Ground motion measurements in Kathmandu
A single U.S.G.S. NetQuakes instrument was installed in Kathmandu with help from John Galetzka (now at Unavco) and the U.S. State Department several years ago. It has recorded the main shock and has triggered on many aftershocks. The peak acceleration at this instrument’s location during the Main Shock was less than 0.2g, however, PGV […]
CESMD strong motion data from NetQuakes station at the American Club in Kathmandu
Colleagues from USGS including Cecily Wolfe have uploaded strong motion data from NetQuakes into CESMD web site. Lamjung_us20002926 2015-04-25 06:11:26.270 UTC 28.147 84.708 7.8 NepalAftershock1_25Apr2015 2015-04-25 06:45:21 UTC 28.193 84.865 6.6 NepalAftershock2_25Apr2015 2015-04-25 06:56:05 UTC 27.910 085.650 5.5 NepalAftershock3_25Apr2015 2015-04-25 08:55:56 UTC 27.636 085.503 5.3 NepalAftershock4_25Apr2015 2015-04-25 17:42:51 UTC 28.262 085.774 5.4 NepalAftershock5_25Apr2015 2015-04-25 23:16:15 UTC 27.805 084.874 […]
Ground motion data from KATNP now also available for the two large May 12 events.
The Center for Engineering Strong Motion Data (CESMD) also posted data for the two large aftershocks on May 12th. Time stamps of the records may not be accurate. NepalAftershock1_12May2015 2015-05-12 07:05:19 UTC 27.837 086.077 7.3 NepalAftershock2_12May2015 2015-05-12 07:36:53 UTC 27.618 086.166 6.3 CESMD: List of all available earthquakes in 2015 Curated topics from […]
Video, main shock seismic record lined up with security camera footage
Engineering firm Exponent created an interesting video by synchronizing the recording of the main shock by station KATNP with video footage recorded in a building nearby (note: seismic instrument is NOT in the same building). You can see the server racks move relative to the floor (the floor is moving of course, so is the […]
Past pushes for safer schools in Nepal
In 1998 the National Society for Earthquake Technology – Nepal (NSET) conducted a survey of public schools in the Kathmandu Valley region, their finding were published in a report written in collaboration with GeoHazards International and is avaialable for download: http://nset.org.np/nset2012/index.php/publication/publicationdetail/pubfileid-142/pubid-1/type-Recent They found that approximately 60% of schools were built using weak traditional materials and only […]
Reports: “Nearly 5000 Schools Destroyed”
Media Reports Source: Save the Children Actors on the ground estimate that 80% of schools in affected areas outside of Kathmandu have sustained damage. Approximately 5,000 schools have been totally destroyed. (source) The UN’s daily situation report said yesterday there are 16,000 schools in the areas affected by the earthquake – but that the “extent […]
Schools Being Used as Shelters
Many schools in Nepal are being used as shelters. Below are links and pictures of specific schools, but it is a widespread trend. Given the focus on retrofitting and reconstructing schools as a high priority, it is not surprising that these buildings fared well in the earthquake. Not only were these buildings effective in […]
Social Media Posts about Schools
Social Media Posts Posts on school retrofitted that survived the earthquake: Retrofitted by NSET: https://www.facebook.com/rajib.shaw.37/posts/885096094865351 By NSET and GHI (note the green “safe” tag on the building): https://www.facebook.com/GHI.org/posts/892927320785056 Facebook posts on school retrofit program in Nepal: https://www.facebook.com/GHI.org/posts/879006498843805 https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=975600699127606&id=130929626928055 https://www.facebook.com/amod.m.dixit/posts/10153184656731391? Tweets and photos of severely damaged or collapsed schools: https://twitter.com/anpmsn/status/592645407672401921/photo/1 https://twitter.com/ooopsididit/status/592099147563606018/photo/1 https://twitter.com/ppariyar/status/592634447557562369/photo/1 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.975604699127206.1073742018.130929626928055&type=1 Tweets on number of damaged […]
List of schools with documented retrofits / new construction
“Of the 10,000 schools in the Kathmandu Valley – half of the country’s schools – only 260 have been assessed and retrofitted” source The majority of retrofits were carried out using jacketing of walls with reinforced concrete. Rebuilds or new construction have been employing confined masonry. […]
Schools with retrofit/new construction reported in good condition
A series of school buildings that have been retrofit or rebuilt are being reported as safe post-earthquake. Some of these schools including Kavre, Tanahun, Sindhupalchowk, Makawanpur, Nawalparasi, Sunsari, Udaipur, Rasuwa Royal, which are all located in the Kathmandu Valley. These buildings are being used as shelters for local people who have lost their houses […]