Technical Implementation Plan for the ShakeAlert 

Production System—An Earthquake Early Warning 

System for the West Coast of the United States

Open-File Report 2014–1097

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
COVER IMAGE: Map generated from the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system showing the initial 10 seconds of an M7.8 scenario earthquake on 

the southern San Andreas Fault. Expected warning times for the scenario earthquake are shown by red dashed lines with warning time labeled. Faults 

(solid dark-gray lines), length of the scenario rupture (dotted black line), and major cities (black dot with city name labeled) are shown. Purple, red, and 

yellow colors show instantaneous surface velocity of the earthquake, and this data is modified from the TeraShake simulation (www.scec.org/terashake).
Technical Implementation Plan for the ShakeAlert 

Production System—An Earthquake Early Warning 

System for the West Coast of the United States

By D.D. Given, E.S. Cochran, T. Heaton, E. Hauksson, R. Allen, P. Hellweg, J. Vidale, and P. Bodin

Open-File Report 2014–1097

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

SALLY JEWELL, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2014

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth,

its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit 

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visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod

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Suggested citation:

Given, D.D., Cochran, E.S., Heaton, T., Hauksson, E., Allen, R., Hellweg, P., Vidale, J., and Bodin, P., 2014, 

Technical implementation plan for the ShakeAlert production system—An Earthquake Early Warning system for the 

West Coast of the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014–1097, 25 p., 

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141097.

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual 

copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report.
iii

Contents

Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................1

Background ................................................................................................................................................................2

Vision..........................................................................................................................................................................3

Mission .......................................................................................................................................................................3

Goal............................................................................................................................................................................3

Authorities ..................................................................................................................................................................3

Implementing the ShakeAlert System............................................................................................................................4

Evolutionary Implementation ......................................................................................................................................4

Large-Scale System Architecture ...............................................................................................................................5

Processing Architecture..............................................................................................................................................5

Detection Algorithms and Decision Module....................................................................................................................6

Ground-Motion Data Sources.........................................................................................................................................7

Seismic Data ..............................................................................................................................................................7

GPS Data ...................................................................................................................................................................8

Equipment Life Cycle..................................................................................................................................................8

Network Telemetry .........................................................................................................................................................9

Path Diversity and Fault Tolerance.............................................................................................................................9

Data Latency ..............................................................................................................................................................9

Central Site Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................................10

Computer Hardware .................................................................................................................................................10

Development and Testing Environment....................................................................................................................10

Central Site Software................................................................................................................................................11

Standards.....................................................................................................................................................................12

Data Formats............................................................................................................................................................12

Incoming Data.......................................................................................................................................................12

Outgoing Notifications...........................................................................................................................................12

Quality and Performance Standards.........................................................................................................................13

Warning Notification.....................................................................................................................................................14

Distribution of Notifications to the Public ..................................................................................................................14

Notification to Institutional Users ..............................................................................................................................16

Roles and Responsibilities ...........................................................................................................................................16

Public-Private Partnerships ......................................................................................................................................17

Project Communication ............................................................................................................................................18

Cost Estimate...............................................................................................................................................................18

Staffing.........................................................................................................................................................................18

Timeline .......................................................................................................................................................................20

Future Work .................................................................................................................................................................21

Continuing Research and Development ...................................................................................................................21

Portable Warning Capability .....................................................................................................................................21

Roll-Out to Other Regions ........................................................................................................................................21

User Education.........................................................................................................................................................21

Links.............................................................................................................................................................................22

Appendix A. Key Terms and Abbreviations..................................................................................................................23

Appendix B. Budget Details..........................................................................................................................................24
iv

Figures

Figure 1. Schematic, three-dimensional diagram illustrating travel path of Earthquake Early Warning system 

alerts to the public during an earthquake event .......................................................................................2

Figure 2. National earthquake hazard map of the West Coast, Unites States, showing locations of three ANSS 

regional network centers and seismic hazard levels ................................................................................5

Figure 3. Diagram showing existing and future modules and architecture of the ShakeAlert system. ....................6

Figure 4. Schematic diagram showing interaction of development, staging, and production computer 

environments .........................................................................................................................................11

Figure 5. Schematic diagram showing architecture of the IPAWS alert dissemination system.............................15

Figure 6. Spreadsheet showing project timeline, assuming full funding................................................................20

Tables

Table 1. New and upgraded seismic and Global Positing System stations needed for West Coast Earthquake 

Early Warning system................................................................................................................................8

Table 2. Additional Advanced National Seismic System and ANSS Quake Monitoring System regional center 

staff to support Earthquake Early Warning ..............................................................................................19

Table 3. Additional coordination staff to support Earthquake Early Warning .........................................................19

Table 4. Summary Cost of an Earthquake Early Warning system.........................................................................24

Table 5. Capital Cost of an Earthquake Early Warning system.............................................................................24

Table 6. Annual M&O Personnel Expenses ..........................................................................................................25

Table 7. Annual M&O Operating Expenses...........................................................................................................25

Table 8. System-Wide Coordination Personnel and Infrastructure........................................................................25
1

Technical Implementation Plan for the ShakeAlert 

Production System—An Earthquake Early Warning 

System for the West Coast of the United States

By D.D. Given1, E.S. Cochran1, T. Heaton2, E. Hauksson2, R. Allen3, P. Hellweg3, J. Vidale4, and P. Bodin4

Executive Summary

Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) systems can provide as much as tens of seconds of warning to 

people and automated systems before strong shaking arrives. The United States Geological Survey 

(USGS) and its partners are developing such an EEW system, called ShakeAlert, for the West Coast of 

the United States. This document describes the technical implementation of that system, which leverages 

existing stations and infrastructure of the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) regional networks 

to achieve this new capability. While significant progress has been made in developing the ShakeAlert 

early warning system, improved robustness of each component of the system and additional testing and 

certification are needed for the system to be reliable enough to issue public alerts. Major components of 

the system include dense networks of ground motion sensors, telecommunications from those sensors to 

central processing systems, algorithms for event detection and alert creation, and distribution systems to 

alert users. Capital investment costs for a West Coast EEW system are projected to be $38.3M, with 

additional annual maintenance and operations totaling $16.1M—in addition to current ANSS 

expenditures for earthquake monitoring. An EEW system is complementary to, but does not replace, 

other strategies to mitigate earthquake losses. The system has limitations: false and missed alerts are 

possible, and the area very near to an earthquake epicenter may receive little or no warning. However, 

such an EEW system would save lives, reduce injuries and damage, and improve community resilience 

by reducing longer-term economic losses for both public and private entities.

Introduction

The purpose of this document is to describe what must be done to build a reliable Earthquake 

Early Warning (EEW) system for the highest-risk areas of the West Coast of the United States

(California, Oregon, and Washington). A successful demonstration of this system, called ShakeAlert, 

has delivered alerts to beta users since January of 2012 for earthquakes occurring in California. This 

plan calls for continued development of all components of the ShakeAlert system to (1) advance it from 

its current demonstration mode to an operational prototype or “production system,” and (2) expand its 

area of effectiveness. Initial development of the ShakeAlert system, including algorithm creation and 

demonstration system design, was funded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Gordon and 

Betty Moore Foundation.

