Global Earthquake Model

Creating a platform which contributes to profound, lasting reductions in earthquake risk worldwide

SecondMuse is helping to architect and build an open source, global seismic risk modeling platform for GEM, a global collaborative effort bringing together national, regional and international organizations and state-of-the-art science to create open standards for calculating and communicating earthquake risk worldwide.

GEM is constructing the first global, open source model for seismic risk assessment at a national and regional scale, and aims to achieve broad scientific participation and independence. The model is being conducted in three integrated modules: Hazard, Risk, and Socio-Economic Impact.

The GEM platform will be a critical instrument to support decisions and actions that reduce earthquake losses worldwide. All who face risk, from homeowners to governments, need accurate and transparent risk information before they will take mitigating action. By making state-of-the-art tools for earthquake risk assessment and modeling accessible to stakeholders in all regions of the globe and presenting information in an understandable way, GEM aims to support decisions and actions that may lead to better buildings codes and construction, land use planning for sustainable development, improved emergency response, protection of critical infrastructures and greater access to insurance, and to enhance earthquake risk assessment and science throughout the world.

SecondMuse consultant and lead architect Joshua McKenty says he was attracted to the project not only for the direct benefits but also because of the possibilities for extending an open-source platform like GEM to address all types of short-onset natural perils. “GEM is in the unique position of being able to pull together a lot of stakeholders, across disciplines, who normally don’t collaborate,” he says, “and I think this can have a tremendous impact on how we manage risk in the future.”

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 the first fully-featured version of the model will be launched. SecondMuse was contracted for IT systems architecture, engineering leadership and management of the engineering team responsible for development of the GEM platform.

For more information on the initiative, visit www.globalquakemodel.org.