Microtremor Measurement at Some Sites in Mandalay City, Myanmar, for

Earthquake Disaster Mitigation

Yu Nandar Hlaing 1, Ichii Koji 2

1
Myanmar Earthquake Committee
Myanmar Engineering Society, Yangon, Myanmar
2
Faculty of Social Science,
Kansai University, Osaka, Japan

Abstract — Estimation of earthquake motion is

important for sustainability of a city. It is well
known that the characteristics of earthquake
motion relates to the geological condition of the site
(i.e., Idriss and Seed,1968). Microtremor is quite
small vibration can be measured at anywhere, and
the measurement of microtremor gives some
amount of geological information.
In this study, microtremor measurement was done
for 10 points with different geological profile in
Mandalay, Myanmar. The difference of the local
site conditions can be found in the difference of
microtremor measurement results. Then it can be
used for the evaluation of important characteristics
of strong earthquake motions such as frequency
content. Assuming H/V spectra as the natural
frequency of the site, there is a clear tendency of
variation of the natural frequency in the measured
results in Mandalay. The results show that the
microtremor observations are acceptable method
for assessing dynamic characteristics of soil and site
effect in Mandalay City with ease of measurement
and analysis.
Keywords: microtremor, H/V spectra, Mandalay,
Earthquake.
I. INTRODUCTION
Ground response may be used for prediction of
ground motion and development of design response
spectrum in order to determine the dynamic stress and
strains assessment. The study of distribution of damages
caused by various earthquakes indicates the significant
site effects on earthquake characteristics (Idriss and
Seed,1970)[3] .Local site conditions can influence on all
of the important characteristics such as amplitude,
frequency content and duration of strong ground
motion. As an earthquake prone area such as Mandalay
in Myanmar, several studies on site response analysis
were carried out. Myo Thant et.al [1] proceeded 43
microtremor measurements to analyse seismic hazard
maps by using PSHA, and Pyi Soe Thein et.al [4]
conducted seismic microzonation mapping through 50
soil columns by using multiple reflection analysis and
Yu Nandar Hlaing and Ichii [2] conducted one
dimensional site response analysis at several sites in
Mandalay. However, these studies have mostly focused
on seismic vulnerability and micro-zonation of
Mandalay city, the comparison of characteristics of
observed microtremor and the results from geological
profile will be helpful for the complete study for
Mandalay city where earthquake prone area with dense
population.
 
II. MICROTREMOR MEASUREMENT 3 shows the locations of measured sites on six soil
classifications.
Microtremor is a very convenient tool to estimate the
effect of surface geology on seismic motion without
other geological information. The dynamics
characteristics of soil can be stated by microtremor
measurement. Microtremors are ground vibrations with
displacement amplitude about 1-10 micron, and
velocity amplitude is 0.001-0.01cm/s that can be
detected by seismograph with high magnification
(Rezaei and Choobasti 2014) [5]. One of the most
popular techniques for estimation of site effects in the
region with low seismicity is microtremor Figure 2. The arrangement of measurement
measurements by Nakamura method [6] (H/V).
Regarding H/V spectral ratio method, peak frequency
and amplification factor were calculated for all
microtremor sites. Geonet 2-2S3D is used for
measurement shown in Fig 1.

Figure 1. Geonet 2-2S3D
Geonet is three component velocity sensor unit; two
in two orthogonal horizontal directions and one in
vertical direction), GPS, laptop and 12V battery are
used. The arrangement of measurement is shown in Fig
2. Micro tremor measurement was carried out from Feb
26th to Feb 30th in 2018, in Mandalay City. 12 locations
were proposed for the 6 soil classifications, alluvial,
clay with minor sand layer, clayey silt, dark clay, silt
with gravel and clay and slope wash deposit according
to geological map of Mandalay. For each site,
measurements were carried out three time in three days.
Each time, the data was collected 3 or more times. Fig
Figure 3. Location of measurement, FID
III. MEASUREMENT
The measured sites were determined by soil site
location. Time of measuring (morning or evening) was
determined by the passing of cars and distance from the
downtown. FID 1, 7, 8, and 10 were firstly measured
because they are far away from the downtown and
cannot be measured at night time. For example, FID 7
and FID 8 are on the way of Yangon -Mandalay
Highway. FID 10 is on the river bank. FID 1 is the in
the downtown. Note: FID 9 is not measured.