Some of the steps required to further develop the ShakeAlert system are outlined in USGSapproved, Phase III (2012–2015) project proposals submitted by the following participating groups:

California Institute of Technology, University of California at Berkeley, the University of Washington,

 1 U.S. Geological Survey

2 California Institute of Technology

3 University of California, Berkeley

4 University of Washington
2

and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich. The Phase III plan focuses on one component of the 

system: the software and algorithms that analyze ground motions and generate alerts.

This report has a broader scope that includes furthering development of all system components:

the sensor network, field telecommunications infrastructure, central processing systems, alert 

communications to users, and user interaction. Other topics, including policy, liability issues, 

management structure, interactions with stakeholders, funding strategies, and user implementation,

require separate consideration outside the scope of this report, but are briefly considered here where they 

impact the technical aspects of the EEW system implementation.

Background

Earthquakes pose a national challenge because 75 million Americans live in areas of significant 

seismic risk across 39 states (USGS Fact Sheet 2006-3016). Most of our Nation’s earthquake risk is 

concentrated on the West Coast of the United States. The Federal Emergency Management Agency 

(FEMA) has estimated the average annualized loss from earthquakes, nationwide, to be $5.3 billion, 

with 77 percent of that figure ($4.1 billion) coming from California, Washington, and Oregon, and 66

percent ($3.5 billion) from California alone. In the next 30 years, California has a 99.7 percent chance of 

a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake (Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast, Version 3) and 

the Pacific Northwest has a 10 percent chance of a magnitude 8 to 9 megathrust earthquake on the 

Cascadia subduction zone (Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast, Version 2).

Today, the technology exists to detect earthquakes, so quickly, that an alert can reach some areas 

before strong shaking arrives (fig. 1). The purpose of an EEW system is to identify and characterize an 

earthquake a few seconds after it begins, calculate the likely intensity of ground shaking that will result, 

and deliver warnings to people and infrastructure in harm's way.

Figure 1. Schematic, three-dimensional diagram illustrating travel path of Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) 

system alerts to the public during an earthquake event. Figure by Orange County Register.
3

Earthquakes generate two main types of waves: P-waves and S-waves. P-waves, or primary 

waves, travel at high speeds outward from the earthquake source, but rarely cause damage. S-waves, or 

secondary waves, travel more slowly, lag behind P-waves, and result in more intense ground shaking,

that causes damage. The location and magnitude of an earthquake can be determined rapidly by 

analyzing the first energy to radiate from an earthquake—the P-wave energy. Expected ground-shaking

levels across a region can then be estimated and warnings sent to local populations before larger, more 

damaging, shaking arrives (with or after the S-wave). Unfortunately, the area very close to an epicenter 

will receive little or no warning and the size of this so-called “blind zone” depends on how close seismic 

sensors are to an epicenter and reaction speed of the EEW system.

EEW systems have been successfully implemented in Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, China, and other 

nations with varying degrees of sophistication and coverage. The United States could likewise benefit 

from implementation of an EEW system. Since 2006, the USGS has supported EEW system 

development with university partners and the State of California. Those efforts resulted in a 

demonstration system called “ShakeAlert” that began sending test notifications to beta users in January 

2012. While that system has demonstrated the feasibility of EEW in California, the system is not yet 

sufficiently tested or robust enough for public alerts, or, for institutional users to initiate potentially 

costly actions to mitigate the effects of strong ground shaking.

Vision

Our vision is to reduce the impact of earthquakes and save lives and property in the United States 

by developing and operating a public EEW capability.

Mission

The USGS, along with partner organizations, will develop and operate an EEW system, 

ShakeAlert, for the highest-risk areas of the United States, that leverages current earthquake monitoring 

capabilities of the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS). We will provide alerts, free of charge, to 

the public via all practical emergency alert channels. We will also provide more information-rich alert 

streams to specialized users, including value-added service providers, for use in user-specific 

applications. The USGS will promote public education about the EEW system, its capabilities, its 

limitations, and its benefits to users. This mission will be accomplished in cooperation with both public 

and private partners and stakeholders through various partnerships and agreements.

Goal

The USGS will issue public warnings of potentially damaging earthquakes and provide warning 

parameter data to government agencies and private users on a region-by-region basis, as soon as the 

ShakeAlert system, its products, and its parametric data meet minimum quality and reliability standards 

in those geographic regions. Product availability will expand geographically via ANSS regional seismic 

networks, such that ShakeAlert products and warnings become available for all regions with dense 

seismic instrumentation.

Authorities

The USGS will issue public EEW system notifications under collaborative authorities with 

FEMA, as established by the Disaster Relief Act (P.L. 93-288, popularly known as the Stafford Act) and

the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program, as enacted by the Earthquake Hazards Reduction 

Act of 1977, 42 U.S.C. §§ 7701 et seq.
4

Implementing the ShakeAlert System 

The ShakeAlert system is a set of components and sub-systems that interprets ground motions to 

detect earthquakes, so quickly, that warnings can be sent to people and machines, allowing them to take 

protective action before strong shaking arrives. As the system is developed, work on each system 

component can proceed independent of the progress of others.

The main components of the system are listed below:

• Networks of stations with sensors and dataloggers that detect and record seismic and geodetic

ground motions generated by earthquakes.

• Telecommunications systems that reliably transmit real-time data from those stations to central 

processing locations with minimal latency (delay).

• Computer algorithms that analyze seismic and geodetic data to rapidly detect earthquakes, reject 

non-earthquake signals, determine earthquake characteristics, and estimate resulting ground motions. 

• Decision algorithms that evaluate and manage these results, generate notifications and parametric 

data streams when appropriate, and transmit them to users.

• Data processing facilities with hardware infrastructure, including computers, networks, and 

uninterruptable power systems that run algorithms.

• Diverse communications methods that transmit notifications and data streams rapidly and reliably to 

users.

• Research and testing facilities that evaluate system performance, refine and tune algorithms, and 

assess and approve new methods.

Evolutionary Implementation

An EEW system is being developed for the West Coast within existing operational environments

of three ANSS regional seismic networks in southern California (Southern California Seismic Network, 

SCSN), northern California (Northern California Seismic System, NCSS), and the Pacific Northwest 

(Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, PNSN). This enables USGS and ANSS to leverage their

substantial investment in sensor networks, data telemetry systems, data processing centers, and software 

for earthquake monitoring activities residing in these network centers. This approach also takes 

advantage of considerable institutional expertise and experience at the centers that have demonstrated 

competence in the production of rapid, automatic data products such as earthquake locations, focal 

mechanisms, moment tensors, ground shaking estimates, and public messages that are used by 

emergency responders, scientists, engineers, policy makers, and the public. EEW can be thought of as a 

new, faster, albeit more demanding, earthquake information product.

