Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
Learning From Earthquakes
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Virtual Earthquake Reconnaissance Team (VERT)

Join VERT

If you are interested in contributing to virtual reconnaissance with VERT, please complete the New Member Sign-Up Form.

If you are joining VERT after an earthquake and would like to activate, please join the VERT Slack Channel to stay informed. 

Purpose

The purpose of VERT is to provide opportunities for EERI members, whether younger members or seasoned professionals, to get involved in post-earthquake reconnaissance through the EERI Learning from Earthquakes (LFE) program. 

The VERT mission includes the following:

  • Explore ways that VERT volunteers can contribute to the EERI response in ways that are meaningful and relevant to the specific situation.
  • Activate and implement the response plan discussed with the LFE Executive Committee upon occurrence of any major earthquake in need of virtual reconnaissance.
  • Provide pertinent information to the reconnaissance teams being deployed through the EERI, partner organizations, and supporting companies.
  • Provide post-reconnaissance trip data-processing for teams deployed through EERI, partner organizations, and supporting companies.
  • Work with local EERI members to gather real-time information about the state of the community after the earthquake.
  • Disseminate most recent virtual earthquake reconnaissance information to the EERI community via the EERI Virtual Clearinghouse.

VERT Operations

How VERT Works 

Immediately following a significant earthquake event, VERT will activate Phase 1 and VERT Members will collaboratively complete a Phase I Activation Report – a multidisciplinary, rapid-response report – within a 48-hour period. These efforts inform decision-makers such as the EERI Learning from Earthquakes Executive Committee in determining in-field reconnaissance response.

VERT Phase I Operations Flow Chart

VERT Members may also contribute to:

  • Creating rapid summaries of impacts for virtual clearinghouse websites
  • Assisting EERI reconniassance teams prepare for deployment
  • Assisting EERI reonccaissance team members post-process data
  • Participating in potential research projects

Check out our video on Virtual Earthquake Reconnaissance and why it is important here. 

Get Involved – Join VERT

Any EERI member is welcome to join VERT and contribute to the VERT Activations. All members participating in Phase I Activation Reports are identified as authors on the final published reports posted to the EERI clearinghouses and DesignSafe Data Depot.

If you are interested in contributing to virtual reconnaissance with VERT, please complete the New Member Sign-Up Form.

Training Resources 

All VERT members are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the resources below to align with best practices for virtual reconnaissance.  Members are encouraged to join the VERT Slack Channel as well to coordinate during activations. Join the VERT Slack Channel here.

Activations

VERT began in 2015 and has responded to significant events around the world since its creation. Below are some of the most recent VERT Activations. For more resources developed by VERT, refer to the event pages on the learningfromearthquakes.org webpage. More information about VERT is available in the About VERT Slideshow.

Contact Us

VERT is a Subcommittee of the EERI Learning from Earthquakes Committee. The Virtual Earthquake Reconnaissance Team Subcommittee Co-Chairs are:

Erica Fischer

Co-Chair

Manny Hakhamaneshi

Co-Chair

For more information or questions, please contact Dr. Erica Fischer (erica.fischer@oregonstate.edu) or Dr. Manny Hakhamaneshi (manny.hakha@gmail.com). To sign up for VERT, please complete the New Member Sign-Up Form.

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