CHARLESTON SEISMIC HAZARD ANALYSIS CONSORTIUM (CSHAC): AN URBAN HAZARDS COLLABORATION

ANDERSON, K. E., USGS, 2234 South Hobson Avenue, Charleston, SC 29405-2413, JAUME, S. C., College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29704, ANDRUS, R. D., Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0911, LEVINE, N. S., College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424, eric.k.anderson@noaa.gov., JaumeS@cofc.edu, randrus@ces.clemson.edu, levinen@cofc.edu.

On August 31, 1886, Charleston, South Carolina, suffered the most damaging earthquake ever experienced in the Eastern United States. The earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 6.9 to 7.3 and was felt over 2.5 million square miles. The risk from a recurrence of an earthquake of magnitude 6 or higher within the region is greater now due to changes in land use and population growth. Major hazards caused by tremors and liquefaction during an 1886 style event could lead to an estimated 14 billion dollars worth of damage and potentially 900 fatalities with 45,000 injuries based on an estimate by South Carolina Emergency Division. The Charleston Seismic Hazard Analysis Consortium (CSHAC) has been formed to investigate and map the potential seismic hazard risks in the Charleston region. This collaboration is a partnership among USGS, university researchers, FEMA, South Carolina Emergency Management Division, Charleston County officials, and private sector firms. A workshop was held in November 2005 to establish working relationships and scope the potential for collaboration. The goal is to take advantage of tools and techniques for the geospatial web to facilitate data sharing, technical knowledge, and cooperation on data collection and analysis projects. The National Map will be used as a portal for the exchange of geographically referenced data sets and will provide links to databases that are relevant to seismic hazard analysis in the region. This paper discusses the organization of the CSHAC group and the utility of Web-GIS for collaborative geohazards investigations.