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Riding Waves for STEM: Earthquake Location for Dummies

Description: 

Earthquake waveform data processing is becoming more automated, so the need for routine seismic data processing is starting to fade, but it is still important for those getting into seismology to understand the process of how to get from wiggly lines on a screen to an earthquake hypocentre and magnitude solution.

Many of the free tools for processing seismic data are technically competent, but often require programming or other computing skills beyond that of new students and inexperienced professionals. While the tasks can be performed using multiple program modules, whether launched by command line prompts or using graphical user interface elements, we found that an integrated solution was not readily available for a standard earthquake data processing workflow.

The Seismology Research Centre was in the same position, with the two separate programs that we developed to operate our observatory (eqWave and eqFocus) performing the waveform analysis and the hypocentre calculation independently. These were paid applications that required ongoing technical support, putting it out of the reach of most earthquake researchers.

To make this a more broadly-used STEM tool, we started by focusing on improving eqWave, adding basic magnitude and distance calculation based on globally generic values, and, importantly, making it free to use. The program was relaunched as “Waves”, and by removing the cost barrier enabled it to get into the hands of thousands of users, as opposed to the few dozen users of eqWave.

We then undertook a massive redesign to create a graphical user interface to the eqFocus program and integrate it into Waves, bringing professional grade hypocentre calculation using customisable earth models and magnitude formulae to all users. This change brought drag-and-drop waveform analysis and graphically interactive keyboard-free earthquake parameter calculations to amateur and professional users alike.

The SRC continues to develop software tools to demystify the process of earthquake location, helping people understand the workflow to enable them to improve manual and automated software systems into the future.

Session: Seismology for All: Expanding STEM Education Through Accessible Tools and Global Collaboration - I

Type: Oral

Date: 4/15/2026

Presentation Time: 04:45 PM (local time)

Presenting Author: Adam Pascale

Student Presenter: No

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