Technological advances in seismic instrumentation and telecommunication permit the implementation BB(v,W
of real-time rapid response and early warning systems. During large earthquakes, such systems are DVKb `KJ"
capable of providing from a few seconds to a few tens of seconds of warning before the arrival of sdyNJh7Jr
strong ground shaking and enable quick reports about the damage estimates to determine where KMQP A>w#
emergency response is most needed. An earthquake early warning and rapid response system can `s Pk:cNz~
provide the critical information needed to minimize loss of lives and property, and to direct rescue u!F\`Gfm_
operations As part of the preparations for the future earthquake in Istanbul a Rapid Response and Early k9:|CEP
Warning system in the metropolitan area is in operation. For the Early Warning system ten strong r_
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motion stations were installed as close as possible to the fault zone. Continuous on-line data from these 49}WJC7
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stations via digital radio modem provide early warning for potentially disastrous earthquakes. k"/Rjd(;
Considering the complexity of fault rupture and the short fault distances involved, a simple and robust lB_X mI1t
Early Warning algorithm, based on the exceedance of specified threshold time domain amplitude 9e
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levels is implemented. The encrypted early warning signals will be communicated to the respective tXZMr
end users through a “service provider” company. The users of the early warning signal will be power I Xm[c@5l
and gas companies, nuclear research facilities, critical chemical factories, subway system and several K~S*<?
high-rise buildings. Depending on the location of the earthquake (initiation of fault rupture) and the Yw5-:w0f
recipient facility the alarm time can be as high as about 8s. For the rapid response system one hundred *n[B Bz
18 bit-resolution strong motion accelerometers were placed in quasi-free field locations (basement of wrX n|aV
small buildings) in the populated areas of the city, within an area of approximately 50x30km, to 7^LCP*
constitute a network that will enable early damage assessment and rapid response information after a ib!TXWq
damaging earthquake. Early response information is achieved through fast acquisition and analysis of CQrP%}`r
processed data obtained from the network. A shake map and damage distribution map (using aggregate A:yql`&s
building inventories and fragility curves) will be automatically generated using the algorithm *W>, 98
developed for this purpose. The shake and damage maps will be conveyed to the governor’s and h.l.da1#
mayor’s offices, fire, police and army headquarters within 3 minutes using radio modem and GPRS h%4UeL &F
communication