As an example, FID 1 measured on 26th January is
presented in this report. The soil class belongs to slope
wash deposit. When conducting measurement, the
weather was fine and sunny. The measurement was
from 15:35:00 to 16:00:00. the Geo net is set up 50HZ
A/D converter frequency and measured for 1200 sec
(20min) with digitized with equal-interval of 0.02s.
Since the environment of site was in the centre of
Mandalay city, there were passing motor vehicles
during measuring. The output data set of measurement
was given in three directions, East -West, North-South
and Up-down directions. Fig 4 shows the microtremor
measurement in sites
Figure 4. Showing the microtremor measurement on site
IV. ANALYSIS
The FFT calculation was done in excel. Since the
sample was collected 0.02 sec interval for 20 min
measuring, the sample size becomes 60,000. Sometimes
measurements were interrupted by some disturbance,
and the data was less than 60000. Following example is
sample size 52000. FFT calculation was done in
EXCEL, but the maximum sample size in EXCEL FFT
is 2n = 4096. Thus the data sample has to be subdivided
into 13 windows with 8sec interval. Tremor measured
in N-S and E-W are shown in Fig 5 (a) and (b). By Fig
5(b), the data set in portions 4 and 6 cannot be chosen
because of noise of motor vehicle passing in these data
set. The respective spectral for FID 0~12 are
summarized in Fig 6 (a) and Fig 6 (b).
V. ON H/V SPECTRUM
In order to evaluate site amplification
characteristics during earthquakes, Nakamura [6]
proposed a method to estimate the horizontal -to -
vertical (H/V) Fourier spectrum ratio of microtremor.
This is one of the most popular techniques for
estimation of site effects in the region with low
seismicity. In the method, a predominant period is
given by a peak period in the H/V ratio, while an
amplification factor at the periods is roughly assessed
by the ratio itself.  
Figure 5(a) Measured motion in North-South direction
Figure 5 (b) Showing Noise in portion 4 and 6. (240-
320 sec and 400-480 sec)
On the H/V spectrum, the horizontal motion is larger
than vertical motion on the soft ground while the
horizontal and vertical motions are similar on the hard
ground. The confirmed of H/V ratio is applicable for the
practical disaster prevention with easily handling
measurement. Moreover, it is able to estimate the
predominant frequency f(peak) . H/V components for x-
direction and Y-direction are illustrated and then the
average spectral ratio of H/V components at each
frequency can de expressed as
ಹ శಹ
ට ೣ ೤
ுೌೡ೒ మ
ൌ (1)
௏ ௏
Where H and V are the spectra of horizontal (north-
south and east-west direction) and vertical components
respectively. After obtaining the H/V spectra, the
average of the spectra was obtained as the H/V spectrum
for a particular site. The peak frequency of H/V
spectrum plots show the resonance frequency and
amplification factor of the site. The H/V spectra for
each FID is shown in the following Fig 7.
  FID-0 N-S E-W U-D

  800 1500 0.219Hz   4000 6.35Hz

6.18Hz

Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum
Fourier Spectrum

600 3000
1000
400 2000
  500
 
200 1000

0 0 0
  0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10
  15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
  FID 1
N-S E-W   U-D
600 600 1.44Hz 1200
1.477Hz 8.78Hz
Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum
1000
  400 400
 
800
600
  200 200   400
200
0 0 0
  0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10   15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (HZ) Frequency (HZ) Frequency (HZ)
FID 2
N-S E-W U-D
  1.514Hz
  800
500 500 1.416Hz 1.44Hz
Fourier Spectrum
Fourier Spectrum
Fourier Spectrum

400 400 600

  300 300   400
200 200
200
  100 100  
0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
  Frequency (Hz)  
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
FID 3 N-S E-W U-D
0.219Hz
  1400 800 0.2319Hz   1200
7.532Hz
1200 1000
Fourier Spectrum
Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum

1000 600 800

  800
400   600
600
400
400 200
200 200
  0 0
  0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
   
FID 4 N-S U-D
E-W
600 600 600
    1.611Hz
Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum

1.65Hz 1.64Hz
400 400 400

  200 200   200

0 0 0
  0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10   15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)

FID 5 N-S E-W U-D

  600
 
800 600 1.23Hz
1.29Hz 1.37Hz
Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum
Fourier Spectrum

400 600
    400
400
200 200
200
  0
 
0 0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
   
Figure 6 (a). Respective Fourier spectra for FID 0~5
   
 
  FID 6
N-S
  U-D
E-W
400 400 400
Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum
  1.245Hz 1.733Hz  
Fourier Spectrum
300 300 300 2.124Hz

200 200 200

  100 100   100
0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
  Frequency (Hz)
 
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
FID 7 N-S E-W
800 U-D
600 600
  3.42Hz 2.76Hz   3Hz
600
Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum

400 400

Fourier Spectrum
400
  200
  200
200

0
  0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10
  15 20
0
0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
FID 8
E-W U-D
  N-S  
600 1.54Hz 800 600
1.82Hz
Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum

600
  400   400 1.55Hz
400
200 200
  200  
0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 20 25
  Frequency (Hz)
Frequency (Hz)  
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
FID 10
N-S E-W U-D

  1200
1.45Hz
1200  
6.85Hz 1500
6.19Hz
Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum

1200
Fourier Spectrum

900 900
900
  600 600   600
300 300 300
  0 0   0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
   
