The topographic slope method is an innovative, fast and very low-cost technique for estimating the average S-wave velocity in the upper 30 m (Vs30) based on the relationship between this quantity and the slope of the ground, obtained using a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The method is based on the good linear correlations log(Vs30)–log(slope) found experimentally, which, ideally, should be determined for each region. If measured Vs30 data are not available to carry out this fitting for the study area, correlations from other areas could be used, although the reliability of the estimated Vs30 results would be lower. In this article, Vs30 observations are made for the city of Almeria, using Spatial Autocorrelation Surveys (SPAC) and Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW), obtaining two types of fitting: (a) linear relationship log(Vs30)–log(slope); and (b) considering additional dependence on geological units. The reliability, evaluated by Multiple R-Squared (MRS), varies between 79.2% in the first case and 87.0% in the second, lowering the mean absolute values of the residuals at the observation points in the first case from 40.0 m/s to 29.0 m/s. Using a more generic correlation obtained for other areas of the world, the mean absolute residuals increase to 74.7 m/s.
The main purpose of SISMOTOOL suite is Planning and Management of Seismic Emergencies face to a future earthquake. This tool is written in ARCGIS software executing a fast and efficient determination of the estimated damage scenarios (pre-process) and a correlation with the observed damage results (post-process). First of all, the tool allows to select the earthquake source parameters through a defined database; moreover, several attenuation laws can be chosen and they can be combined according to the study area features. In addition, the local site effects are characterized from Vs30 values, which have been achieved by: i) topographic slope as a proxy obtained from Digital Elevation Model; ii) considering Vs30 values acquired from active and/or passive empirical methods; iii) a combination of both procedures through empirical local correlation laws. In the second place, the elements exposed to risk are incorporated by an automatic extraction from the cadastral database after inputs has been refined. Thirdly, vulnerability and estimated losses can be determined either empirically (EMS98 scale and Vulnerability Index, Iv) or analytically (Capacity spectrum). Additionally, a vulnerability modifier is implemented to account soil-structure resonance. Finally, SISMOTOOL quantifies the epistemic uncertainties in the input parameters using a logic tree. Last, but not least, SISMOTOOL results have been validated through a representative seismic scenario: the 1910 Adra earthquake (southern Spain) with moment magnitude (Mw) 6.3 and macroseismic intensity VIII (EMS98 scale) proves the reliability of SISMOTOOL program.
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