News Publications: GEM December 2023 newsletter By: Dec 14, 2023 Dec 19, 2023 Share Facebook LinkedIn Harrichhausen, N., Audin, L., Baize, S., Johnson, K. L., Beauval, C., Jarrin, P., Marconato L., Rolandone F., Jomard, H., Nocquet, J., Alvarado, A., and Mothes, P.A. (2023). Fault Source Models Show Slip Rates Measured across the Width of the Entire Fault Zone Best Represent the Observed Seismicity of the Pallatanga–Puna Fault, Ecuador . Seismological Research Letters https://doi.org/10.1785/0220230217 Holmgren, JM, Werner MJ, Goda, K, Villani, M, Silva, V, Chindandali, P, and Stevens, V. (2023). A relocated earthquake catalog and ground motion database for the southern East African rift system. Earthquake Spectra. 2023;39(3):1911-1929. https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930231173450 DiCaprio, C. J., Chamberlain, C. B., Bora, S. S., Bradley, B. A., Gerstenberger, M. C., Hulsey, A. M., Iturrieta, P., Pagani, M., and Simionato, M. (2023). Calculation of National Seismic Hazard Models with Large Logic Trees: Application to the NZ NSHM 2022. Seismological Research Letters. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220230226 Thingbaijam, K. K. S., Gerstenberger, M. C., Rollins, C., Van Dissen, R. J., Rastin, S. J., Christophersen, A., Ristau, J., Williams, C. A., Fitzenz, D. D., and Pagani, M. (2023). A Seismogenic Slab Source Model for Aotearoa New Zealand. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120230080 Yepes-Estrada C, Calderon A, Costa C, et al. Global building exposure model for earthquake risk assessment. Earthquake Spectra. 2023;0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930231194048 Hobbs T, Journeay M, Rao A, Kolaj M, Martins L, LeSueur P, Simionato M, Silva V, Pagani M, Johnson K, Rotheram D, Chow W (2023). A National Seismic Risk Model for Canada: Methodology and Scientific Basis. Earthquake Spectra. https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930231173446 Hoyos M, Silva V (2023). A Database and Empirical Model for Earthquake Post Loss Amplification , Earthquake Spectra https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930231207822 Silva V, Taherian A, Oliveira CS. (2023). Earthquake early warning for Portugal: Part 2 - Where is it beneficial? Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10518-023-01715-w Lovon H, Silva V, Vicente R, Ferreira TM (2023). Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Portuguese Masonry Buildings. Structures. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371789825_Seismic_vulnerability_assessment_of_Portuguese_masonry_buildings No images found. GALLERY 1/0 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS

News The Global Earthquake Model: Achievements and Future Directions By: Mar 16, 2022 Share Facebook LinkedIn Geoscience Australia (GA), a long-time supporter and public sponsor of GEM, recently held its Public Talks Series 2022 where GEM Secretary General, John Schneider was invited to discuss GEM's contribution to improving the state of knowledge of earthquake risk and the broader objectives of the disaster risk reduction community through its global collaboration network and development of open, global databases and software for application to earthquake and multi-hazard risk assessment. John highlighted GEM’s key achievements particularly its two flagship products: the hazard and risk calculation software - the OpenQuake engine, and the global mosaic of earthquake hazard and risk maps released in 2018, where Australia’s national hazard and risk model was prepared by Geoscience Australia. To date, these flagship products have accumulated combined downloads of close to 4000 times since GEM started tracking this metric in late 2019. On the topic of the GEM-Geoscience Australia partnership since 2010, John said that the impact was on the complementation of GEM’s tools and software with GA’s need to focus more on earthquake science and data analysis instead of software development. The result, he added, was a great improvement in the earthquake hazard model development for Australia, and OpenQuake engine’s hazard and risk calculators. As part of GEM’s roadmap to 2030, John reiterated that GEM will continue to strive to maintain its leadership in earthquake risk assessment and knowledge dissemination, and at the same time further develop into a global leader in integrated, multi-hazard risk assessment and resilience planning. Presenting the evolutionary process from hazard data to integrated risk solutions, John pointed out that GEM’s research and applications are gradually moving toward the assessment of systemic risks, integrated risk assessments and risk reduction solutions. He added that GEM’s substantial contribution to the broader objectives of the disaster risk reduction community was through the acceleration of the merging of the public and private sectors to work together to fully assess risk and incorporate risk-based decisions into planning and sustainable development. He said that to this end, GEM spearheaded the development of common tools and solutions, and provided a range of products and services for the disaster risk management and reduction community. The webinar - joined by about 70 online and on-site individuals - was held on March 2 and organized by Geoscience Australia - a GEM supporter and public sponsor since 2010. Watch John’s presentation at . No images found. GALLERY 1/0 Gallery VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS

Publications Back to Normal report Share Facebook LinkedIn Download 2017 | Report Given the high level of earthquake risk in California, all communities need to be prepared to respond to and recover from the impacts of a potentially devastating earthquake. Although there has been significant research on the estimation of direct economic losses immediately after an earthquake, there has not been enough research about long-term recovery, and even less in the development and application of computer simulation models. This is to some extent because data on building repair and recovery times from past earthquakes have not been systematically documented (Comerio M. , 2006). Moreover, the models developed so far have not successfully captured the complexity of the recovery process. Recovery depends on many factors (such as the socio-economic conditions of the affected area) that are usually difficult to measure, understand and apply to predicting or modelling the recovery process.

News Multidisciplinary expert panel conducts a 2-day review of GEM’s Global Earthquake Hazard and Risk Model By: Apr 26, 2018 Share Facebook LinkedIn Panel members laud high level of technical work and extensive global collaboration in developing the global model.GEM organized a workshop from 19th - 20th April to review GEM’s Global Earthquake Hazard and Risk Model, which is expected to be released on 5th December 2018. The review panel was chaired by Tom deGroeve of the European Commission and composed of multidisciplinary experts: David Wald from the US Geological Survey; George Walker, Risk Modelling Consultant (retired from Aon-Benfield); Masyhur Irsyam, Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia; Ricardo Mena, UNISDR; Malcolm Haylock, Risk Modelling Consultant; and Samuel Rufat, University de Cergy Pontoise. John Rees, British Geological Survey and National Environmental Research Council, UK, participated as an ex-officio member representing the GEM Governing Board. The panel was tasked to provide advice to the GEM Governing Board on the effectiveness of GEM’s development of the global earthquake hazard and risk model, and the future direction and character of the model. On day one, GEM team leaders presented a progress overview of hazard, exposure, physical vulnerability, risk and social vulnerability models including visualization tools as well as GEM’s communication and dissemination strategy for the release in December this year. Day two focused more on the discussion of issues and preparation of review panel recommendations divided into three areas: technical improvements, technical publication of results, and public communication and dissemination of results. The panel reviewed the suitability of the Global Earthquake Hazard and Risk Model with respect to GEM’s principles for collaboration, credibility, openness and public good as well as the intended application of the model or its components for various user cases. John Rees commented that “The panel members are very impressed by the high level of technical work and the extensive global collaboration in developing the global model. The global model is a major achievement for GEM and will be of enormous value to the DRR community worldwide.” For more information on the Global Earthquake Hazard and Risk Model, please email info@globalquakemodel.org. No images found. GALLERY 1/0 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS

News Upcoming QGIS version to include contributions from GEM developers to enhance visualization functions By: Mar 18, 2019 Share Facebook LinkedIn A Coruña contributors meeting: another step forward for the QGIS.ORG project The GEM team, represented by Senior Developers, Matteo Nastasi and Paolo Tormene participated in the QGIS User Conference and Developer Meeting held in A Coruna, Spain from 4th - 10th March 2019. The event which kicked off with a 2-day workshop followed by one day of International QGIS User Conference and four days of Developer Meeting, attracted participants from Europe and beyond to meet fellow QGIS project users and developers, and to gather experiences and share knowledge about QGIS. Matteo and Paolo presented "HyBridge: an open-source framework for QGIS desktop - Web Application interoperability" and "The Integrated Risk Modelling Toolkit: a QGIS plugin driving the OpenQuake Engine” respectively during the QGIS User Conference. Matteo also presented an enhancement that will improve the QGIS user experience in map formatting and layout during the succeeding QGIS Developer Meeting. The enhancement which introduces two new types of items distribution in the layout, allows a user to add vertical and horizontal equispaced distribution. It is expected to be included in the next release of QGIS this year. During the Developer Meeting, contributors to the QGIS project take the opportunity to plan their work, hold face-to-face discussions and present new improvements to the QGIS project that they have been working on. As a project that is built primarily through online collaboration, these meetings provide a crucial ingredient to the future of the QGIS project. The QGIS Developer Meeting is planned with minimal structured programme to allow participants the freedom to meet dynamically with those they encounter at the event. The meeting is a volunteer-driven event where contributors to the QGIS project from around the world get together in a common space. No images found. GALLERY 1/2 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS

News OpenQuake at 15: Powering Resilience in a Risk-Prone World By: Oct 6, 2025 Sep 30, 2025 Share Facebook LinkedIn This year marks the 15th anniversary of the OpenQuake Engine, GEM’s open-source software for seismic hazard and risk assessment. Since the start of open source development in 2010 and the release of the first version in 2014, the Engine has grown into a globally recognised platform used by scientists, engineers, insurers, and policymakers across continents. Its evolution reflects not only advances in modelling but also the growing need to translate science into tools that strengthen resilience in communities at risk. REGISTER HERE From Science to Society Over the past decade, the OpenQuake Engine has expanded well beyond modelling the hazard and risk to buildings due to earthquake ground shaking. It now includes modules for earthquake-triggered landslides and liquefaction, infrastructure risk and network connectivity, post-event loss amplification, and financial loss calculations for insurance and reinsurance. Other enhancements include site amplification analysis, the ability to condition ground motion fields on station data, and probabilistic damage calculators that can be applied to both the hazards from earthquakes and volcanoes. Behind these technical features lies a clear purpose: to enable decision-makers at global, regional, national, and local levels to anticipate the consequences of earthquakes and to plan accordingly. At the scale of a city, the OpenQuake Engine can estimate how a single earthquake might disrupt schools, hospitals, or transport networks. At national and regional levels, it informs seismic building codes, risk financing, prioritisation of retrofitting solutions and preparedness strategies. Globally, it harmonises models into a shared framework, enabling comparisons and cooperation across borders. In everyday terms, these capabilities support safer housing policies, better-informed insurance products, more resilient infrastructure investments, and, ultimately, lives saved when earthquakes strike. A Call for Resilience The 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) carries the theme “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters.” The message is simple but urgent: the escalating costs of disasters demand a shift from reactive aid to proactive investment in disaster risk reduction. The OpenQuake Engine embodies this principle. It equips governments and organisations with the evidence needed to allocate budgets wisely, ensure that development is risk-informed, and channel private sector investment toward resilience rather than recovery. Its open-source nature and broad adoption – documented in more than 100 peer-reviewed journal publications worldwide – make it a shared resource that amplifies collective capacity to manage seismic risk. Invitation to Learn More To mark the OpenQuake Engine’s 15th anniversary and IDDRR 2025, GEM will host a webinar showcasing the Engine’s evolution, real-world applications, and plans for the future. Participants will hear from GEM experts and practitioners who are applying OpenQuake to build resilience at multiple scales. We invite you to join this conversation on October 13, 2025, 15:00 – 16:00 CEST, and see first-hand how open science tools can help bridge the gap between seismic modelling and safer, more resilient societies. Register for the webinar here: https://www.globalquakemodel.org/gemevents/oq-engine-15-iddrr2025 No images found. GALLERY OQ15yrs LinkedIn Post.png OQ15yrs LinkedIn Post.png 1/1 VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS

Publications Advancing nearshore and onshore tsunami hazard approximation with machine learning surrogates Share Facebook LinkedIn Download 2024 | Peer-reviewed Probabilistic tsunami hazard and risk assessment (PTHA and PTRA) are vital methodologies for computing tsunami risk and prompt measures to mitigate impacts. At large regional scales, their use and scope are currently limited by the computational costs of numerically intensive simulations behind them, which may be feasible only with advanced computational resources like high-performance computing (HPC) and may still require reductions in resolution, number of scenarios modelled, or use of simpler approximation schemes. To conduct PTHA and PTRA for large proportions of the coast, we therefore need to develop concepts and algorithms for reducing the number of events simulated and for more efficiently approximating the needed simulation results. This case study for a coastal region of Tohoku, Japan, utilises a limited number of tsunami simulations from submarine earthquakes along the subduction interface to build a wave propagation and inundation database and fits these simulation results through a machine learning-based variational encoder-decoder model. This is used as a surrogate to predict the tsunami waveform at the coast and the maximum inundation depths onshore at the different test sites. The performance of the surrogate models was assessed using a 5-fold cross validation assessment across the simulation events. Further to understand its real world performance and test the generalisability of the model, we used 5 very different tsunami source models from literature for historic events to further benchmark the model and understand its current deficiencies.

