Developing and Testing the Automated Post-Event Earthquake Loss Estimation and Visualisation (APE-ELEV) Technique

TL;DR

The paper introduces APE-ELEV, an automated system for real-time earthquake loss estimation and visualization, integrating multiple data sources for post-event analysis and validated with global earthquake data.

Contribution

It presents a novel real-time earthquake loss estimation and visualization system that supports rapid data ingestion and multi-source integration for post-event analysis.

Findings

Successfully demonstrated with the 2011 Tohoku earthquake

Validated across ten global earthquakes using industry data

Provides rapid, integrated loss visualization at multiple geographic levels

Abstract

An automated, real-time, multiple sensor data source relying and globally applicable earthquake loss model and visualiser is desirable for post-event earthquake analysis. To achieve this there is a need to support rapid data ingestion, loss estimation and integration of data from multiple data sources and rapid visualisation at multiple geographic levels. In this paper, the design and development of the Automated Post-Event Earthquake Loss Estimation and Visualisation (APE-ELEV) system for real-time estimation and visualisation of insured losses incurred due to earthquakes is presented. A model for estimating ground up and net of facultative losses due to earthquakes in near real-time is implemented. Since post-event data is often available immediately from multiple disparate sources, a geo-browser is employed to facilitate the visualisation and integration of earthquake hazard, exposure and loss data. The feasibility of APE-ELEV is demonstrated using a test case earthquake that occurred in Tohoku, Japan (2011). The APE-ELEV model is further validated for ten global earthquakes using industry loss data.