Early Warning System (EWS)

The metropolis of Tehran is the political and commercial capital of Iran. The city accommodates approximately 15 per cent of the nationwide population and hosts many important industries and infrastructures of the region. Thus, disaster mitigation and management are of great importance in Tehran. From the tectonic point of view, Tehran is located in the southern part of the central Alborz mountains belt in the northern part of Iran. The Alborz mountains belt is in the Alps–Himalayan organic zone. This region is known to have high potential for seismic activities because it has many active faults, including the Mosha, the North Tehran and the South/North Rey fault. Therefore, hazard mitigation studies for decreasing earthquake damage severity are necessary.

One of the most important hazard programs is an effective earthquake early warning system.

The main objectives of earthquake early warning system set up in the city is earthquake risk reduction through:

• Notification of the occurrence of the earthquake and thus protect the lives of citizens
• Performance of the rapid and technical reactions such as cutting off the flow of gas and fuel, etc., and consequently preventing secondary losses and damages
• Protect of critical infrastructures in the city and accordingly take possibility to use them after the earthquakes.

The early warning system in Tehran, including 4 main components, which include monitoring stations, radio communications systems, software and earthquake warning detection algorithm and finally output device and the user is warned.

Owing to lack of suitable monitoring network for the implementation of the system and the need for specialized equipment and software, locating and setting up monitoring stations in the 4 site carry out.

In the communication area, according to a survey conducted by communications Experts, station location, attention to security and sustainable communication with the station and make sure it online information even in an earthquake, the radio communication system selected and operated.

According to the geology and tectonic specification of each area, should be appropriate algorithms and parameters must be considered in the design of earthquake early warning software. In this part, the relevant studies done by the technical department with the help of internal and Japan advisors and then the software was developed and functional testing.

Important subject is earthquake warning signals quickly (before the destructive waves) to be utilized and turned into operational action. In this subject, The Warning signals generated through communication tools like SMS and signal (packets) information send to users.

Also during the Project, other related activity such as user education and regulation started.

In this project with using new tools and methods tried to establish EEWS System. some activity including installation and operation of the system of monitoring stations, as well as the promotion of information and communication systems done Which for the first time in one of the metropolises at risk of damaging Earthquake (Tehran).