GEM Impact Story Series The beauty of mathematics: the start of my journey to catastrophe modelling From my early years I was always interested in mathematics and problem solving. So in high school, my parents signed me up for a mathematics programme. I quickly realised some of my classmates were quite ahead of me. Luckily, this did not discourage or scare me, I was improving my skills quickly and dove deeper into the beauty of mathematics. Love for computer programming, teaching and interest in Physics of the Earth At that time, I fell in love with writing computer programs that illustrated complicated phenomena or calculated a result that would take a long time to solve on paper. Though I could imagine applying my knowledge on other topics, I decided to study physics at the university. Later my attention was caught by physics of the Earth and eventually I did my thesis about numerical modelling of seismic wave propagation. I also loved teaching and explaining the principles and phenomena to students, also via programming. Using knowledge to solve more practical real-life problems Despite my success in academia, what I realised after finishing my PhD was that the hundred pages on accuracy of numerical methods for simulating seismic wave propagation was useful to only a few people. It was one of the main reasons why I decided to move away from the university, despite it also meant stopping teaching. I wanted to apply my knowledge to solve more practical real-life problems. Luckily, I could stay in the main field of my education and took a catastrophe modelling role in the insurance industry at Aon related to earthquake hazard and risk assessment. After 8 years of focusing on producing and explaining outputs of risk models, I even got to create my first earthquake risk model and felt that is the way I want to move forward. Impact of meeting the GEM community I was very thankful to my Aon colleagues for giving me the opportunity to switch from Catastrophe Management to Earthquake model development at Aon’s Impact Forecasting team. This switch allowed me to participate in one of the best training workshops I got when I started as an earthquake model developer: the GEM Hazard and Risk workshop in Pavia in 2018. The power of the OpenQuake community Besides learning a lot about the capabilities of OpenQuake, I also realised there is a big community using it and making it almost a common language for earthquake hazard and risk modellers. The big advantage of OpenQuake is that all the codes are open and well written. Functionality that is not available can be added quite easily on your own or with someone else’s help: that is the power of the community. OpenQuake and its impact to earthquake resilience in our society I also realised the importance of the impact the GEM / OpenQuake community has on improving earthquake resilience within our society, especially by raising awareness about earthquake risk and the need to build safer buildings. So besides Impact Forecasting and GEM becoming strong partners for building catastrophe models for insurance companies for them to prepare for financial consequences of an earthquake, I clearly understood the importance of community activities to help save human lives. Playing it forward Immediately after the workshop I decided to follow all GEM updates and also started following the OQ forum, where all users can seek help and get support from the community. As I gathered more knowledge and studied OpenQuake myself, I felt I could help those in need to achieve their goals with what I have already learned, especially from the technical point of view. The best way to learn is to teach and help others I am really happy I could help many colleagues in the community to resolve their issues, despite not being my direct work responsibility, but being regarded as part of my OpenQuake training. The well-known truth is, you learn best when helping, explaining or teaching someone else. Scientific collaboration and openness, keys to continued success of OpenQuake With the collaborative approach, drive and support of the community, I am sure OpenQuake will remain the core and the best tool for doing scientific research in the field of earthquake hazard and risk modelling. We can all influence what OpenQuake functionality will be included to help us get our work done more efficiently. Moreover, it’s a platform that can greatly contribute to more connected, open, and transparent catastrophe modelling. Strengthening open catastrophe modelling OpenQuake is bringing different cat model vendors together and is creating a bridge to discuss and compare different assumptions, approaches, data and their impact on modelling results. Understanding the impact of assumptions on modelled results is exactly what organisations, whether from governmental or financial sector, demand to make informed decisions. Collaboration and requiring the models to be more transparent really drives the evolution of cat models forward. For enabling all this, my big THANK YOU goes to the whole GEM team and especially to OpenQuake developers! About the GEM Impact Stories Earthquake risk remains abstract and highly technical, and there are significant risks that due to poor or limited understanding of it, policymakers and the public at large may not be able to fully take advantage of existing and future information that can either help create better or enhance existing earthquake risk reduction and management strategies, especially at the local and national level. Specifically, the GEM Impact Stories project aims to: Collect and document stories where GEM or its partners have contributed to positive change; Encourage policy and decision makers to use science- and evidence- based information to formulate earthquake DRR strategy at the national level through positive stories of change; and Increase awareness of the public at large on earthquake risk and preparedness. Acknowledgement Our heartfelt thanks goes to Peter Pazak for contributing his story and valuable time with us. Peter is this year’s recipient of the GEM Outstanding Contributor award. The award is given to individuals who have demonstrated exemplary contributions to GEM’s work. Peter is given this award for his dedicated participation in the OpenQuake user forum and contributions to significant improvements of the OpenQuake software. Congratulations Peter! Related Contents Strengthening Open Catastrophe Modelling Peter Pazak's story in PDF brochure format. Title: Strengthening Open Catastrophe Modelling Video: Peter Pazak's Story Duration: 2mins 28secs

