at B/C Soil Level
 Integrating the recorded parameters with the estimated shaking map parameters PGA,
PGV, SD for the B/C soil level using Fuzzy logic approach based on the radial
distances between the records locations and earthquake epicenter/fault locations.
 Applying soil amplification and compute the earthquake intensity maps.
Figure 25. Estimation of shake map parameters.
Rapid Post-Earthquake Damage Assessment Methodology
The shake maps are used as the basis for the automatic preparation of building damage and
fatality loses maps.
The generation of rapid loss information is based on both spectral displacements and
instrumental intensities are used. These methodologies are coded into online computer
programs similar to HAZUS-MH MR3 (2003). Both of spectral displacements and
instrumental intensities essentially rely on the building inventory database, fragility curves
and the methodology developments.
Using the estimated shake maps of response spectra and the instrumental intensities the
building damage and the casualties are computed separately by using the spectraldisplacement based and intensity based fragility curves.
The computations are conducted at the centers of user defined grid system comprised of
geocells. The building inventories for each geocell together with their spectral displacement
and intensity based fragility curves are incorporated in the software. The casualties are
estimated on the basis of the number of collapsed buildings and degree of damage.
Figure 26. AFAD-RED System for shake maps and earthquake damage estimation.
Features of Software and Superiorities to Current Rapid Loss Estimation Systems
AFAD RED system is developed for all Turkey where the country districts have different
population density, life culture, tectonics and earthquake potential to estimate the losses in
disaster area as nearly in real time after a major earthquake.
AFAD RED is user friendly software that has simple interface and online monitoring for the
weak motion and strong motion systems in AFAD (Figure 27). The software is working in
both online and offline modes and can be able to automatically generated shake and risk
maps. AFAD RED system is developed under VB-Net and C# environments for the system
design and the Arc-Object is used for mapping and geographic information system. Different
attenuation relationships can be used as a weighted average and the calculation of structural
damage for different building types, the M. Nurlu, Y. Fahjan, B. Eravci, M. Baykal, G.
Yenilmez, D. Yalçin, K. Yanik, F.İ. Kara, F. Pakdamar 7 fragility curves can be used
simultaneously for both intensity and spectral-based. The casualties loss can be estimated
based on both intensity and damage level of buildings.
Example of intensity map that results for earthquake combing the estimated and recorded
strong motion parameters data is provided in Figure 4.28.
Figure 27. User Interface of AFAD-RED System.
Figure 28. Simulated intensity map of real earthquake.
2.13. MOBILE APPLICATION
This application has been working in IOS and Android operating system smarth phones and
tablets with only turkish language since April 2013.
This application has been produced in order to,
• convey the latest earthquake information to all smarth phone and tablet PC users
simultaneously as a list.
• search the past strong events within a time period.
• search the seismic hazard maps for each cities.
• describe the simple explanation about the earthquake terminology for young generation
and kids.
• transmit a push notification in a strong earthquake.
• announce the latest news about activities( meeting, training etc.) in AFAD.
•
Figure 29. AFAD Mobile Application.
2.14. TARGETS
Together with 50 instruments to be installed this year, number of the stations will reach to 596
at the end of the 2015. Installation plan is shown Figure 30.
Figure 30. Accelerometers to be installed in 2015.
In the near future, it was planned to study the following aspects:
 At the end of 2015, it is aimed to have 596 stations in the network. Furthermore, total
station number will be 1000 until 2017 according to Disaster and Emergency
Management Presidency Strategy Plan.
 Local geology and VS30 profile of all stations will be completed.
 The number of local or regional array will be enhanced,
 Strong-motion parameters such as real-time intensity, acceleration, velocity,
displacement, and response spectra will be calculated continuously and automatically
in order to utilize seismic hazard analysis,
 Attenuation relationships will be developed at the regional and country scale,
 For the purpose of preparing comprehensive database, which could be beneficial for
engineering applications and scientific studies, data will be stored and categorized
according to international standards.
3.
CONCLUSIONS
With 546 accelerometers, the National Strong Motion Network of Turkey (TR-NSMN) is not
only one of the greatest regional acceleration networks in the Europe and Middle East, but
also one of the greatest in the world.
Recently, all analogue and old-fashioned instruments have been replaced with new generation
digital instruments that provide information in real-time. Today, the TR-NSMN has recorded
almost 11000 recordings started from its first established time in 1976. To realize national
data-base, all these events are stored in AFAD ASCII formats together with other earthquake
parameters. Users and scientists are able to transfer the ASCII data by selecting some criteria
and by using the map or digital graphical interface. Earthquake data and fast-track reports for
events above M≥4 have been updating regularly and serving the users, scientist to facilitate
their jobs abs scientific studies. Data of TR-NSMN are open to scientific community and can
be downloaded via internet web site (http://kyh.deprem.gov.tr).
AFAD-RED (AFAD Rapid Earthquake Damage and Loss Estimation Software) is designed
and developed for nearly real time estimation of losses after a major earthquake in disaster
area by the integration of the online data provided by the two existing monitoring systems
National Seismological Monitoring Network and National Strong Motion Network of Turkey.
The procedure utilizes the seismic hazard information, local soil conditions, and building
inventory data within the geographic information systems (GIS) platform to compute the
losses maps.
The generation of rapid loss information is based on both spectral displacements and
instrumental intensities are used. The computations are conducted at the centers of user
defined grid system comprised of geo-cells. The building inventories for each geocell together
with their spectral displacement and intensity based fragility curves are incorporated in the
software. The casualties are estimated on the basis of the number of collapsed buildings and
degree of damage.
AFAD-RED is under development to include direct economical loss, direct damage for
lifeline, critical facilities and direct damage for transportation systems of Turkey.
With the national responsibility the TR-NSMN will also keep on its activity uninterruptedly in
the coming years by providing high quality, reliable and rapid strong motion data at the both
nationally and internationally areas with sustainable use of modern technology and
innovation.
4.
REFERENCES
Akkar, S. and Bommer J.J., 2006. “Influence of long-period filter cut-off on elastic spectral displacements,”
Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, 35 (9), 1145-1165.
COSMOS (2001) “Guidelines for Installation of Advanced National Seismic System Strong-Motion Reference
Stations”, Richmond, California
EERI (1997), Theme Issue: Loss Estimation, Earthquake Spectra, Vol. 13, No. 4.
Erdik, M., Fahjan, Y., Ozel, O., Alcik, H, Mert, A. and Gul, M., “Istanbul Earthquake Rapid Response and the
Early Warning System,” Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, Technical Note, 1:157-163, 2003.
Erdik, M., and Fahjan, Y. M., “Early warning and rapid damage assessment”. Assessing and Managing
Earthquake Risk, Geo-Scientific and Engineering Knowledge for Earthquake Risk Mitigation:
Developments, Tools, Techniques, Chapter 15, Vol 2, Springer, 2004.
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