Early Warning for Geological Disasters

Early Warning for geologic disasters became a subject of intensive research when observational and communication options allowed for dense sensor installation and real-time dissemination of signals and information. Initially most efforts focused on doing what seismologists had done before, just faster. In the current period real new research directions have emerged. Significant information, for instance on the earthquake process is contained in the first few seconds of observations and allow empirical extraction of warning messages. Novel sensors and intercommunication, specifically self-organizing networks, open new routes for implementing early warning systems. Models for community based early warning – capitalizing on these networks as well as on Google Earth popularity - are evolving. Science and tools for performance-based design of warning systems become available. Multiple-purpose systems for warning and for instance structural health monitoring have been designed. In short: Science moved towards the point, where it is translated in technologies.

Friedemann Wenzel is a professor at Karlsruhe University, head of the Geophysical Institute and the Center for Disaster Mangement and Risk Reduction Technology (CEDIM) and is a founding member of EMI and served on its Board ever since. He is a member of several professional societies (EERI, AGU, SSA), of the Heidelberg Academy of Science and Humanities, and of the German Committee for Disaster Reduction and served as chairman of its Scientific Board between 2000 and 2004. Scientific interests include earthquake physics, engineering seismology, geological hazards, and risk mitigation in megacities. Jochen Zschau is a professor at the University of Potsdam and director of the Department Physics of the Earth at the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ ). He is president of the European Seismological Commission, one of the leaders of the Indonesian-German Tsunami Early Warning System being set up in the Indian Ocean and coordinator of the EC SAFER project on seismic early warning. His scientific focus is on earthquake and volcanoes research.