PROPOSAL INFORMATION SUMMARY
1.
2.
Regional Panel Destinations:
Project Title:
NIW
Measuring Shallow Shear Wave Velocities at Urban Areas in
Nevada: Collaborative Research with University of Nevada, Reno
and University of Nevada, Las Vegas
3.
Principal Investigator(s):
John N. Louie
Tel.: (775) 784-4219, Email: louie@seismo.unr.edu
Seismological Laboratory MS 174
University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557
Fax: 775-784-1833
4.
Authorized Institutional
Representative:
Cindy Kiel
Director, Office of Sponsored Project Admin.
University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557
Tel.: (775)784-4040, Fax (775)784-6064
Email: ckiel@unr.edu
6.
7.
Element Designation
Key Words
8.
Amount Requested
I
Site effects, Surficial deposits, Seismic zonation, Engineering
seismology
$145,936
9.
Proposed start date
February 1, 2005
10
Proposed Duration
2 years
11
New Proposal
Yes
12
Active Earthquake-related
Research: Grants, and Level of
Support
Dept. of Energy/Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy:
Assembly of a crustal seismic velocity database for the
western Great Basin, $219,417, 4/1/2002–10/1/2004,
Louie (1.5 summer months).
Dept. of Energy/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: 3-D
evaluation of ground-shaking potential in the Las Vegas
basin, $285,000, 5/1/2002–4/30/2004, Anderson, Louie
(2.5 summer months).
13
Has this proposal been
submitted to any other agency
for funding?
Dept. of Energy/HRC/NVOO: Seismic monitoring of Yucca
Mountain: Evaluation of kappa effects subtask,
$280,000, 10/1/2002–9/30/2004, Brune, Anderson, Su,
Biasi, Smith, Louie (0.5 summer months/year).
No
2
Measuring Shallow Shear Wave Velocities at Urban Areas in Nevada:
Collaborative Research with University of Nevada, Reno and
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
John Louie
Nevada Seismological Lab, University of Nevada, Reno
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form (SF) 424 ........................... 1
Proposal Information Summary ......................................................................... 2
Table of Contents .............................................................................................. 3
Abstract ............................................................................................................. 4
Budget Summary .............................................................................................. 5
Detail Budget ..................................................................................................... 6
Project Description
Motivation ............................................................................................... 9
Antecedents ........................................................................................... 9
Work plan ............................................................................................... 14
UNR Responsibilities .............................................................................. 15
UNLV Responsibilities ............................................................................ 15
References ............................................................................................. 15
Final Report and Dissemination of Results ....................................................... 16
Project Personnel, Current and Pending Support ............................................. 17
Institutional Qualifications.................................................................................. 19
Project Management Plan ................................................................................. 19
Coordinating UNR ANSS Budget ...................................................................... 20
3
Measuring Shallow Shear Wave Velocities at Urban Areas in Nevada:
Collaborative Research with University of Nevada, Reno and
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
John Louie
Nevada Seismological Lab, University of Nevada, Reno
ABSTRACT
Estimation of shallow shear velocities is a key element in the assessment of sites for
potential earthquake ground shaking and damage. We propose an assessment of
shallow conditions at ANSS and other sites of strong-motion recording within the Las
Vegas and Reno, Nevada urban areas. These cities are two of the three urban areas of
the intermountain West having the greatest earthquake hazard. This project is a
collaboration between B. Luke at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and J. Louie at
the University of Nevada, Reno. A complete seismic hazard evaluation requires site
characterization, below 30 meters depth, and at the level of detail of microzonation
studies if site conditions vary beyond the expectations gained from geologic or soil
mapping. Las Vegas is particularly important as a large city with the fastest-growing
population in the nation, and as an area whose seismic hazard is poorly understood.
Reno is particularly important as another rapidly growing community, in a location where
the seismic hazard is known to be high. This collaboration will apply two surface-wave
methods, SASW and ReMi, at dozens of ANSS sites in the two cities, and obtain a new
downhole survey in each city. These site-characterizations will contribute immediately to
microzonation studies, development of Nevada ShakeMaps, and to the national hazard
mapping effort. In addition, this collaboration will allow the effective interface between
different methods to be evaluated, and to enhance our understanding of how modeled
velocity profiles relate to ground motions.
