Technological advances in seismic instrumentation and telecommunication permit the implementation !Aw.f!
of real-time rapid response and early warning systems. During large earthquakes, such systems are m9e$ZZG$
capable of providing from a few seconds to a few tens of seconds of warning before the arrival of ! h4 So4p
strong ground shaking and enable quick reports about the damage estimates to determine where R2J3R5 S=[
emergency response is most needed. An earthquake early warning and rapid response system can HKxrBQr78
provide the critical information needed to minimize loss of lives and property, and to direct rescue LoCxo Ag
operations As part of the preparations for the future earthquake in Istanbul a Rapid Response and Early nQ~q -=,L
Warning system in the metropolitan area is in operation. For the Early Warning system ten strong ;F0A\5I
motion stations were installed as close as possible to the fault zone. Continuous on-line data from these .FMF0r>l
stations via digital radio modem provide early warning for potentially disastrous earthquakes. T @vVff
Considering the complexity of fault rupture and the short fault distances involved, a simple and robust >LLz G
Early Warning algorithm, based on the exceedance of specified threshold time domain amplitude 5~[ Fh2+
levels is implemented. The encrypted early warning signals will be communicated to the respective 7L<oWAq
end users through a “service provider” company. The users of the early warning signal will be power [6|8Gx :
and gas companies, nuclear research facilities, critical chemical factories, subway system and several J| DWT+$#Z
high-rise buildings. Depending on the location of the earthquake (initiation of fault rupture) and the " V:UQ<a\
recipient facility the alarm time can be as high as about 8s. For the rapid response system one hundred
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18 bit-resolution strong motion accelerometers were placed in quasi-free field locations (basement of 3QR-8
small buildings) in the populated areas of the city, within an area of approximately 50x30km, to > XZq=q]E!
constitute a network that will enable early damage assessment and rapid response information after a *v5y]E%aW
damaging earthquake. Early response information is achieved through fast acquisition and analysis of \Fj4G y?MW
processed data obtained from the network. A shake map and damage distribution map (using aggregate [FCNW0NV
building inventories and fragility curves) will be automatically generated using the algorithm d,0pNav)
developed for this purpose. The shake and damage maps will be conveyed to the governor’s and Ahwu'mgnC
mayor’s offices, fire, police and army headquarters within 3 minutes using radio modem and GPRS 9n%W-R.
communication