This evolutionary development of EEW has been underway for many years within the California 

Integrated Seismic Network (CISN), which is the California region of the ANSS. CISN is a 

collaboration among SCSN (USGS and Caltech), NCSS (USGS and UC Berkeley), the California 

Geological Survey (CGS), and the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). ShakeAlert is

currently being extended to the PNSN, and ultimately, could propagate to other ANSS regional centers

throughout the nation. Funding is the primary constraint on how quickly this can be accomplished. It is 

imperative that development and implementation of ShakeAlert have no adverse impact on the ability of 

the ANSS centers to fulfill their current seismic monitoring mission. Likewise, transition of ShakeAlert 

to production must not interrupt delivery of notifications to beta users who currently participate in the 

demonstration system.
5

Large-Scale System Architecture

Large-scale architecture of a West Coast system calls for processing and warning centers at the 

three existing ANSS “Tier 1” regional network centers in northern California, southern California, and 

Seattle (fig. 2). There are several reasons for this. Most obviously, ShakeAlert is an extension of existing

regional network operations at these centers, as described above. Second, sensor networks and telemetry 

systems must be installed, monitored, and maintained within the regions of earthquake risk. Regional

processing ensures close coordination and cooperation among personnel engaged in all aspects of the 

system: field operations, data management, and data processing. Also, this improves reliability and

reduces latency by minimizing the number of “router hops” for data (from sensor to center), and for 

alerts (from center to user). In addition, this approach makes it practical for the system to share 

telemetry directly with local and regional entities like utility companies as well as police and fire 

departments. Finally, this approach ensures close communication and cooperation among operators,

users, decision makers, and elected officials in each region.

Figure 2. National earthquake hazard map of the West Coast, Unites States, showing locations of three ANSS 

regional network centers (stars) and seismic hazard levels. Warm colors (yellow to pink) indicate higher seismic 

hazard, whereas cool colors (blue and green) correspond to areas of lower hazard.

Processing Architecture

ShakeAlert is a distributed system with several interconnected components. This system 

architecture allows for independent development of individual components, including data sources, 

algorithms, event associator, and user alert generation and delivery (fig. 3). Data sources include 

continuous streams of various types of ground motion measurements and EEW parameters derived from 

those streams that are provided by regional seismic networks. In the future, data streams from 

cooperating groups can be incorporated when they meet system quality standards. Future developments 

will include real-time, high-precision Global Positioning System (GPS) data streams and displacement

streams that combine GPS and seismic time series.
6

Within seconds of an event’s initiation (origin time), algorithms detect and characterize 

earthquakes. Three EEW algorithms are currently implemented in the system: τc-Pd Onsite, Virtual 

Seismologist, and ElarmS. An associator, called the Decision Module (DM), then uses estimates of 

source parameters and uncertainties (determined by the algorithms) to calculate, update, and report the 

most probable earthquake location and magnitude. Next, user alerts report rapid estimates of earthquake 

magnitudes, locations, expected seismic intensities, and probabilities that an alarm is correct (likelihood 

parameter). Then, user alert messages, generated by the DM, are distributed as XML messages that are 

updated at least once per second as the earthquake occurs. These data streams were designed to be used 

in a wide variety of end-user applications, including mobile phone apps, other mass-distribution alert 

applications, and engineering applications. As a proof of concept, alert messages are received and 

displayed in real-time by an application called “User Display” that runs on a user’s computer.

Figure 3. Diagram showing existing (solid lines, bold text) and future (dashed lines) modules and architecture of 

the ShakeAlert system.

Detection Algorithms and Decision Module 

All EEW systems depend on algorithms that rapidly evaluate ground-motion observations from a 

network of sensors to estimate the location and magnitude of an earthquake and associated likelihood. 

As described above, three algorithms currently process real-time seismic data and geodetic-based 

algorithms are also being tested. Algorithm outputs are evaluated by the DM to recognize events

declared by more than one algorithm, combine event location and magnitude estimates, and output a 

synthesis of event information and probabilities. Development of these algorithms and the DM is 

underway by university partners and is supported by funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore 

Foundation through 2014.
7

Algorithm and DM implementation will include the following steps:

• Test existing algorithms and DM to demonstrate they meet performance standards (see “Quality and 

Performance Standards” section of report).

• Continue improving existing algorithms and encourage development of better ones.

• Expansion of detection capabilities will include the following steps:

o Improving large-magnitude event warnings by including real-time fault modeling to estimate 

total rupture length and slip distribution.

o Implementing new detection algorithms that incorporate real-time GPS displacement data.

Ground-Motion Data Sources 

Current EEW algorithms use ground motions of various types to rapidly detect and characterize 

moderate to large earthquakes. Seismic instruments record ground velocity and acceleration that can be 

numerically integrated to displacement, whereas real-time GPS instruments record ground displacement

directly.

Seismic Data

Ground motions used for earthquake early warnings are currently based primarily on seismic 

observations from broadband and strong-motion seismic sensors. The three EEW algorithms have been 

developed and refined using recorded seismic data from global events as well as real-time network data 

from CISN. Whereas data flow and EEW parameter determination is well-established, optimal density 

and distribution of seismic sensors on the West Coast has not yet been achieved, and more stations are 

needed. To maximize warning time and minimize the “blind zone” (the area too close to the earthquake 

epicenter to receive a warning), earthquake sensors must be located near active faults. The current goal 

is to operate a network of seismic stations that are spaced no more than 20 km apart and within 5 km of 

all mapped fault traces. However, experience tells us that damaging earthquakes can occur even where 

faults have not been mapped; therefore, 20-km spacing or closer is also needed throughout all high-risk

areas. Even denser station spacing of about 10 km would be needed to minimize the blind zone in more 

densely populated areas. The sensors, currently operated by the West Coast ANSS seismic networks, are

not sufficiently dense in all areas to accomplish EEW without unacceptable delays; therefore, new 

stations must be added and existing stations must be upgraded to achieve station density needed for 

EEW.

Greater station density will be achieved in several ways:

• Install new stations—It is estimated that about 440 new and upgraded seismic stations are needed in 

California and about 280 in Washington and Oregon (table 1). As funding opportunities arise, new 

stations will be added to ANSS to fill coverage gaps, especially along active faults zones and in 

populated areas.

• Upgrade sensors and dataloggers—Many older existing stations, not suitable for EEW now, could be 

upgraded to contribute. There are a total of about 250 such stations in the CISN and another 250 in 

the PNSN. Those that fill gaps in the network distribution are candidates for upgrade.

• Add telemetry to and upgrade selected strong-motion stations—There are many strong-motion 

accelerometer stations that do not send data in real-time and therefore cannot contribute to EEW. 

The California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program operates approximately 840 free-field sites, 

most of which have no real-time telemetry. The USGS National Strong-Motion Project operates
8

about 335 free field stations on the West Coast of which only about 40 have real-time telemetry. 

Many of these could be used for EEW if telemetry was added and the equipment was upgraded.