4
BUDGET SUMMARY
Project Title:
Measuring Shallow Shear Wave Velocities at Urban Areas in Nevada: Collaborative Research
with University of Nevada, Reno and University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Principal Investigators: John N. Louie
Proposed Start Date:
Feb. 1, 2005
COST CATEGORY
1. Salaries and Wages
Total Salaries and Wages
2. Fringe Benefits/Labor Overhead
3. Equipment
4. Supplies
5. Services or Consultants
6. Radiocarbon Dating Services
7. Travel
8. Publication Costs
9. Other Direct Costs
10. Total Direct Costs (items 1-9)
11. Indirect cost / General and
Proposed Completion Date: Jan. 31, 2007
Federal
First Year
$ 33,348
Federal
Second Year
$ 33,348
Total
Both Years
$ 66,696
$ 2,448
$ 2,448
$ 4,896
$
0
$ 20,000
$ 20,000
$ 3,200
$ 3,700
$ 6,900
$
0
$
0
$
0
$
0
$
0
$
0
$ 33,348
$ 4,300
$ 4,300
$ 8,600
$ 1,000
$ 1,000
$ 2,000
$ 1,926
$ 1,926
$ 3,852
$ 43,774
$ 64,274
$ 108,048
$ 18,832
$ 19,057
$ 37,888
$ 62,606
$ 83,331
$ 145,936
$ 62,606
$ 83,331
$ 145,936
Administrative (G&A) cost
12. Amount Proposed (items 10 & 11)
13. Total Project Cost (total of Federal and nonFederal amounts)
5
Measuring Shallow Shear Wave Velocities at Urban Areas in Nevada: A
Collaboration between UNR and UNLV
University of Nevada, Reno Budget, Louie
Proposed start date:
2/1/05
Budget Prepared: 4/25/04 J. Louie
NEHRP-NIW
UNR Year 1 Total:
SALARIES
Employee
John Louie
Student-Academic Yr
Student-Summer
Undergraduate labor
Subtotals
Total Salary and Fringe
62606
Units
Daily
Monthly
Monthly
hourly
Rate
500
1500
3000
12
Number Subtotal
Benefit Rate Benefits
15
7500
0.04
300
10
15000
0.1
1500
2
6000
0.1
600
200
2400
0.02
48
30900
2448
33348
EQUIPMENT
UNR RT-125 "Texan" recorder refurbish
Equipment Total
Unit Cost Quantity
$1,000
0
0
Consultants Total
0
Expendables
Lab, Computer, & Field Supplies
Telephone toll charges, postage, shipping
Computer Services
Publication Costs
Travel
Dest
Rate
AGU or SSA
Field Vehicle
Per Diem, LV
0
Number
1000
95
75
2
10
18
4200
2500
200
500
1000
Subtotal
2000
950
1350
Additional Student Expenses
Tuition and Fees per year (18 credits)
Total:
4300
Number
107
Total Direct Cost
Indirect Cost Computation
Total Direct Cost
Subtract Tuition & Fees
Subtract Equipment
Adjusted Total
Fraction
Indirect Cost
18
1926
43774
43774
-1926
0
41848
0.45
18832
Year One Total
62606
6
Measuring Shallow Shear Wave Velocities at Urban Areas in Nevada: A
Collaboration between UNR and UNLV
University of Nevada, Reno Budget, Louie
Proposed start date:
2/1/05
Budget Prepared: 4/25/04 J. Louie
NEHRP-NIW
UNR Year 2 Total:
SALARIES
Employee
John Louie
Student-Academic Yr
Student-Summer
Undergraduate labor
Subtotals
Total Salary and Fringe
83331
Units
Daily
Monthly
Monthly
hourly
Rate
500
1500
3000
12
Number Subtotal
Benefit Rate Benefits
15
7500
0.04
300
10
15000
0.1
1500
2
6000
0.1
600
200
2400
0.02
48
30900
2448
33348
EQUIPMENT
UNR RT-125 "Texan" recorder refurbish
Equipment Total
Unit Cost Quantity
$1,000
20
20000
Consultants Total
0
Expendables
Lab, Computer, & Field Supplies
Telephone toll charges, postage, shipping
Computer Services
Publication Costs
Travel
Dest
Rate
AGU or SSA
Field Vehicle
Per Diem, LV
20000
Number
1000
95
75
2
10
18
4700
3000
200
500
1000
Subtotal
2000
950
1350
Additional Student Expenses
Tuition and Fees per year (18 credits)
Total:
4300
Number
107
Total Direct Cost
Indirect Cost Computation
Total Direct Cost
Subtract Tuition & Fees
Subtract Equipment
Adjusted Total
Fraction
Indirect Cost
18
1926
64274
64274
-1926
-20000
42348
0.45
19057
Year Two Total
83331
7
Measuring Shallow Shear Wave Velocities at Urban Areas in Nevada: A
Collaboration between UNR and UNLV
University of Nevada, Reno Budget, Louie
Proposed start date:
2/1/05
Budget Prepared: 4/25/04 J. Louie
NEHRP-NIW
UNR 2-Year Total:
SALARIES
Employee
John Louie
Student-Academic Yr
Student-Summer
Undergraduate labor
Subtotals
Total Salary and Fringe
145936
Units
Daily
Monthly
Monthly
hourly
Rate
500
1500
3000
12
Number Subtotal Benefit Rate Benefits
30
15000
0.04
600
20
30000
0.1
3000
4
12000
0.1
1200
400
4800
0.02
96
61800
4896
66696
EQUIPMENT
UNR RT-125 "Texan" recorder refurbish
Equipment Total
Unit Cost Quantity
$1,000
20
20000
Consultants Total
0
Expendables
Lab, Computer, & Field Supplies
Telephone toll charges, postage, shipping
Computer Services