Figure 6 (b). Respective Fourier spectra for FID 6~10 (FID 9 is not exist)
   

VI DISCUSSION The location of the sites in the second group is

the center of Mandalay city, as shown in Fig. 8.
H/V Spectrums in Fig.7 can be categorized into 4
Again, it is reasonable to see the sites nearby show
groups. First group is FID 0 and FID 3. There is not
similar results.
clear peak in the spectrum. Their geological profile
is different: slope was deposit and clay with minor The third group is FID 5, and 10. Peak value of
sand. But these sites locate in the northern part of H/V spectrum is larger than that of group 2, in the
Mandalay as shown in Fig. 8. Thus, the observation rage of 2.2 to 2.8. The corresponding frequency is
of the similarity in these close sites is reasonable. about 0.5 Hz, and it is same with that of group 2. The
location of these sites are far east and far west of the
The second group is FID 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7. Peak
Mandalay city. These site are not nearby, and their
value of H/V spectrum is about 1.5 to 2.0. And the
geological profile is also quite different (west bank /
corresponding frequency is 0.5 to 0.7 Hz. 
silt with gravel and clay).
  FID0 FID 1 FID 2
7 5.67 3 3
6 2.5 2.07 2.5 1.5
5 2 2

H/V
4
H/V
1.5
H/V

1.5
3 1
1
2
0.5 0.5
1
0 0
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10
0 2 4 6 8 10
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)

FID 3 FID 4 FID 5

6.66 2.83
8 3 3
2.5 1.9 2.5
6 2 2

H/V
H/V

1.5
H/V

4 1.5
1 1
2 0.5 0.5
0 0
0 0 2 4 6 8 10
0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)

FID 6 FID 7
FID 8
3 3 3
2.78
2.5 2.5 2.5
2 2 2
1.79 1.83
H/V

H/V

H/V

1.5 1.5 1.5

1 1 1
0.5 0.5 0.5
0 0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)

FID 10
FIDFID
10 9 3
FID 10
33 2.78 2.25
3
2.5 2.25 2.5 2.5 2.25
2.5
2 2 2
2
H/V
H/V

H/V

1.5 1.5 1.5

H/V

1.5
1 1 1
1
0.5 0.5 0.5
0.5
0 0 0
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10
0 2 4Frequency
6 (Hz) 8 10
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
Frequency (Hz)

Figure 7 H/V spectra for FID (FID9 is not exist)

The fourth group is FID 8. It locate in the south

of Mandalay. The frequency of the peak in H/V
spectrum is about 5 hz. This peak may be
corresponding to the second peak of H/V spectrum
in FID 5 and 7, which locate to the south of the
Mandalay city. Thus, the observed results relates to
their location, and it is quite resonable.

However, these results also implies that the

geological profile shown in Fig.3 is not good Figure 8 Grouping of FID by H/V spectra
information for the evaluation of site response
characteristics.
VII CONCLUSION
In this study, microtremor measurement was
conducted 10 places in Earthquake prone area, Mandalay,
Myanmar. The observed microtremor were analyzed by
H/V spectrum. The H/V spectrum were categorized into
4 groups. Basically, sites nearby showed similar results,
and it was confirmed that the observation is reasonable.
However, existing information of the geological
profile did not much to the grouping. Thus, these results
implied that the geological profile is not good enough for
the evaluation of site response characteristics, and
observation of microtremor at the sites will give more
reasonable information.
[4] P.S. Thein, Kiyono J, T.T. Win, T.T. Nu and Aung
D.W. Seismic Microzonation of Mandalay City,
Myanmar. Journal of Geological Resource and
Engineering (2018) 1-13.
[5] Rezaei S, Choobbasti AJ [2014] Liquefaction
assessment using microtremor measurement,
conventional method and artificial neural network
(Case study: Babol, Iran). Front Struct Civ Eng
8(3):292–307
[6] Nakamura Y (1989) A method for dynamic
characteristics estimation of subsurface using
microtremor on the ground surface. Q Rep RTRI
30:25–33

As the next step, computation of site response analysis

using the geological profile (boring logs) at each site
should be done to confirm the observed natural frequency
at the site in H/V spectrum.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This research was financially supported by JICA (JDA

program) and Japanese people.

REFERENCES

Proceeding Papers
[1] Myo Thant et. Al . Development of seismic hazard
maps for Mandalay, Mandalay Region.
International conference on geological engineering,
Jakarta, Indonesia. December 11-12, 2013
[2] Y.N. Hlaing, Koji Ichii, [2018] Ground Response
Analysis and Site characterization of Mandalay City,
Conference on Myanmar Engineering Society,
Annual General Meeting, Jan 19-20,2018.
Journal Papers
[3] Seed, H.B & Idriss, I.M 1970. Soil Moduli and
Damping Factor for Dynamic Response Analysis.
Report No. EERC 75-29, Earthquake Eng.
Research Center, University of California at
Berkeley, California.