2013 International Conference on Signal-Image Technology & Internet-Based Systems
Development of Real-Time Damage Estimation
System for Embankment
Using Earthquake Early Warning
Tsuneo OHSUMI
Principal Research Fellow, Disaster Risk Research Unit,
National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED)
3-1 Tenodai, tsukuba, Ibaraki, 303-0006 Japan
E-mail: t_ohsumi@bosai.go.jp
Abstract— In this paper, some limitations about Earthquake
Early Warning (EEW) were examined, which had become
apparent during and after the 2011 off the Pacific Coast of
Tohoku Earthquake. The proposal system analyzes automatically
correcting a detection error when server gets earthquake
information more than magnitude M7.5. The estimation method
for embankment settlement is performed using “Damaged
Tables”. Thus, the earthquake damage of embankments against
large earthquake can be evaluated.
Keywords— 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake,
Earthquake Early Warning (EEW), embankment, settlement
I. INTRODUCTION
The author proposed a solution to the issues of
underestimation of the magnitude and seismic intensities of
major earthquakes and that alarms were announced to area
within a certain definite range from the epicenter, not judging
from seismic intensities estimated by the empirical equations.
This solution is a method which a licensed business operator
can use for the major earthquakes, and the author applied this
solution to a prototype of a decision-making support system for
an expressway company. Also, for false alarms when two
earthquakes occurred close to one another. The author
quantified the probability of false alarms and developed a
decision-making support method for changing the operation
form of the disaster prevention system.
II. SYSTEM COMPONENT
A. Earthquake Early Warning (EEW)
Using the focus information on the Earthquake Early
Warning (EEW) an early warning can be acquired several
minutes earlier rather than using another earthquake
information. The EEW (Kinky Jishin Sokuh) is a warning
issued just after an earthquake in Japan is detected [1] (Fig.1).
The warnings are issued mainly by the Japan Meteorological
Agency (JMA), and they issue tips on how to react to the
warnings. The purpose of the EEW is to quickly announce to
the public that an earthquake has occurred and to inform them
of the estimated seismic intensity several seconds or more
978-1-4799-3211-5/13 $31.00 © 2013 IEEE 854
DOI 10.1109/SITIS.2013.139
before the arrival of the strong motions caused by the quake. In
those areas close to the focus of the earthquake, however, the
EEW may not be transmitted before the strong motions arrive.
Before the S-wave motion comes, it is possible to utilize
the supplementary information for help in decisions on and
priorities which correspond immediately after the subsiding of
the quake according to information gained from the ground-
motion duration time..
B. Ground amplification ratio
The major factor which controls the site effect is S-wave
velocities of the surficial sediments. We can therefore estimate
the site amplification characteristics from the S-wave velocities
of the near surface layers. Averaged S-wave velocity in the
uppermost 30 m (AVS30) has been widely used to assess site
conditions which can be used for predicting earthquake ground
motion [2]. We used amplification map based on 30-second
JEGM in grid cells of 7.5 arc-seconds JEGM, which is open
website by Japan Seismic Hazard Information Station
(J-SHIS) [3] with the National Research Institute for Earth
Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED). A ground
amplification ratio was calculated by Fujimoto and
Midorikawa (2006) [4] for AVS30 and velocity amplification
relations.
C. Realtime ground-motion monitoring system(Kyoshin
monitor)
As a result of having analyzed the EEW at the time of the
2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake, the result
was insufficient for the reporting of emergency earthquake
breaking news that a great earthquake of more than magnitude
M8 was coming.
Thus, now the proposal system analyzes automatically
correcting a detection error when server gets earthquake
information more than magnitude M7.5 (Fig. 2). The correcting
of a detection error is analyzed by using K-NET and KiK-net
seismometers observation data, which are real time open data
by the real-time ground-motion monitoring systems (Fig. 3).
 Fig.1. The Earthquake Early Warning system provides advance announcement of the estimated seismic intensities and
expected arrival time of principal motion. http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/Activities/eew.html [1]

Fig.3. Realtime ground-motion monitoring system

(Kyoshin monitor) http://www.kyoshin.bosai.go.jp/ [3]