Publication Costs
Travel
Dest
Rate
AGU or SSA
Field Vehicle
Per Diem, LV
20000
Number
1000
95
75
4
20
36
8900
5500
400
1000
2000
Subtotal
4000
1900
2700
Additional Student Expenses
Tuition and Fees
Total Direct Cost
Indirect Cost Computation
Total Direct Cost
Subtract Tuition & Fees
Subtract Equipment
Adjusted Total
Fraction
Indirect Cost
Total:
8600
Number
107
36
3852
108048
108048
-3852
-20000
84196
0.45
37888
2-Year Total
145936
8
Measuring Shallow Shear Wave Velocities at Urban Areas in Nevada:
Collaborative Research with University of Nevada, Reno and
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
MOTIVATION
This proposal directly addresses one of the goals stated in the “Specific Priorities for
Urban Areas of Utah and Nevada” doument, which is to: “Obtain shallow, basin, and basement
velocities below the Reno and Las Vegas areas. Investigate the relation of ground shaking to
geologic attributes in Nevada urban areas; assess the sufficiency of the IBC VS30 criterion for
predicting ground shaking.”
By improving our understanding of expected ground motions the expected results of the
proposed research will directly apply to reducing losses from earthquakes in Las Vegas and
Reno. Las Vegas is particularly important as a large city with the fastest-growing population in
the nation, and as an area whose seismic hazard is poorly understood. Reno is particularly
important as another rapidly growing community, in a location where the seismic hazard is
known to be high.
Urban areas in Nevada are mainly built upon sedimentary basins where potentially large
ground motions can occur. Evaluation of this basin effect is important since the concentration of
population is high and guidelines for prevention/remediation of building damage are needed.
Shear wave velocities to 30 m depth (V30) are considered to be one factor indicative of the site
response to earthquakes. The NEHRP uses V30 to define site categories and implement
remediation provisions. For this project we propose the characterization of V30, as well as
deeper velocities, at ANSS stations in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Refraction Microtremor (ReMi; Louie, 2001) and Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves
(SASW; e.g., Stokoe, et al., 1994) are two relatively inexpensive field methods that do not
require boreholes and can detect high- or low-velocity layers to depths approaching 100 m. For
urban areas these methods are particularly useful since drilling or sampling can be difficult to
permit. Although both methods rely upon propagation of surface wave energy to characterize
shear wave velocities, they have been developed independently. Different methods are used to
collect data and generate dispersion relationships. The developers of the methods have also
pursued different avenues for developing shear wave velocity profiles from the experimental
data.
This research project will provide the opportunity to compare results, explore
complementary aspects, and combine the two methods to optimize outcomes. By determining
velocity profiles to 100 m depth, we will be able to search for effects on seismic amplifications
below the depth range of the NEHRP V30 classifications. By improving our ability to identify
and measure key characteristics affecting site response, our contribution to improvement of site
response will be applicable nationwide. The work proposed here will help to reduce earthquake
hazard and risk in the intermountain West.
ANTECEDENTS
Influence of local geologic and soil conditions on the intensity of ground shaking has
been well known at sedimentary basins (e.g. Mexico City, 1985; San Francisco Bay Area, 1989).
Nevada lies within the Basin and Range province, one of the most seismically active regions in
United States. After Alaska and California, Nevada has shown the highest rate of seismic activity
9
over the last 150 years. Therefore the characterization of site response across the rapidly growing
urban areas of Nevada is important for evaluation of seismic risk.
Reno and Las Vegas are the two most-populated urban areas in Nevada. Both are located
at the top of basin deposits. Morphology and depths of these two basins have initially been
defined for Reno by Abbott and Louie (2000) and by Langenheim et al. (1998) for Las Vegas.