• Encourage cooperators to install stations—We will continue to encourage organizations with 

sufficient interest and resources to install seismic equipment and send the real-time data to ANSS.

• Integrate data from inexpensive sensor networks—We will continue to pursue the use of inexpensive 

MicroElectroMechanical System sensors hosted by volunteers (for example, Quake Catcher

Network and Community Seismic Network).

Table 1. New and upgraded seismic and Global Positing System (GPS) stations needed for West Coast

Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system.

[ANSS, Advanced National Seismic System; NCSS, Northern California Seismic System; PNSN, Pacific Northwest Seismic 

Network; SCSN, Southern California Seismic Network]

California (CISN) Pacific Northwest Total: West Coast U.S.

Instrumentation Type NCSS SCSN PNSN (NCSS+SCSN+PNSN)

Seismic: Type A1 100 25 66 191

Seismic: Type B2 239 75 210 524

GPS 100 50 156 306

1

ANSS station; broadband plus strong-motion instrumentation. 2

Only strong-motion instrumentation.

GPS Data

While the use of real-time GPS data for EEW is less developed than the use of seismic data, 

there is ample evidence that GPS will make a significant contribution to the calculation of large 

magnitudes and characterization of large fault ruptures. Both UC Berkeley and University of 

Washington have been funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to develop and test such 

algorithms. Other researchers are also developing methods to use GPS data in EEW applications,

including techniques to combine seismic and geodetic data to produce real-time displacement time

series. Additional work is needed to develop, test, and integrate GPS data into the ShakeAlert system.

The steps to integrate GPS observations into the EEW system are as follows:

• Identify GPS-based algorithms that best contribute to fast and reliable characterization of largesource, large-magnitude events.

• Upgrade or install real-time, high-precision GPS receivers near active faults.

• Establish standard data processing methodologies for solving real-time displacements.

• Establish a thoroughgoing flow of real-time GPS data to the ShakeAlert system.

• Test and implement selected GPS EEW algorithm(s) in the production system.

Equipment Life Cycle

This plan assumes a 10-year operational life for both seismic and GPS field equipment, therefore 

about 10 percent of network equipment would be replaced each year. In a funding scenario where no 

capital construction costs are provided, but maintenance and operation funds are granted as proposed,

the life cycle replacement plan completely upgrades obsolete field equipment within existing networks 

in 10 years or less.
9

Network Telemetry

Data communications from field sites to central processing sites must be hardened against loss of 

connection. Absolute reliability of each site would be cost prohibitive, however, the system shall be 

engineered to fulfill its warning function during and after strong shaking by minimizing the impact of 

loss of regional electrical power and collapse of commercial telecommunications systems. System 

design cannot depend on the notion that notifications will be sent before fragile communication links are 

destroyed by a quake. Such a system would fail to warn the public of aftershocks following the 

mainshock. In addition, the system must be resilient to routine outages and failures.

The best strategy, as demonstrated by the current ANSS networks, is to use diverse 

telecommunication technologies for communicating data from the field sites. These methods include the 

public Internet, a variety of commercially leased telecommunications technologies from different 

carriers (T-1, cellular, DSL, satellite), USGS-owned-and-operated radio and microwave, and cooperatorowned-and-operated systems.

Path Diversity and Fault Tolerance

We will inventory existing data paths within CISN and PNSN and develop a plan to maximize 

diversity and fault tolerance. If funding permits, we will commission a study by an outside contractor to 

survey all available telemetry options and develop a plan to maximize reliability of field telemetry. 

Current activities to improve telemetry will continue. These include replacing Very High Frequency

radios and frame relay circuits with cellular or Internet Protocol radio communications, improvements to 

USGS microwave backbones, and carrying data over cooperator systems. We will monitor new 

technology developments in telecommunications as they become available and evaluate their 

applicability to the task of EEW. Funding from the sale of government radio spectrum to migrate to 

other frequencies may afford the opportunity to improve and expand USGS-operated 

telecommunications systems.

The steps for achieving greater diversity and fault tolerance in the telemetry system are as follows:

• Document the current telemetry infrastructure of CISN.

• Document bandwidth requirements for real-time data from all instrument types.

• Document bandwidth and latency characteristics of available telemetry options.

• Understand the characteristics of new telecommunication technologies and commercial solutions

(for example, mesh radio networks, Multiprotocol Label Switching, and cloud services).

• Establish memorandas of understanding with cooperator organizations that include use of their 

telecommunications infrastructure for field data.

• Develop two plans to achieve highly reliable data return from field sensors; one assuming modest 

capital budget and one assuming a large funding increase. This planning may be outsourced.

Data Latency

Telemetry options will be evaluated to minimize data latency. Generally, latencies in modern 

telecommunications systems are acceptably low for EEW.
10

Central Site Infrastructure

Computer Hardware

A new “production system” will be built to support current beta users who receive alerts from the 

demonstration system. That system will include redundant, cooperating production systems at the three 

regional ANSS centers (SCSN, NCSS, and PNSN). All central site infrastructure, computers, and 

networking shall be engineered to fulfill their warning functions during and after disasters, including 

strong shaking (up to 2.0 g), loss of commercial electrical power for up to 1 week, and collapse of 

commercial telecommunications systems.

The use of commercial cloud services to provide some or all of the computational and data 

transmission needs of the ShakeAlert system should be more thoroughly evaluated. Cloud computing 

may solve some robustness and redundancy issues more cost effectively than locally operated centers;

however, moving to the cloud might also introduce new fragilities and risks, making them harder to 

manage. These risks include greater dependence on public Internet and rapidly changing technical and 

pricing models that are beyond our control. The main attraction of the cloud computing model for many 

users is elasticity: automatically allocating computing resources on demand. Today this on-the-fly 

addition of computer resources is too slow for EEW applications.

This plan assumes a 5-year life cycle for 20–30 computer servers at each regional network 

center, to perform data handling, processing, product production, alert distribution, and testing.

Building the operational infrastructure will include the following activities:

• Build stable hardware infrastructure for the production system to take over support of current beta 

users from the demonstration system. This includes defining and documenting the following items:

o overall system architecture.

o standard hardware platform requirements.

o standard OS environment, libraries, and user and directory structures.

• Develop and document standard operating procedures to manage network changes, patches, and 

updates.

• Develop and document standard operating procedures to monitor network traffic and state-of-health 

for all sub-systems and the system as a whole.

• Ensure resilience of the system by operating redundant instances of all critical components.

Development and Testing Environment

To ensure reliable operation of the EEW system, development and testing functions must be 

independent of the production system. Also, testing and evaluation of new code, system upgrades, and 

configuration changes must be done in an operational environment that is identical to production. This 

environment must include live data input streams and the ability to play back test datasets, both real and 

synthetic. Finally, all code and configuration changes certified for use in production must be 

documented and preserved. This will be accomplished by creating independent but identical computer 

environments for development, testing and staging, and production as shown schematically in figure 4. 

