Megumi Patchett

Topic

Characterization of End-User Needs to Optimize the Development of the Rapid Earthquake Damage Estimation (RED-E) system in Canada

School of Earth and Ocean Sciences

Date & location

• Tuesday, April 16, 2024
• 10:00 A.M.
• Bob Wright Centre, Room A319

Examining Committee

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Tiegan Hobbs, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria (Co-Supervisor)
• Dr. Lucinda Leonard, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, UVic (Co-Supervisor)
• Dr. John Cassidy, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, UVic (Member)

External Examiner

• Alison Bird, Pacific Geoscience Centre, Natural Resources Canada

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Kenneth Stewart, Department of Economics, UVic

Abstract

In the event of a significant earthquake in Canada, responders would face a dearth of information crucial for situational awareness in the initial days. To address this issue, the Geological Survey of Canada is developing the Rapid Earthquake Damage Estimation (RED-E) system to generate modelled maps of structural, social, and economic loss within tens of minutes after a significant earthquake. The studies presented in this thesis were initiated to optimize the development of RED-E to best ensure that the intended end-users (including first responders, emergency managers, and critical infrastructure operators) will make full use of the products. First, informational interviews were carried out to elucidate end-users’ immediate needs, priorities, and challenges following seismic events, thus guiding the development direction of the RED-E system. Then, feedback was solicited from end-users on the potential products of RED-E in three wireframes: text, static (PDF format), and dynamic (GIS format). Overall, all three wireframes were well received, and this study confirms that all of the intended RED-E data output will be highly helpful for the end-users.

This thesis validates the current progress of the RED-E project and includes suggestions for improvements. The study findings underscore that most end-users struggle to attain critical situational awareness immediately post-event, suggesting that it will likely take about three days to weeks to gain complete and credible situational awareness after a major earthquake. The main findings indicate the need to make RED-E outputs transmittable in multiple formats; for example, a simple text output can be communicated even in the case of telecommunication interruption, a summary PDF format with maps is highly valuable to enable understanding of the extent of impacts at a glance, and an interactive GIS format is also highly valued since it can contain a large amount of data for users to choose from. Modelled outputs on road disruption, impacts on other critical infrastructure, and secondary hazards were identified as valuable to end-users in the future.

This thesis provides a comprehensive outline of the essential requirements of the RED-E system and documents an initial prototype with feedback, paving the way for its future implementation. Through informational interviews with end-users, this study has shed light on their immediate needs, priorities, and challenges for end-users following seismic events, thereby guiding the design requirement of the RED-E system. The introduction of RED-E products promises to significantly enhance the ability of end-users to prioritize response efforts until ground-truth data are available and to expedite search and rescue as well as resource allocation processes. The positive reception further underscores the potential efficacy of RED-E products and signals the need for deployment of such products across Canada. In conclusion, the RED-E system, with its ability to swiftly generate seismic damage and loss estimate maps, is poised to revolutionize the way responders and end-users in Canada handle the aftermath of significant earthquakes.