Such studies give us an idea of the site response as a function of the basin depth (Bard and
Gariel, 1986) but not about the influence of the soil conditions. A study by Rodgers and
McCallen (2003, submitted) for Las Vegas basin shows how historic explosion records from
NTS strongly correlate with basin depth (Figure 1), with some exceptions where the soil
conditions may control the response (e.g., station LVW in Figure 2). Su et al. (1998) simulate
site response for an earthquake scenario on Death Valley fault system (M w= 7.4). They
conclude that important amplifications, of the order of 0.31g, occur at sediment sites but
refinements on the effects of the upper layers need to be made.
Figure 1. Average site response versus basin depth at site in Las Vegas Valley for NTS explosions (open circles) and
the Little Skull Mountain earthquake (solid diamonds). (After Rodgers and McCallen, 2003)
Shallow soil conditions have been shown by many studies to be an important factor for
amplification of ground motions (e.g., Romo and Seed, 1986; Seed et al., 1990). For more
complete and accurate evaluation of site response at Reno and Las Vegas, the characterization of
shear wave velocities in shallow soil layers is necessary. Both the UBC1997 and the IBC2000
use the value of V30 to determine construction standards.
10
a)
b)
c)
Figure 2a) Map of Las Vegas showing the strong motion stations from various networks. Contours show km depth
to basement according from Langenheim et al. (2001). Numbers in parenthesis show m/s values of V30 from ReMi;
2b) East component velocity seismograms for the BARNWELL historic explosion. The data were filtered in the
band 0.1-10 Hz. Notice the location of station LVW and the relation with depth of basin (After Rodgers and
McCallen, 2003). 2c) A transect of 54 shallow-shear velocity measurements made by UNR in July 2003, plotting
Vs30 values along “the Strip”, from Cheyenne Ave. on the north (left) to Tropicana Ave. at the south (right).
11
Figure 3a) Location of the ReMi transect (dotted line) and strong-motion stations (labeled) in the Reno Basin, with
gravity contours.
Figure 3b) Variation of V30 along the Reno transect, scale on righr, with a running average (diamonds connected by
thick line) surrounded by the running one-sigma standard-deviation range. The percentage of the normal distribution
below 350 m/s is given as the likelihood that a particular location along the profile would show NEHRP class D
properties, on the left scale. (After Scott et al., 2003 submitted; Reno transect data recorded with instruments loaned
by the NSF PASSCAL Instrument Center at New Mexico Tech.)
At the Reno basin, Scott et al. (2003 submitted) implemented the first urban shear-wave
velocity transect (Figures 3a and 3b). By using ReMi, the transect permitted a continuous
evaluation of V30 yielding fifty soil shear-velocity-vs.-depth profiles along a 16 km path. With
12
the detail of the transect, Scott et al. were able to identify that the variance in V30 for most of the
several mapped agricultural soil groups along the transect is greater than the differences in the
average V30 between soil groups. Another aspect is that, except for the two determinations near
strong-motion station SWTP at the east end of the profile in Figure 3b that the geologic maps
show as in Tertiary andesite, the V30 variation the profile shows is entirely within
undifferentiated Quaternary alluvium. This work showed that one cannot predict V30 in Reno
solely from geologic or soil maps.
0
5
Depth, m
10
15
20
Mean from SASW
Crosshole
ReMi
SASW confidence bounds
25
30
0
500
1000
Shear wave velocity, m/s
1500
Complementary Vs datasets collected in Las Vegas at the site of its historic artesian springs. The three datasets were
interpreted independently. The ReMi profile extends to 200 m depth. Simplified borehole log also shown. After
Luke and Calderón, 2004 (submitted).
For the case of Las Vegas Valley, preliminary studies were performed by Luke et al.
(2002). They used and compared ReMi, SASW, cross-hole, and down-hole results at ANSS and
legacy ground-motion recording sites (figure 4). The different methods had varying accuracy and
depth coverage. In general, they reflected the general soil conditions of Las Vegas Valley: the
existence of cemented layers near the surface and at depth, with strong stiffness inversions
throughout. Considering jointly inverted SASW and ReMi datasets collected around the valley
(Figure 5), the correlation with basin depth appears. This raises the question whether basin depth
13
might be a surrogate for shallow soil properties in explaining geometrical distribution of
anomalous ground shaking. Taking advantage of strong-motion recordings, the resulting profiles
are being implemented in 1-D response analyses. In a similar way to the Reno V30 transect, a 15
km ReMi transect was executed for the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown area (figure 2c) during
July, 2003 under a research agreement between UNLV-UNR and LLNL. However, that
agreement does not provide for any further measurements of site conditions at legacy, ANSS, or
school strong-motion sites, which are being installed rapidly.
The aims of the proposed project are: 1) a continuing program of site assessments for
more accurate and realistic evaluations of shallow soil effects (V30 and deeper) in the two
largest urban areas of Nevada; 2) the integration of different V30 estimation methods to optimize
outcomes and, 3) find specific correlations between soil profile and ground motion for each
urban basin.