All code and configuration changes will be preserved in a journaling code repository.
11

Figure 4. Schematic diagram showing interaction of development, staging, and production computer 

environments. All code and configurations reside in a code management repository. All new and changed code 

and configurations are tested with real-time data streams and play-back of synthetic streams.

Central Site Software

Software from the demonstration ShakeAlert will be ported to new, robust processing threads 

that will run in close cooperation with current ANSS Quake Monitoring System (AQMS) operations.

AQMS is a real-time earthquake monitoring system that has been adopted by ANSS for use in regional 

networks. The same real-time ground motions that feed into AQMS are the input data to ShakeAlert. 

Project programmers for EEW will port the current development thread of processing to new production 

machines, thus freeing the current machines for further development efforts. This may require code 

changes to adapt to the new operational environment. It may also involve adding more rigorous 

exception handling to improve robustness of error code reporting. To eliminate single points of failure,

redundant processing threads will be established within and among ANSS regions. Notifications to 

outside users will originate from several geographically diverse URLs in the usgs.gov domain.

Creation of the production prototype system will include the following activities:

• A standard operational environment for EEW software will be established, documented, and used on 

all EEW production computers.

• EEW software will be installed on dedicated computer servers.

• Policies and standard operating procedures will be established for documenting and managing 

software and configuration changes in the system. This version management will include network 

and computer environment changes, patches, and updates to ensure reliable system operation.

• Personnel responsible for routine operations of AQMS will be trained to operate and monitor EEW 

processing threads.

• Production systems will be replicated and installed at all three West Coast regional ANSS centers

(SCSN, NCSS, PNSN).
12

Software enhancements include the following improvements:

• State of health monitoring and exception notification will be implemented.

• EEW software will be modified to use ANSS network metadata availability and access to AQMS 

databases.

• Streamline earthquake event id numbers and versioning between EEW and existing AQMS 

processing outputs.

• UserDisplay application will be modified to automatically switch among alternate redundant servers

in the event of connection loss or server failure.

• New or updated algorithms will be added to productions systems only after they have met 

performance standards (see “Quality and Performance Standards” section).

These collaborative efforts will be gradual and iterative to ensure no loss of functionality to 

current users. This effort will take into account the fact that some unique solutions may be needed at 

each regional center because AQMS and ShakeAlert implementations and staffing vary across centers.

Standards

Data Formats

Data and message formats must be standardized throughout the system. Standard formats will 

simplify internal operations, facilitate maintenance of test data sets, and allow groups outside the project 

to more easily contribute data to and receive data from the system. In some cases, viable formats already 

exist and need only to be adopted and documented. If required, project staff and (or) working groups 

will extend existing formats or develop new ones.

Incoming Data

Several standards already exist for incoming seismic time series, (mSEED and Earthworm 

TraceBuf, for example). The geodetic community is working on standards for real-time time series 

based on existing standards for GPS data. Standard formats for EEW parameters, generated in 

dataloggers or cooperator equipment, will be based on those already developed for the demonstration 

phase of the EEW. Publishing of these standards will enable commercial vendors to make products 

capable of contributing data directly to ShakeAlert without the need for format conversion.

A standard data communication protocol (application programming interface), by which time 

series and parameters from both seismic and geodetic sensors will be communicated from data 

producers to the EEW system, will be developed, documented, and made available to partners. The 

standard must address metadata related to these parameters, data-quality description parameters, 

security, and validation.

Outgoing Notifications

Outgoing EEW notification formats exist and are documented. These are XML messages that 

contain information about an earthquake’s location, magnitude, and likelihood. Additional optional 

information includes finite-fault parameters and stations that have detected ground motion. Because the 

format is XML, it can be expanded to accommodate additional information as new sensor types or data 

streams are developed. The current standard data communication protocol is ActiveMQ, an open-source 

data communications protocol. It is well-documented and has wide support in the IT community.
13

Common Alert Protocol messages will be generated and submitted to the Integrated Public Alert 

and Warning System (IPAWS) for public distribution. This will require additional logic within the EEW 

system to decide the level of likelihood that public notifications will be sent. Additional output streams 

will be developed to support specific output paths, for example, to private companies and other 

stakeholders.

Quality and Performance Standards

Standards, performance goals, and uniform procedures are critical to the success, acceptance, and 

proper operation of the EEW system. These standards must include meaningful, realistic metrics. All 

work of the USGS, including EEW, is governed by several orders and authorities. First, we are required 

to follow the DOI Secretary’s Order No. 3305 and related guidance concerning science quality and 

integrity. This includes a process for scientific peer review of all research and development. Second, the 

ANSS has national standards for management, system performance, data completeness and quality, 

sharing of seismic data, and validation of methods for creation and distribution of public earthquake 

information.

The National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council (NEPEC) will review and approve the 

EEW system before public notification can be issued. NEPEC is the official entity for validation of 

prediction and related scientific research for USGS, in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee 

Act. The NEPEC may, at its discretion, delegate this task to the California Earthquake Prediction 

Evaluation Council.

During the equipment procurement process, technical specifications for seismic sensors, 

dataloggers, and GPS receivers and antennas are rigorously defined, and vendor equipment is tested on 

shake tables before contracts are awarded.

Establishing quality and performance standards will include the following activities:

• Standards will be developed and documented that define the following items:

o Minimum and optimum seismic and geodetic station spacing.

o Sensor and data types useful to the system.

o Maximum allowable telemetry latency and minimum quality of service for data sources.

o System security standards that, at a minimum, conform to applicable government standards,

including Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. § 3541, et seq.).

o Acceptable levels of “false alarms” or missed events as a function of event magnitude for all 

detection algorithms as well as for the final output from the DM.

o Where and when early warning results are sufficiently reliable for release to different user 

groups. For example, criteria for public release may be more stringent than those for more 

sophisticated institutional users.

o Best practices for software coding, software testing, and certification procedures.

• A set of earthquake scenario waveforms will be developed to test new and modified code in a 

realistic simulated real-time operational environment. This set will include synthetic waveforms that 

simulate events larger than those available in existing data sets, including Cascadia subduction zone 

events.

• Solution output from each algorithm, and from the DM, will be archived to allow evaluation and 

troubleshooting of system component performance.

• Methods and tools developed to evaluate system performance will be integrated into the AQMS 

operational environment.
14

Warning Notification

The primary product of ShakeAlert is not a single alert notification; rather, the strategy is to 

provide a stream of information about an earthquake as it evolves so that end users can make decisions 

about what actions they should take in their own context. For this reason, the system sends alert streams 

for small earthquakes—sometimes less than M3.0. This has the added benefit of exercising the system 

frequently, even though most events will not result in end-user actions.

For some applications, however, like public alerts to IPAWS/Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)

or schools, ShakeAlert must perform a decision function to determine when “drop, cover, and hold on” 

is warranted and only issue a single alert.

To provide both capabilities, the following project items must be completed:

• Develop a decision and notification architecture that allows multiple DM services to synchronize 

and coordinate to eliminate single points of failure while ensuring consistent messages to users.

