Technological advances in seismic instrumentation and telecommunication permit the implementation uZ}=x3B
of real-time rapid response and early warning systems. During large earthquakes, such systems are u;$g1 3
capable of providing from a few seconds to a few tens of seconds of warning before the arrival of $6~ J#;
strong ground shaking and enable quick reports about the damage estimates to determine where Y _qRW. k
emergency response is most needed. An earthquake early warning and rapid response system can </,RS5ukn
provide the critical information needed to minimize loss of lives and property, and to direct rescue L[4Su;D
operations As part of the preparations for the future earthquake in Istanbul a Rapid Response and Early Ji<^s@8Zc
Warning system in the metropolitan area is in operation. For the Early Warning system ten strong >U/ m/H'
motion stations were installed as close as possible to the fault zone. Continuous on-line data from these #sLyU4QV
stations via digital radio modem provide early warning for potentially disastrous earthquakes. FM\yf ]'
Considering the complexity of fault rupture and the short fault distances involved, a simple and robust / (#;(]
Early Warning algorithm, based on the exceedance of specified threshold time domain amplitude gWcl@|I;\
levels is implemented. The encrypted early warning signals will be communicated to the respective $ekJs/I&
end users through a “service provider” company. The users of the early warning signal will be power qi !Nv$e
and gas companies, nuclear research facilities, critical chemical factories, subway system and several $ f `\TKlN
high-rise buildings. Depending on the location of the earthquake (initiation of fault rupture) and the L8"0o 0-
recipient facility the alarm time can be as high as about 8s. For the rapid response system one hundred s?h=%; T[
18 bit-resolution strong motion accelerometers were placed in quasi-free field locations (basement of ~/0 t<^
small buildings) in the populated areas of the city, within an area of approximately 50x30km, to |L
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constitute a network that will enable early damage assessment and rapid response information after a \-A=??@H
damaging earthquake. Early response information is achieved through fast acquisition and analysis of [gK (x%
processed data obtained from the network. A shake map and damage distribution map (using aggregate (+Ia:D
building inventories and fragility curves) will be automatically generated using the algorithm D@5Ud )_
developed for this purpose. The shake and damage maps will be conveyed to the governor’s and Er; @nOyD
mayor’s offices, fire, police and army headquarters within 3 minutes using radio modem and GPRS t;ZA}>/
communication