0
shallow
medium
deep
50
Depth, m
100
150
200
250
300
350
0
500
1000
1500
2000
Shear wave velocity, m/s
2500
3000
Figure 5. Vs data collected around the Las Vegas area from combined SASW and ReMi measurements show
general correlation with basin depth.
WORK PLAN
1. Extend and/or continue the shear-wave-velocity transects in the Reno and Las Vegas
basins. Emphasis will be made on tracing transects where ANSS ground motion stations
exist or are planned for installation.
2. Combine the ReMi transect with SASW and borehole point measurements. The
combination of these techniques would permit:
a) finding the level of accuracy for each technique in defining the soil column;
b) finding the degree of correlation between techniques;
c) investigating how these differences are intrinsic to technique procedures and
characteristics (e.g., frequency domain vs. p-tau analysis); and,
d) optimizing results through combination of methods.
Overall, the research will
a) provide a basis for study to understand how strong velocity contrasts affect onedimensional site response. With the results, we can explore whether V30 is an
appropriate stand-alone measure to categorize site response. We shall explore:
Should we also be considering vertical and lateral heterogeneity within the upper 30
m? Do we need to look deeper, say, to the depth at which velocities increase to 700
m/s?
14
b) Contribute key data for microzonation and hazard-map development for the Las
Vegas and Reno basins
UNR responsibilities:
 Conduct 10 short, 1-2-km-long ReMi transects each project year, each centered at ANSS
stations in Las Vegas and Reno. Interpret Vs profiles (3-4 per km of transect, to >100 m
depth) and data on lateral variability.
 Attempt to correlate transect shear velocities with soil and geologic maps, to gain
additional data to test the lack of such correlation observed with the Reno and Las Vegas
transects.
 In partnership with UNLV, combine ReMi and other datasets for inversion. Compare
results with those obtained independently.
 In partnership with UNLV, post all transect results on a public website. Current Reno and
Las Vegas results are available now at http://www.seismo.unr.edu/hazsurv .
 In the second year, we will upgrade the 20 Reftek RT-125 “Texan” recorders we use for
ReMi transect data collection, implementing an upgrade to be designed in 2003 by
PASSCAL. The upgrade should improve the productivity of field ReMi campaigns
during the second project year, allowing longer transects at each site characterized.
UNLV responsibilities:
 Conduct a minimum of twelve SASW measurements, at selected sites in the Las Vegas
and Reno urban areas, to a target depth of resolution of at least 30 m. Emphasize current
or planned ASNN Stations, and those where independent Vs data exist. Interpret Vs
profiles.
 Conduct downhole compressional and shear-wave velocity measurements at one site each
in Reno and Las Vegas, to 30–m depth. This will require drilling and casing of one
borehole at each site.
 Collect ReMi data at each SASW site. Interpret in collaboration with UNR.
 Conduct one-dimensional site response analyses to explore sensitivity of predicted
response to parameterization of shear wave velocity of soil column.
 In partnership with UNR, combine ReMi and other datasets for inversion. Compare
results with those obtained independently.
 In partnership with UNR, explore correlation of Vs data with soil type.
REFERENCES
Abbott R.E., and Louie J.N., 2000. Depth to bedrock using gravimetry in the Reno and Carson
City, Nevada area basins. Geophysics, 65, 340-350
Bard, P. Y. and Gariel, J. C. 1986. The seismic response of two dimensional sedimentary
deposits with large vertical velocity gradients. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of
America, 76: 343-356
International Code Council. 2000. International Building Code. Falls Church, VA, USA.
International Conference of Building Officials. 1997. Uniform Building Code. Pasadena, CA,
USA.
Langenheim V., Grow, J., Miller, J., Davidson, J. D., and Robinson, E. 1998. Thickness of
cenozoic deposits and location and geometry of the Las Vegas shear zone, nevada, based
on gravity, seismic-reflection, and aeromagnetic data. USGS OF 98-576.
Liu, Y. and B. Luke, 2004, Site response projections for shallow sediments in deep basins: a
small-strain case study, submitted to Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering.
15
Louie, J. N. 2001. Faster, better: Shear-wave velocity to 100 meters depth from refraction
microtremor arrays. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 91: 347-364.
Luke, B., Calderón, C., 2004. Inversion of seismic surface wave data to resolve complex
profiles. Submitted to Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering.
Luke, B., Louie J.N., Beeston, H.E., Skidmore, V., Concha-Dimas, A. 2002. Las Vegas Basin
Seismic Response Project: Measured Shallow Soil Velocities. AGU Fall Meeting.
