Research
My graduate research thus far has focused on proxy-based methods for estimating site characteristics (VS30), seismic site amplification in central and eastern North America (CENA), and the development of a median ground motion model as a part of the Next Generation Attenuation - Subduction Project. It has had four components:
(1) I have worked with the Next Generation Attenuation-East Geotechnical Working Group (GWG) to use a more extensive CENA shear wave velocity (Vs) database than used for previous work to develop a hybrid geology-slope approach for VS30 estimation that utilizes newly considered large-scale geologic maps, the extent of Wisconsin glaciation,
basin structure, and 30 arc-s topographic gradient. This is important because only 6% of seismic recording stations that contributed data to the NGA-East project have measurement-based VS30 values. This work is presented in a BSSA paper
(2) Under collaboration with the GWG, the development of an empirical, linear seismic site amplification model for CENA using the non-reference site approach. This model can be used in conjunction with a GWG simulation-based model for nonlinear site amplification. This project is published in Earthquake Spectra, currently available as a preprint here
(3) Organization of a workshop on seismic site amplification models for CENA that resulted in recommendations for the USGS national seismic hazard mapping program. Recommendations can be found in two PEER reports.
(4) The development of a semi-empirical ground motion model for global subduction zone earthquakes. This work in ongoing, with the primary focus being on complex subduction path effects, including regionalization, differing attenuation in the fore-arc and back arc complexes, and the effect of waves travelling inside of the high Q subducting slab.