• Develop decision logic, possibly implemented via an alternative DM-like service that will determine 

when to send a public EEW alert message.

• Develop geotargeting algorithms to calculate the area that will experience ground shaking above a 

pre-defined threshold.

• Work with EEW message redistributors and consumers to properly receive, interpret and respond to 

geotargeting information.

Distribution of Notifications to the Public

ShakeAlert notifications will be sent over existing public alert systems to the extent their 

capabilities allow. Public mass notification systems like IPAWS (fig. 5) and WEA are operated by 

FEMA. This system carries Amber Alerts as well as various hazard alerts. USGS will become an “alert

authority” for the IPAWS system. EEW developers will participate in the IPAWS development process 

to ensure that operators of these systems consider the low latency requirements of earthquake early 

warning notification in their planning. Alerts may also be sent via public state, county, and local alert 

and notification systems as well as through private redistribution channels like cell phone apps, push 

notification channels, social media providers and other instant communications technologies as they 

develop. Commercial mass notification companies can also redistribute alerts to their customers.
15

Figure 5. Schematic diagram showing architecture of the IPAWS alert dissemination system (figure from

www.fema.gov).

Sending public notification messages will require the following activities:

• IPAWS/WEA

o Establish USGS as an “alert authority” with the IPAWS system.

o Understand the limitations and latencies in the IPAWS/WEA system.

o Implement a message service to send Common Alert Protocol (CAP) messages to IPAWS.

o Implement message services to send both long and short WEA messages to IPAWS.

o Explore other notification paths.

• Smartphone Apps

o Develop a smartphone app to receive EEW messages on multiple platforms. This may be 

accomplished in cooperation with commercial developers.

o Develop and implement the message services to support these apps.

• Other Technologies

o Internet.

o Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS).

o Private emergency alert systems (Google Public Alerts, for example).

o Other technologies as they develop.
16

Notification to Institutional Users

One of the most important applications of EEW is the initiation of automatic protective actions 

by utilities, transportation, and industry. While some organizations have the internal expertise to 

implement EEW effectively in their own context, most will need outside support. The ShakeAlert 

project cannot provide individualized help to thousands of potential institutional clients, each with a 

need to customize actions to their own requirements. Therefore, the system will encourage value-added 

customization and redistribution of notifications by third parties. In Japan, this niche is filled by the 

Real-time Earthquake Information Consortium, a non-profit organization that promotes the use of EEW 

information and acts as a liaison between the Japan Meteorological Agency system and external users. 

The Real-time Earthquake Information Consortium includes more than 70 companies that provide 

consulting services and products for the practical application of EEW notifications. The USGS and its 

partners, being publicly funded, must provide the public safety services it offers to all users without 

charge as it does now in the case of the Earthquake Notification Service, ShakeMap, and the National 

Hazard Maps. Office of Management and Budget Circular A-130 recognizes that “government 

information is a valuable national resource, and ... the economic benefits to society are maximized when 

government information is available in a timely and equitable manner to all.” However, USGS may 

enter into technical co-development agreements with public or private organizations to promote the 

effective use of EEW information. Also, USGS-funded partners may develop and provide specialized, 

value-added information or services to users that are not supported by government funds.

Encouraging the development of user-specific applications of EEW will require the following activities:

• Document the APIs available to end users for receiving EEW notifications.

• Document the format and behavior of the message stream, including the meaning of “likelihood” so 

end users can effectively understand and use the data received.

• Provide sample code for connecting to EEW servers and receiving messages.

• Develop demonstration applications or devices that can receive EEW messages, execute user logic, 

and initiate actions at user sites. This may be accomplished through cooperation with end users, 

agreements with private companies, or by internal development.

Roles and Responsibilities

The project will be managed like other important projects of the USGS Earthquake Hazards 

Program (EHP). At the Federal level, oversight of the larger program will include review by the

Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee, the ANSS Advisory Committee, and the Earthquake 

Program Council. Coordination with FEMA and National Institute of Standards and Technology is also 

necessary to fulfill Stafford Act and National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program responsibilities.

The USGS EHP will have overall responsibility for the development and operation of the 

national EEW system. However, cooperation and coordination among many stakeholders will be needed

for success. In particular, state emergency management agencies must be key players in the system.

EEW is an extension of the responsibilities of the ANSS and will be governed by the same 

management and organizational structures. For example, in California, CISN network operators at the 

two ANSS Tier 1 centers will continue to operate their parts of the system in coordination with the 

USGS and Cal OES and will participate in decision making for the system through existing or expanded 

ANSS governing structures.
17

Development and testing of ShakeAlert software have been and will continue to be accomplished 

by the ANSS USGS and its partner universities through cooperative agreements and grants. The USGS

ANSS Coordinator, in coordination with the USGS Earthquake Early Warning Coordinator, will have 

overall responsibility for the EEW system and will work closely with cooperating ANSS partners to 

achieve system goals. Additional advisory or working groups may be formed as needed.

ANSS regional operators and the EEW Coordinator will need to harmonize their activities with 

Federal, State, and local entities that have a stake in the EEW system. These include NEHRP agencies 

including FEMA, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and National Science Foundation as 

well as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, state, county, and city emergency 

management departments, geological surveys, and other organizations with emergency preparedness and 

response missions.

During the transition from the demonstration phase to the production phase, EEW algorithm 

developers will collaborate with USGS staff to transfer the existing ShakeAlert demonstration codes into 

the ShakeAlert production environment to create the “operational prototype.” Once tested and certified,

this will become version 1 of the production system. The four working groups organized during 

development of the demonstration system will be retained and one group added. These are the 

production system group, the demonstration system group, the scientific coordination group, the 

performance evaluation group, and the user interactions group.

Public-Private Partnerships

Partnerships with stakeholder organizations are important to ANSS operation of seismic 

networks and will increase as EEW is implemented. Today, ANSS receives real-time ground-motion 

data streams from both public and private partners. In addition, some partners provide data 

communications and secure sensor locations. This addition significantly improves performance of the 

entire system. Published EEW algorithms will be available to seismic sensor manufacturers who can 

implement them on their products, thereby increasing their value while providing more information to 

the system. Market demand may result in consumer level EEW sensor/receiver devices to send data to 

ShakeAlert while, at the same time, receiving alerts, sounding alarms, and taking actions. Some highvulnerability users may benefit from additional capabilities to augment the ShakeAlert system. For 

example, an on-site system may provide faster warning when an event is very close to that location. In 

Japan, more than 70 businesses have registered to provide such products and services.

There will be significant business opportunities for companies to provide consulting services to 

help users develop business plans and decision models for actions to take during an early warning alert. 

Interpretation of warning messages and redistribution to clients can add significant value to the 

ShakeAlert warnings. Because specific impacts of predicted shaking are site-dependent and depend on 

the infrastructure at a given location, private sector services will be necessary to ensure that warnings 

are fully utilized by the public and businesses to minimize earthquake damage, injuries, and deaths.