Rasmussen, T., S. B. Smith, M. Clark, C. Lopez, C. Loughner, H. Park, J. B. Scott, W. Thelen,
B. Greschke, and J. Louie, 2003, Shallow shear velocity and seismic microzonation of the
Las Vegas urban basin: presented at Amer. Geophys. Union Fall Mtg., San Francisco,
Dec. 8-12.
Rodgers, A., and McCallen, D., 2003. Seismic Ground Motion and Site Response in Las Vegas
Valley, Nevada from NTS Explosions. Submitted to Bulletin of the Seismological
Society of America.
Romo, M. P. and Seed, H. B. 1986. Analytical modelling of dynamic soil response in the Mexico
earthquake of September 19, 1985, Proceedings, ASCE International Conference on the
Mexico Earthquakes-1985, Mexico City, pp. 148-162.
Scott, J. B., M. Clark, T. Rennie, A. Pancha, H. Park and J. N. Louie, 2003, A shallow shearvelocity transect across the Reno, Nevada area basin: submitted to Bull. Seismol. Soc.
Amer., Oct. 7. (Available on line at www.seismo.unr.edu/hazsurv)
Seed, R. B., Dickenson, S. E., Reimer, M. F., Bray, J. D., Sitar, N., Mitchell, J. K., Idriss, I. M.,
Kayen, R. E., Kropp, A., Harder, L. F. and Power, M. S. 1990. Preliminary report on the
principal geotechnical aspects of the October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. Report
UCB/EERC-90/05, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California,
Berkeley, 137 pp.
Stokoe, K.H., Wright, S.G., Bay, J. A. and Roesset, J.M. 1994. Characterization of geotechnical
sites by SASW method, Geophysical Characterization of Sites, R. D. Woods, Ed. A. A.
Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 15-25.
Su, F., Anderson, J. A. Ni, S., Zeng, Y.(1998) Effect of site amplification and basin response on
strong motion in Las Vegas, Nevada, Earthquake Spectra, 14, 357-374.
FINAL REPORT AND DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS
All reports requested and required by the USGS will be submitted in a prompt and timely
manner and the results of the research will be published in a professional journal.
16
PROJECT PERSONNEL
This study will be conducted by principal investigator John Louie, Associate Professor of
Seismology, at the University of Nevada, Reno, in collaboration with principal investigator
Barbara Luke, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Biographical Sketch of John N. Louie
Seismological Laboratory 174, Mackay School of Mines
The University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0141
(775) 784-4219; fax (775) 784-1833; louie@seismo.unr.edu
Professional Experience
Associate Professor of Seismology, Seismological Laboratory and Department of Geological Sciences,
The University of Nevada, Reno; since January 1992. Responsibilities include undergraduate and
graduate instruction, supervision of M.S. and Ph.D. degree candidates, and conducting a research
program in seismology.
Assistant Professor of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania;
Sept. 1987 to Jan. 1992. Responsibilities included undergraduate and graduate instruction,
supervision of M.S. and Ph.D. degree candidates, and research in high-resolution seismology.
Recent Graduate Theses Directed
Ph.D. Thesis in Geophysics by Robert E. Abbott on ``Geophysical constraints on seismic hazard and
tectonics in the western Basin and Range'' defended on 23 Aug. 2001.
Ph.D. Thesis in Geophysics by Abu M. Asad on ``Linearized and nonlinear travel time tomography for
upper crustal velocity structure of the western Great Basin'' defended on 23 Jan. 1998.
M.S. Thesis in Hydrogeology by Ken Mela on ``Interpretation of stochastic hydrogeologic properties
from seismic data'' defended on 14 Nov. 1997.
Ph.D. Thesis in Geophysics by Sergio Chavez-Perez on ``Enhanced imaging of fault zones in southern
California from seismic reflection studies'' defended on 4 Aug. 1997.
M.S. Thesis in Geophysics by Zakir Kanbur on ``Seismic reflection study of Upheaval Dome,
Canyonlands National Park, Utah'' defended on 17 July 1997.
Ph.D. Thesis in Geophysics by Sathish K. Pullammanappallil on ``Nonlinear optimization to estimate
velocities and image reflectors from multi-offset seismic data'' defended on 14 Nov. 1994.
M.S. Thesis in Geophysics by William Honjas on ``Results of post- and pre-stack migrations imaging the
Hosgri Fault, offshore Santa Maria Basin, CA'' defended on 1 April 1993.
Selected Recent Sponsored Research
Improving southern California seismic hazard models with a 45-km shear-velocity profile along the San
Gabriel River, sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey 2/15/2003 - 2/14/2004 for $52,000
between 2 PIs.
