Establishment of Earthquake Intensity Meter Network in the Philippines

Abstract

A network of realtime intensity meters is being established in different parts of the Philippines under a Japan-Philippines cooperation. The intensity meters can record and transmit on a near real-time basis the site-specific levels of groundshaking in terms of macroseismic intensity, peak ground acceleration and peak ground velocity. The intensity meters evaluate earthquake effects using the Philippine earthquake intensity scale – PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS). Deployment of the instruments was planned according to an optimum distribution with respect to active earthquake generators and vulnerable communities. All manned seismic stations of PHIVOLCS were equipped with an intensity meter while the rest was deployed in relevant disaster risk reduction and management centers. In its initial operation which started in 2012, the network captured several significant earthquakes such as the M_w7.2 in Bohol in 2013.