News Understanding seismic risk through capacity development and knowledge sharing webinar draws hundreds of participants from around the world By: Jul 6, 2021 Share Facebook LinkedIn The Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation TREQ Project, with support from USAID, presented the progress of the urban earthquake hazard and risk assessments, and capacity development efforts in Quito (Ecuador), Cali (Colombia) and Santiago de los Caballeros (Dominican Republic) on July 9th 2021 via Zoom webinar. The event featured the USGS earthquake hazard- and consequences-driven scenarios for the pilot cities, the results of the OpenQuake engine training in hazard and risk assessment, and lessons from the integration of TREQ’s educational and training materials into university courses. Building on the success of the collaborative efforts of the South America Risk Assessment project (SARA) in 2013 and Central America and the Caribbean Risk Assessment project (CCARA) in 2017, the TREQ team, in collaboration with local experts from Quito, Cali and Santiago de los Caballeros, are updating the hazard and risk models of the pilot cities using more detailed hazard and risk information. The project results are expected to set the foundation for enhancing earthquake hazard and risk assessment in other cities and urban areas in the region. The results of the study will be open and accessible to a wide-range of users – from risk analysts, emergency planners and managers to researchers, modelers and the public at large. While most of the models will be available, there will be some limitations due to privacy considerations of local governments. Since 2020, the TREQ team has trained more than 400+ individuals from almost 60 countries - the majority from the countries where the pilot studies are located, namely Ecuador, Colombia and Dominican Republic - and produced training and educational materials that are being adapted for university courses through the project’s Training the Trainers component. Below is some of the feedback from the stakeholders. "I really liked the experience and I would like to take this workshop to my students of the Master's Degree in Earthquake Engineering so that we can do research projects." - Maribel Guzman, PUCMM, Dominican Republic. "Delighted with the information presented and the material is excellent, including the modeling software" - Hernán Suárez, Risk Management Unit - Municipality of Quito, Ecuador "Congratulations on the development of the tool and your training! Very, very interesting and useful." - Srahyrlandy Rocio Díaz, Risk management secretariat, Cali, Colombia. More than 240 individuals participated from around the world and across various sectors in the webinar held on July 9th, 2021. The event was streamed live on Facebook in English and Spanish. For more information, visit the event page at . No images found. GALLERY 1/0 Gallery VIDEO RELATED CONTENTS

Publications User guide Windows tool for field data collection and management Share Facebook LinkedIn Download 2014 | User manual TheaimofthisreportistoprovideguidelinesfortheuseofthedigitalWindowsMobileToolsthathavebeen designedandbuilt tocollectbuildinginventorypre- andpost-earthquakeevents.Theguideinstructsusers how toinstall the software onaWindows deviceand provides step-by-stepinstructions for collectingand managingthedatathathasbeencollected. Itisexpectedthatthefieldstaffarealreadyexpertsincollectingbuildinginventory,thereforethisguidedoes notprovidesinstructionshowtorecogniseorunderstandbuildingstructuralcomponents.