3-D Evaluation of Ground-Shaking Potential in the Las Vegas Basin, sponsored by the Dept. of
Energy/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 5/1/2002 - 4/30/2004 for $285,000 between 2
PIs.
Assembly of a crustal seismic velocity database for the Western Great Basin, sponsored by the US Dept.
of Energy/Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy 4/02-9/04 for $219,417.
Evolution of the Sierra Nevada - Basin and Range boundary — tephrochronologic and gravity constraints
on the record in Neogene basin deposits, sponsored by the National Science Foundation 6/00-5/02
for $55,182 between 3 PIs.
Geophysical test of low-angle dip on the seismogenic Dixie Valley fault, Nevada, sponsored by the
National Science Foundation 9/97-8/99 for $91,313 between 3 PIs.
17
Graduate Education
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California. Degrees: Ph.D. Geophysics, June, 1987; M.S.
Geophysics, June, 1983.
Relevant Publications
J. B. Scott, M. Clark, T. Rennie, A. Pancha, H. Park and J. N. Louie, 2003, A shallow shear-velocity
transect across the Reno, Nevada area basin: submitted to Bull. Seismol. Soc. Amer., Oct. 7.
(Available on line at www.seismo.unr.edu/hazsurv)
R. E. Abbott, J. N. Louie, S. J. Caskey, and S. Pullammanappallil, 2001, Geophysical confirmation of
low-angle normal slip on the historically active Dixie Valley fault, Nevada: Jour. Geophys. Res.,
106, 4169-4181.
J. N. Louie, 2001, Faster, better: shear-wave velocity to 100 meters depth from refraction microtremor
arrays: Bull. Seismol. Soc. Amer., 91, no. 2 (April), 347-364.
A. M. Asad, S. K. Pullammanappallil, A. Anooshehpoor, and J. N. Louie, 1999, Inversion of traveltime
data for earthquake locations and three-dimensional velocity structure in the Eureka Valley area,
eastern California: Bull. Seismol. Soc. Amer., 89, 796-810.
Ken Mela and John N. Louie, 2001, Correlation length and fractal dimension interpretation from seismic
data using variograms and power spectra: Geophysics, 66, 1372-1378.
Other Important Publications
J. N. Louie, W. Thelen, S. B. Smith, J. B. Scott, M. Clark, 2004, The northern Walker Lane refraction
experiment: Pn arrivals and the northern Sierra Nevada root: submitted to Tectonophysics, July
2
2003,
revised
Dec.
14,
2003.
(Available
on
line
at
www.seismo.unr.edu/geothermal/walker.pdf)
J. N. Louie, S. Chavez-Perez, S. Henrys, and S. Bannister, 2002, Multimode migration of scattered and
converted waves for the structure of the Hikurangi slab interface, New Zealand: Tectonophysics,
355 (1-4), 227-246.
R. E. Abbott and J. N. Louie, 2000, Depth to bedrock using gravimetry in the Reno and Carson City,
Nevada area basins: Geophysics, 65, 340-350.
S. Chavez-Perez and J. N. Louie, 1998, Crustal imaging in southern California using earthquake
sequences: Tectonophysics, 286 (March 15), 223-236.
S. Chavez-Perez, J. N. Louie, and S. K. Pullammanappallil, 1998, Seismic depth imaging of normal
faulting in the southern Death Valley basin: Geophysics, 63, 223-230.
Current Support and Pending Applications — John N. Louie
Current:
Dept. of Energy/Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy: Assembly of a crustal seismic velocity
database for the western Great Basin, $219,417, 4/1/2002–9/30/2004, Louie (1.5 summer
months).
Dept. of Energy/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: 3-D evaluation of ground-shaking potential in
the Las Vegas basin, $285,000, 5/1/2002–9/30/2004, Anderson, Louie (2.5 summer months).
Dept. of Energy/HRC/NVOO: Seismic monitoring of Yucca Mountain: Evaluation of kappa effects
subtask, $280,000, 10/1/2002–9/30/2004, Brune, Anderson, Su, Biasi, Smith, Louie (0.5 summer
month/year).
Pending:
SCEC/NSF: Anisotropy of TriNet microtremor in the Los Angeles basin, Green’s function estimation,
and deep-basin shear velocity, $35,155, 2/1/2004–1/31/2005, Louie (0.25 summer month),
Anderson.
NSF-CMS: NEESR-II: Seismic stability investigation of rockery walls, $447,170, 7/1/2004–6/30/2007,
Siddharthan, Elfass, Fricke, Louie (0.3 month total), Norris.