Participation by diverse communications companies will undoubtedly be important for effective 

distribution of alerts to the public and business. Mass notification companies, cellphone carriers, internet 

service providers, cable and satellite companies, and TV and radio stations are in an ideal situation to 

provide these services as they have done in Japan. Software developers will undoubtedly develop 

creative EEW applications for various platforms, including smartphones and tablets.

Extensive outreach and education for both public and institutional users will be necessary to 

maximize EEW benefits. All users must be educated on the appropriate actions to take upon receiving a 

warning, and understand limitations and reliability of warning information. Partnerships with 

appropriate organizations, both public and private, will be needed to ensure that this education occurs 

(for example, FEMA, State Emergency Management Agencies, communications specialists, and specific 

sector groups such as transportation, utility companies, and hospitals).
18

Project Communication

This project will be coordinated by the same mechanisms used during development of the 

ShakeAlert demonstration system: by the use of conference calls, face-to-face meetings, collaborative 

documents, shared websites, wikis, and code repositories. We will hold bimonthly “all-hands” 

conference calls to exchange updates about project components and decide on project-wide strategies. 

Each of the working groups will also hold its own calls as necessary throughout the project.

Project managers will continue holding calls with a broader group of USGS representatives 

every six months. Representatives from the Earthquake Hazards Program headquarters in Reston, the 

Earthquake Science Center in Menlo Park, the National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, and a 

representative of Natural Hazards Mission Area: Science Application For Risk Reduction project will

participate along with others interested parties. These calls are an opportunity to provide updates and get 

feedback on project priorities. Annual progress reports will be submitted to USGS by externally funded 

partners.

Cost Estimate

The projected cost of an EEW system for the West Coast includes initial capital investment as 

well as ongoing maintenance and operations. The capital investment costs for the West Coast EEW 

system are projected to be $38.3M. Capital investment includes purchasing and installing seismic and 

GPS equipment to increase monitoring station density to the minimum levels required for providing 

warnings to urban areas of the West Coast of the United States. Additional capital costs cover improved 

telemetry robustness and resiliency between the station and regional centers. Annual maintenance and 

operation costs of the EEW system total $16.1M. This includes life cycle hardware replacement, 

telemetry costs, staff, and staff support (described below). It is important to note that these projected 

costs are in addition to current ANSS funding at the three regional ANSS centers and assume no 

reduction in support for those efforts. Additional details, including a regional breakdown, are provided 

in tables 5–9 shown in appendix B.

An alternative funding model, without upfront build-out funding and with the annual 

maintenance and operation funding level alone, would result in building the system more slowly. The 

pace of build-out in this scenario would be determined by the 10-year field equipment life cycle.

Staffing

Implementation and operation of the EEW system will require new staff over and above those 

currently involved in ANSS seismic network operations (table 2). Reliable operation of the ShakeAlert 

system requires additional technical staff at each of the regional centers to augment current staff in the 

areas of project management, engineering and maintenance of new field stations and telemetry 

infrastructure, computer system operation and administration, programming, and local outreach (table 

2). In addition, new personnel are required to coordinate the system-wide effort (table 3). The 

distribution of new personnel among the university partners and USGS will be determined as the project 

moves forward. Because ShakeAlert is dependent on data from the ANSS/AQMS system, this plan also 

calls for bolstering Tier 1 network operational staff from their current, bare-bones levels to ensure all 

major functions are supported by at least two people. This will guarantee coverage during vacations and 

illness, continuity through personnel turnover, and allow close monitoring of systems.

Continuous system state-of-health monitoring and quality assurance of data streams and results

will be automated as much as possible. On-call personnel with remote access will respond to issues 24/7 

as they arise. Diligent system engineering and rigorous testing and certification of new and changed 

code or configurations will minimize problems in the live production system. Because human 
19

intervention would not be fast enough to mitigate problems once an event is detected, on-site 24/7 

personnel at the regional centers are not called for in this plan.

Expansion of the seismic networks and telemetry infrastructure requires additional field 

engineers to install and maintain stations and telemetry components and to accomplish the life-cycle 

replacement upgrade schedule of 10 percent of network stations per year.

Table 2. Additional Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) and ANSS Quake Monitoring System (AQMS)

regional center staff to support Earthquake Early Warning (EEW).

[CISN, California Integrated Seismic Network; NCSS, Northern California Seismic System; PNSN, Pacific Northwest 

Seismic Network; SCSN, Southern California Seismic Network]

Regional Center Staff California (CISN) PNSN

NCSS SCSN

Operations Management and 

Support

Project manager 1 1 1

Project assistant 1 1 1

Field Support1

New station maintenance 4 3 3

New telemetry maintenance 2 1 1

IT Support2

AQMS support 4 4 4

EEW production thread 

operation 2 2 2

Data analyst/quality control 1 1 1

Outreach and user support 1 1 1

1

Electronics technicians, field engineers. 2

System administrators, operators, programmers.

Central coordination staff will manage efforts among the ANSS regional centers (table 3). They 

will implement and test development computer codes to ensure they meet pre-established standards and 

are ready for distribution to the production environment at the regional centers. They will also monitor 

overall performance of the whole system and verify that performance standards are being achieved

throughout the system.

Table 3. Additional coordination staff to support Earthquake Early Warning (EEW).

System-Wide EEW Coordination Staff Total

Computer System Architect 1

Implementation Programmers 2

Quality Assurance IT Specialist 1

Product Distribution Coordinator 1

Outreach Coordinator 1
20

Timeline

Constructing a timeline for EEW implementation is difficult because actual funding levels are 

not known. At constant or diminishing funding levels, some very limited progress may occur, but a 

system that is sufficiently tested and supported for public notifications will not be possible. Assuming 

full funding, including one-time build-out costs, we estimate that it will take three years to hire 

personnel, build production infrastructure, and test and certify the system to the point of issuing public 

notifications (fig. 6). As stated earlier, a funding model with annual operations and maintenance funding 

levels alone, and no upfront funding for build-out, would result in a significantly longer timeline.

Figure 6. Spreadsheet showing project timeline, assuming full funding. “Ongoing” tasks extend into the operations 

and maintenance phases of the project.
21

Future Work

Continuing Research and Development

Additional research and development will continue on all aspects of EEW. Algorithms will be 

improved and new ones developed using both seismic and geodetic data and combining them. Work on 

sophisticated methods to rapidly characterize fault sources will continue, as will work specific to the 

Cascadia subduction zone. The Decision Module will continue to be improved. Techniques for 

estimating ground motions at user locations and the impacts of those motions on the built environment 

will be developed and folded into the system and end-user applications. The use of new types of sensors,

including low cost Microelectromechanical System sensors and those in cell phones, as well as other 

evolving technologies like crowd sourcing, cloud computing, computer learning, and adaptive networks,

will be explored and integrated into the system where applicable.

