Technological advances in seismic instrumentation and telecommunication permit the implementation /0S G
of real-time rapid response and early warning systems. During large earthquakes, such systems are 4q@o4C<0
capable of providing from a few seconds to a few tens of seconds of warning before the arrival of aVua n&]*=
strong ground shaking and enable quick reports about the damage estimates to determine where &.kg8|s{
emergency response is most needed. An earthquake early warning and rapid response system can =YA%=
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provide the critical information needed to minimize loss of lives and property, and to direct rescue vJ GxD\h
operations As part of the preparations for the future earthquake in Istanbul a Rapid Response and Early MS^,h>KI
Warning system in the metropolitan area is in operation. For the Early Warning system ten strong V]H<:U E
motion stations were installed as close as possible to the fault zone. Continuous on-line data from these w ;H
stations via digital radio modem provide early warning for potentially disastrous earthquakes. 8q7KqYu
Considering the complexity of fault rupture and the short fault distances involved, a simple and robust S rK;b .
Early Warning algorithm, based on the exceedance of specified threshold time domain amplitude P?n!fA>!
levels is implemented. The encrypted early warning signals will be communicated to the respective 3~I<f ^K4
end users through a “service provider” company. The users of the early warning signal will be power != &]#-;b
and gas companies, nuclear research facilities, critical chemical factories, subway system and several eJ{"\c(
high-rise buildings. Depending on the location of the earthquake (initiation of fault rupture) and the K *vNv 4
recipient facility the alarm time can be as high as about 8s. For the rapid response system one hundred EN.yU!N.4
18 bit-resolution strong motion accelerometers were placed in quasi-free field locations (basement of k;zb q
small buildings) in the populated areas of the city, within an area of approximately 50x30km, to &\sg~
constitute a network that will enable early damage assessment and rapid response information after a H#U{i
damaging earthquake. Early response information is achieved through fast acquisition and analysis of U '-MMwE]
processed data obtained from the network. A shake map and damage distribution map (using aggregate hl}#bZ8]
building inventories and fragility curves) will be automatically generated using the algorithm l=9 &
developed for this purpose. The shake and damage maps will be conveyed to the governor’s and i )3Y\ u
mayor’s offices, fire, police and army headquarters within 3 minutes using radio modem and GPRS \Qk:\aLR
communication