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Institutional Qualifications– UNR
As one of the statewide research agencies of the University of Nevada, the Seismological Laboratory is
headed by a Director (J. Anderson) who reports to the Dean of Science. The Lab's current research staff consists of
ten professional seismologists. Other professionals include a Research and Design Engineer. Technical staff
members include two seismographic technicians, one record analyst, 2.0 FTE of computer support personnel, and
five graduate research assistants. The Seismological Laboratory operates the Western Great Basin Seismic Network
(USGS and ANSS Funding; digital upgrades provided by the W.M. Keck Foundation), the Yucca Mountain Digital
Seismic Network (DOE-HRC Funding). These networks now include more than three dozen state-of-the-art highdynamic-range real-time digital stations. Twenty-four ANSS strong-motion stations have been established in the
Reno, Carson, and Las Vegas urban areas. Earthquake data are now manipulated using the Antelope and CSS
database systems developed by BRTT, allowing us to interchange both real-time and archived catalog and
seismogram data with the CISN, Oregon, Arizona, and Utah seismic network through data centers at Caltech, Menlo
Park, Berkeley, San Diego, and Salt Lake City. Much of the high-dynamic-range digital station data is archived in
real time at the IRIS Data Management Center.
Computer hardware consists of four Sun servers and twenty Sun workstations, ten Pentium II-IV and AMD
Athlon UNIX workstations, and numerous PCs and Macintoshes. These processors are used mainly for research
applications and provide a basis for analysis of the accumulating network data base. One of the servers hosts the
Lab's web site at www.seismo.unr.edu, which at 30,000-80,000 hits per week is one of the University's most popular
public outreach programs. Seismic reflection data sets are processed both with John Louie's ``Resource Geology''
UNIX system for research, and with the industry-standard Halliburton ProMAX system. In partnership with the
Nevada Applied Research Initiative, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, and Optim LLC, the Seismo Lab
established the CCoG facility in 2002, a 30-CPU Beowulf parallel processor. CCoG is primarily dedicated to
seismogram inversion and modeling.
Additional equipment is available for field work and special investigations. The Dept. of Energy funded a
new crustal seismic surveying facility in the Lab, of 20 Reftek RT-125 "Texan" single-channel vertical recorders
and auxiliary equipment. The W. M. Keck Foundation donated to the Mackay School of Mines (of which the
Seismological Lab is a part) a 48-channel, Pentium-based Bison Galileo-21 reflection-refraction recording system,
with 700 m cables for 8-Hz refraction geophones; and a high-resolution 210 m segmented roll-along cable with 48
groups of six 100-Hz geophones each. The School maintains as well a Lacoste and Romberg Model G gravimeter
with 0.04 mGal demonstrated precision, a Trimble GeoXT handheld geodetic GPS, and three Trimble 4000SSi,
geodetic GPS receivers. The School also uses field magnetometers and EM gear donated by the mining industry.
The University is wired for 100 Mbps full-duplex ethernet, with high-speed isolated connections available
to all servers. All buildings on campus connect via a 100 Mbps campus fiber network, which has a fiber connection
at 155 Mbps to the nearest CALREN/vBNS/Abilene gigaPoP at U.C. Davis, and a 655 Mbps connection to Salt
Lake City, Las Vegas, and CALREN at UCSD in southern California.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN
The project is projected to last two years. Dr. John Louie will be supervising ReMi data
collection and reduction. Dr. Barbara Luke will be supervising SASW and downhole data
collection and reduction. Modeling, interpretation, and reporting will be a collaborative effort
between the two PIs. All PIs are at the University of Nevada. They will be responsible for the
completion of the project and submittal of required reports.
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Coordinating UNR ANSS Budget
The UNR portion of this collaborative project includes an equipment budget item that
will improve UNR’s abilities to assess the site conditions below ANSS stations as sites are
selected and installed. The UNR budget proposed here will cover most of the cost of the first
item below. The Nevada Seismological Lab is also seeking funding for the following items
directly through the ANSS program:
1)
Upgrade 20 UNR Reftek RT-125 “Texans” to higher-capacity RT-125A design with
faster downloading ability. These instruments are used now for Vs30-Vs200 measurements with
surface waves (here proposed to NEHRP for all NV ANSS stations). With upgraded Texans, we
can measure more sites with the same effort. $25,000
2)
Replace aged UNR 48-channel Bison Galileo-21 multichannel recorder with a modern
system. This system is used for high-resolution shallow reflection profiling of active faults, and
shallow P-velocity tomography to characterize soils near ANSS sites. Price range is a result of
ability to use a new type of inexpensive recorder system in a configuration not yet well tested
(two 24-channel DAQ-Links), or a more expensive system of proven design (one 48-channel
Geometrics StrataView). The replacement will maintain UNR’s shallow reflection and
refraction capabilities. $25,000 - $50,000
20