Building blocksGEM will set a uniform, independent standard for earthquake hazard, risk and loss assessment. The construction of the model is based on a combination of regional and global elements, and will integrate developments on the forefronts of scientific and engineering knowledge as well as IT processes and infrastructure. It will take five years to build the first working global earthquake model, including corresponding tools, software and datasets. The work started in 2009 and at the end of 2013 GEM will be presenting the first version of the global earthquake model. The global earthquake model is constructed by means of various 'building blocks'. These components together ensure that a uniform and independent standard for global earthquake risk assessment will be established. Construction over time can be visualised as follows: GEM1: GEM1 was a focused pilot project that generated GEM's initial model building infrastructure and provided a proof-of-concept of global hazard and risk calculations. Global Components: International consortia, involving a great number of international and local experts and renowned institutions, are working on the creation of necessary standards, databases and methodologies on a global level. These are the global components of the model. Examples are the creation of a global database of active faults, a global historical catalogue (1000-1900) and a global exposure database. There are five components for Hazard and also five for Risk. There will be one global component for the Socio-Economic Impact module. Global components will provide the basic input to the model, but the Regional Programs will deliver detailed feedback and input from a local perspective. Regional Programmes: GEM Regional Programmes are independently-run regional projects that are carried out under the GEM umbrella, in conformance to GEM standards and goals. Some are set up as dedicated bottom-up projects, in other occasions collaboration is sought with ongoing projects. GEM Regional Programmes involve local experts who use GEM software, generate local data, validate the data and standards that are created on a global level and serve as a starting point for workshops and trainings in the region. GEM Model Facility: The GEM MF assembles and maintains global and regional data, develops and consequently provides the capability to compute, analyse and communicate global seismic hazard, risk and socio-economic impact calculations and estimations. Building upon the achievements of the GEM1 project, currently the GEM risk engine, a number of tools and applications, and the OpenGEM user-interface are being developed. Please read more on each component on the webpages dedicated to them. The GEM Model infrastructure is the operational infrastructure created to integrate these various components, as to be able to develop an open source, dynamic and uniform Global Earthquake Model. |
