2023/09/25 by D. F. Sumy · 1 voice
Computer Science · Medicine · Social Sciences · #Data-Driven Disease Surveillance #Geographic Information Systems Studies #Seismology and Earthquake Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.26443/seismica.v2i2.527
openalex publication_date 2023/09/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Geocoding is a spatial analysis method that uses address information (e.g., street address, intersection, census tract, zip code, etc.) to determine geographical coordinates (latitude and longitude). In recent decades, geocoding has gone beyond its primary use for census and demographic information to novel applications in disaster risk reduction, even to earthquake early warning. Here I demonstrate the usefulness of geocoding techniques to earthquake early warning systems as applied to case studies that relied on survey response data and crowd-sourced video footage. These datasets were initially collected to understand the efficacy of tests conducted on ShakeAlert®, the earthquake early warning system for the West Coast of the United States, and how people behave during earthquakes, respectively. Geocoding these data can improve our overall technical understanding of the system, demonstrate whether individuals take protective actions such as ‘Drop, Cover, and Hold On’, and spotlight community demographics that the system is reaching or unintentionally missing. The combination of these social science datasets with geocoding information deepens our knowledge of these fundamentally human-centered systems, including how to improve the distribution of alerts for people and individuals with access and functional needs. In the future, this work may help verify U.S. Geological Survey ‘Did You Feel It?’ responses and seismic intensity, especially in regions with sparse seismic networks.