Fig.2. Prototype Processing Image of Read-Time Damage Estimation

System for Embankment Using EEW㸬

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D. Seismic Intensity Prediction Technique
In the seismic intensity prediction from EEW’s hypocenter
uses the information is used attenuation relationship with fault
distance by Si and Midorikawa (1999) [5]. Therefore, the
“fault distance” is defined by subtracting half of the estimated
dislocation length from the hypocenter distance [6]. A ground
amplification ratio, which is was shown in chapter II.B, is used.
And relationship between the average shear-wave velocity and
the site amplification is used Fujimoto and Midrarikawa (2005)
[7], which computed the relation by using the peak ground
motions recorded at two nearby station points. In this case, a
reference observation point was used KiK-net Kainan, which is
located at the nearest NIED’s station with the target river
embankment.
E. Estimation Method of Embankment Settlement
The estimation method for embankment settlement is
performed using “Earthquake Damage Estimating Tables”
which are calculated using seismic intensity and embankment
settlement. The “Earthquake Damage Estimating Tables” are
calculated combining the results of the effective stress
analyses and previous earthquake damage within the
Tokushima area of embankments. Thus, the earthquake
damage of embankments against large earthquake can be
evaluated.
Furthermore, these “Damaged Tables” can be upgraded and
improved by more reliable calculations in the future.
Read-Time Damage Estimation Systems
Earthquake
Early Warning
Output
䠄XMLFiles䠅
Distribution Enterprises
(a) Information (b) Information
Processing Server Disclosure Server
NIED
This mail is transmitted
Realtime ground-motion
to the portable
monitoring system
telephone or PC.
(Kyoshin monitor)
Fig.4. Prototype Image of Read-Time Damage Estimation System for Embankment Using EEW.
856
F. Digital Japan Portal Web Site Systems
This study used the GEBCO Digital Atlas, which the
Geographical Survey Institute provided to Digital Japan Portal
Web Site. A data file is established in format information
"Digital Japan Portal Web Site" [8] in text (XML) form. An
HTML file to the information disclosure server (Web server),
which indicates a Web page. In the HTML file, Digital Japan
Portal Web systems is described that API function with
JavaScript.
If a user accesses the HTML file of an information
disclosure server using a web browser, information can be
perused in the state where it overlapped with the background
map of the Geographical Survey Institute.
G. Real-Time Damage Estimation Systems
The hypocenter information is acquired from the final
announcement of EEW. To improve an estimate intensity by
automatically correcting a detection error caused when a
difference between an estimated acceleration and an observed
acceleration is recoded by real-time ground-motion
monitoring system (Kyoshin monitor).
The amount of subsidence in the top of an embankment
was evaluated from the result of the estimated seismic intensity,
and the system automatically sent a notification to a river
administrator.
The calculated results of the earthquake can be seen in the
analysis server which carries out a file output in the form which
can be displayed in the Digital Japan Portal Web systems. The
river administrator can peruse the analysis result by accessing
this server using a browser.
GEBCO Digital Atlas
Geographical Survey Institute
Digital Japan Portal Web Site
Stacking
The systems convertible to a
file form perusable by a general
browser.
Administrator
H. Information output function

The contents exhibited by an information disclosure server

are shown. A river administrator accesses the information
disclosure server using a browser. The page has composition
shown in Fig. 4. The top page will be indicated the table when
more powerful tremors exceed the seismic intensity threshold
set up beforehand (Fig.5). This table is the structure
automatically added to a list.
The display page of a ground amplification ratio is shown
in Fig. 6.According to the size of a ground amplification ratio,
the levels are distinguished by different color.
Operation result pages include a seismic intensity
distribution information-on-forecast page and the amount Fig.4  Information Disclosure Server
information-on-forecast page of settlement.
On a seismic intensity distribution information-on-forecast
page (Fig.7), the map display of the seismic intensity
distribution is displayed in color boxes along the liver. Read-Time Damage Estimation System for Embankment
By the check box of the lower part of a screen, a river levee
part and color boxes can change a display and un-displaying,
respectively.
The amount of prediction subsidence of an embankment is
expressed as the amount information-on-forecast page of Estimated Intensity, Settlement
subsidence (Fig. 8).

Ground amplification ratio

III. CONCLUSION
In this study, a prototype decision-making support system
for river admistrators was developed so that the admistrators
can take initial response quickly to earthquake disasters. The
Embankment needs safety checks without delay just after a
large earthquake, even if the structure has been seismic- Estimated   Top Page
Fig.5Settlement
resistant designed as a proactive measurement.
In order to support emergency checkup just after the large settlement is performed using “Earthquake Damage Estimating
earthquake, a prototype decision-making support system for Tables” as high accuracy calculated tables.
river administrator was developed, which provides the
For earthquake vibrations values in each 250 m mesh box,
information about damage estimates for embankments using Japan real-time seismic-intensity exposed-population
EEW seismic parameters and about structures which need estimation system (J-RISQ) [10] will be applied in the future.
preferred checkups. The use of J-RISK for building earthquake vulnerability
Some limitations about EEW are examined which have analysis and for sending other related information as quickly as
been pointed out but have not been actively discussed about possible is under construction by NIED. J-RISK will be able to
those influences. Especially, the issues such as underestimation assist with damage estimate for an earthquake, exposed-
of the magnitude and seismic intensities at major earthquakes population estimation, hazard analysis, and damage analysis by
and false alarms when two earthquakes occurred close to one combining observational data such as real-time severe
another in spatially and in temporally were serious for users of earthquake data obtained from K-NET, KiK-net, a seismic
EEW, after the 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku intensity information network with a site specific amplitude
Earthquake. Similar problems could occur at the Nankai data, and population and building data.
Trough Earthquake. Some countermeasures for the problems Therefore, we would like to contribute “Real-time
are discussed and proposed, which can be performed by the
Embankment Damage Estimation” into the J-RISK system.
licensed operators of ground motion forecasting services.
“The Seismic Performance Evaluation Chart-system for
Coastal Structures” is construction by Ministry Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kinki Regional
Development Bureau [9]. This system can be apprised for
embankment

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Read-Time Damage Estimation System for Embankment Read-Time Damage Estimation System for Embankment

Ground amplification ratio Ground amplification ratio

Fig.6  Ground amplification ratio (Left: whole area, Right: embankment only )

Read-Time Damage Estimation System for Embankment Read-Time Damage Estimation System for Embankment

Estimated Intensity Estimated Settlement

Fig.7 Estimated Intensity Map Fig.8 Estimated Settlement

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 ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for technology
development in 2012 construction work (2012-01) to Tsuneo
Ohsumi by the General Incorporated Association, Shikoku-
Create, while at Tokushima University as professor.
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