Technological advances in seismic instrumentation and telecommunication permit the implementation IqsUtWSp
of real-time rapid response and early warning systems. During large earthquakes, such systems are gV h&c 4
capable of providing from a few seconds to a few tens of seconds of warning before the arrival of 1n7'\ esC*
strong ground shaking and enable quick reports about the damage estimates to determine where A8ef=ljM?
emergency response is most needed. An earthquake early warning and rapid response system can P2C>IS
provide the critical information needed to minimize loss of lives and property, and to direct rescue " XLtrAu{
operations As part of the preparations for the future earthquake in Istanbul a Rapid Response and Early K[/L!.Ag
Warning system in the metropolitan area is in operation. For the Early Warning system ten strong S-~)|7d.
motion stations were installed as close as possible to the fault zone. Continuous on-line data from these /]-yZ0hX0O
stations via digital radio modem provide early warning for potentially disastrous earthquakes. >B K/HuS
Considering the complexity of fault rupture and the short fault distances involved, a simple and robust h7TkMt[l
Early Warning algorithm, based on the exceedance of specified threshold time domain amplitude x^p t^KR;
levels is implemented. The encrypted early warning signals will be communicated to the respective "%a<+D
end users through a “service provider” company. The users of the early warning signal will be power Zby3.=.e
and gas companies, nuclear research facilities, critical chemical factories, subway system and several g"m9[R=]6
high-rise buildings. Depending on the location of the earthquake (initiation of fault rupture) and the . sM,U
recipient facility the alarm time can be as high as about 8s. For the rapid response system one hundred ~jHuJ` ]DF
18 bit-resolution strong motion accelerometers were placed in quasi-free field locations (basement of *_#2|96)
small buildings) in the populated areas of the city, within an area of approximately 50x30km, to Kr1Y3 [iNv
constitute a network that will enable early damage assessment and rapid response information after a 6J}Y r5oD
damaging earthquake. Early response information is achieved through fast acquisition and analysis of ! ]D`|HoW
processed data obtained from the network. A shake map and damage distribution map (using aggregate mXS] SE
building inventories and fragility curves) will be automatically generated using the algorithm -KfK~P3PF
developed for this purpose. The shake and damage maps will be conveyed to the governor’s and )S`[ gK
mayor’s offices, fire, police and army headquarters within 3 minutes using radio modem and GPRS j&Xx{ 4v
communication