This work will be supported through external grants to university partners and contractors. We 

are also optimistic that the private sector will develop and implement innovative applications for EEW 

and create viable business models to sustain them. Close interaction between the development and 

operational groups will ensure that new and improved technologies are compatible with the ShakeAlert

production system architecture.

Portable Warning Capability

In the event of a large earthquake, additional, temporary stations may be required near the 

epicenter to improve warnings for large aftershocks. An inventory of portable seismic stations with 

telemetry (cellular modems, for example) housed at each regional network would allow for rapid 

deployment following a large event. These stations would increase the station density near the 

mainshock location and provide reduced warning times of large aftershocks. Eventually, we plan to 

develop a stand-alone warning system that could be available for rapid deployment in parts of the United 

States or in other countries following a large earthquake.

Roll-Out to Other Regions

The scope of this plan is limited to implementation of a system for the West Coast which 

accounts for three-quarters of the national earthquake risk. However, as EEW technology is proven and 

matures, ShakeAlert will be propagated to other regions with significant seismic risk. A strategy to 

extend EEW to the other regions of the United States will need to evaluate the cost/benefit in other 

areas, and focus first on those population centers with highest risk; which include New York City, Salt 

Lake City/Provo, Anchorage, San Juan PR, Memphis, St. Louis, Boston, and Washington, D.C. All of 

the investment in development work for a West Coast system is transferrable at minimal cost to the 

ANSS regional seismic networks that now provided enhanced reporting of earthquakes in the 

intermountain west and the central and eastern United States.

User Education

Extensive outreach and education of both public and institutional users will be needed to ensure 

that earthquake early warning achieves the maximum beneficial effect. Users must be taught to take 

appropriate actions upon receiving a warning, and understand the limitations and reliability of warning 

information. Partnerships with appropriate agencies (such as FEMA, state emergency management 

departments, communications specialists, and specific user groups such as transportation, utilities, and 

hospitals) will be needed to ensure that this education occurs. A full user education plan must be 
22

developed and implemented that includes social science and testing of pre-event messaging and visual 

and audible alerts. This plan is beyond the scope of this document and will be developed separately.

Links

ShakeAlert web pages

http://shakealert.org

ANSS—Advanced National Seismic System web pages

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/anss/

ANSS Performance Standards, Rev 2.7, October 5, 2008

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/anss/docs/ANSS_Perf_Standardsv2_7.pdf

Instrumentation Guidelines for the Advanced National Seismic System, June 2007

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/anss/docs/ANSS_WGD_InstrGuideline_June2007.pdf

CAP Common Alert Protocol—Earthquake CAP Alerts

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/catalogs/cap/

OMB Circular A-130, Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Establishments

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a130
23

Appendix A. Key Terms and Abbreviations

ANSS Advanced National Seismic System

AQMS ANSS Quake Monitoring System

Blind Zone Approximately circular area that is too close to the epicenter of an earthquake for an early 

warning to be produced before strong shaking is experienced

Cal OES California Office of Emergency Services

CISN California Integrated Seismic Network

CMAS Commercial Mobile Alert System (now called WEA)

Datalogger Field-hardened computer that accepts signals from a sensor, transforms it to digital data 

and transmits it to the central processing site

EEW Earthquake Early Warning

EHP Earthquake Hazards Program (USGS)

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency

GPS Global Positioning System

IPAWS Integrated Public Alert and Warning System

Latency Any delay in the processing chain from the time sensors detect ground motion until end

users receive information

NCSS Northern California Seismic System 

NEPEC National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council

PNSN Pacific Northwest Seismic Network

P-wave (Primary wave) the faster-moving compressional wave that arrives first

SAFRR Science Applications For Risk Reduction, a USGS Hazards Mission Area project

SCSN Southern California Seismic Network

S-wave (Secondary wave) the slower-moving shear wave that arrives after the P-wave

Telemetry Telecommunication capability that carries ground motion data from seismic sensors in 

the field to central processing sites

URL Uniform Resource Locator (“internet address”)

USGS United States Geological Survey

WEA Wireless Emergency Alerts (formerly CMAS)
24

Appendix B. Budget Details

The following budget estimate was created by the principal partners in the EEW project. It has 

two major parts: (1) one-time constructions costs to build the system, and (2) ongoing annual operation 

and maintenance costs. These costs are also broken down by ANSS region (California and the Pacific 

Northwest) because funding sources may be different for each area. Note that the System-Wide 

Coordination Personnel and Infrastructure costs should be included in any estimate of the cost for 

implementation in a single region as that function is required regardless of the regional extent of the 

system.

Table 4. Summary Cost of an Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system (in millions of dollars)

California Pacific Northwest West Coast Total

Construction costs 23.1 15.2 38.3

Annual M&O 11.4 4.7 16.1

Table 5. Capital Cost of an Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system (in thousands of dollars)

California Pacific Northwest West Coast Total

Equipment

 Seismic 7,768.0 4,632.0 12,400.0

 GPS 2,400.0 2,496.0 4,896.0

Installation

 Construction, material 3,512.0 2,208.0 5,720.0

 Construction, labor 2,195.0 1,380.0 3,575.0

 Permitting 1,097.5 690.0 1,787.5

Telemetry

 New 878.0 552.0 1,430.0

 Upgrade 165.6 36.0 201.6

 Microwave 2,500.0 1,500.0 4,000.0

 Telemetry study 100.0 50.0 150.0

USGS overhead (12%) 2,473.9 1,625.3 4,099.2

Total 23,090.0 15,169.3 38,259.3
25

Table 6. Annual M&O Personnel Expenses (in thousands of dollars)

California Pacific Northwest West Coast Total

Operations Management

 Project management 342.9 171.5 514.4

 Project assistants 199.2 99.6 298.8

Field Personnel

 Stations technicians 848.3 363.5 1,211.8

 Telemetry technicians 363.5 121.2 484.7

IT Personnel

 Software developers 2,057.6 1,028.8 3,086.4

 Data analysts 199.2 99.6 298.8

Outreach

 User support 242.4 121.2 363.6

USGS Overhead (12%) 510.4 240.6 751.0

Total 4,763.5 2,246.0 7,009.5

Table 7. Annual M&O Operating Expenses (in thousands of dollars)

California Pacific Northwest West Coast Total

Field – Operational expenses 359.6 143.8 503.4

IT – Operational expenses 179.0 97.9 276.9

Telemetry 891.2 388.3 1,279.5

Field hardware replacement 2,594.0 1,130.0 3,724.0

Regional infrastructure 220.0 110.0 330.0

Implementation R&D 500.0 250.0 750.0

User outreach 153.0 76.5 229.5

USGS Overhead (12%) 587.6 263.6 851.2

Total 5,484.4 2,460.1 7,944.5

Table 8. System-Wide Coordination Personnel and Infrastructure (in thousands of dollars)

California/West 

Coast

Computer software architect 149.8

Implementation programmers 299.5

Quality assurance specialist 105.9

Product coordinator 149.8

Outreach coordinator

Central infrastructure

149.8

204.3

USGS Overhead (12%) 127.1

Total 1,186.2