Full proposals due: May 20, 2020
The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP) Research Priorities presented here reflect its mission within the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) to reduce loss of lives and property from earthquakes and improve public safety and community resilience in the Nation.
Applicants should review the four major program elements described below and the priority research targets listed below for each region and topic. Proposed work should advance the science that underlies EHP products by posing and testing new hypotheses and/or developing novel data acquisition tools, analysis methods, and products. Proposed work can also improve information dissemination and make research results more effective in mitigating losses from earthquakes. While proposed projects may involve collection of data and/or application of existing analysis methods, such activities should be in support of clearly stated research goals. Proposals focused on development of new products must demonstrate strong collaboration with intended users.
Element I. National and regional earthquake hazards assessments. The EHP publishes national and regional assessments of the expected degree of ground deformation and shaking, and their impacts over various time periods. These products, developed from research on earthquake locations, magnitudes, recurrence, and ground motions, are the basis of the seismic safety elements of building codes affecting construction nationwide. The EHP also prepares long-term forecasts of earthquake probabilities, as well as scenario ground motion maps of the expected shaking and ground deformation. These products support the development of cost-effective mitigation measures and practices in structure design, construction, and land use planning. The USGS is particularly interested in research that results in improvements to the National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM), and the assessment of earthquake hazards in large metropolitan areas. Models of seismic source, recurrence, ground-motions, and site effects that may be directly incorporated into the NSHM are sought.
Element II. Earthquake information, monitoring and notification. The EHP supports efforts to improve the accuracy of algorithms and processes that provide information about earthquakes in near-real-time, including early warning, improved detection and location techniques, estimation of finite fault rupture extent, and refined seismic moment determinations. However, routine monitoring activities are evaluated and funded under a separate solicitation for seismic and geodetic network operations.
Element III. Research on earthquake occurrence, physics, effects, impacts, and risks. Earthquake impact and risk assessments help emergency managers, planners, and the public prepare for future earthquakes. With the goal of improving hazard assessments, earthquake forecasts, and earthquake monitoring products, the EHP supports applied research on earthquake processes and effects. This work is focused on multi-disciplinary observations, theory, experiments, and development of testable models of earthquake and tectonic processes and of earthquake effects (e.g., macroseismic intensities, ground shaking, ground failure, and structural response).
Element IV. Earthquake safety policy and communication. The EHP produces data and information on earthquakes and related hazards, but the production of data and reports alone is not sufficient to reduce earthquake risk; the Program also takes an active role with the user community in the application and interpretation of Program results. Active engagement with our user community provides opportunities for dialogues on modifications to our existing products and new products that make our work and results more relevant and applicable. The EHP supports opportunities for engaging the user community at both the national and regional levels. See Section 1 for earthquake safety policy and communication priorities common to all Research Areas. Proposals for research on earthquake safety policy and communication applicable to a specific area should be submitted to the relevant regional or topical Research Area.
Additional information, including the program guidelines, can be found on the grants.gov site.