Drone and Imaging Virtual Tools for Earthquake Reconnaissance : 2016 Muisne , Ecuador Earthquake

Rapid reconnaissance and field observations are essential in advancing earthquake engineering, as data can perish within a few days of the event due to recovery efforts, weather changes, or subsequent failures. Perishable geo-data include slope deformations, response of nonstructural elements, and liquefaction indications such as sand boils. Information collected and documented from immediate reconnaissance efforts in a coordinated, organized, unbiased, and accessible manner is essential in earthquake resilience and mitigation. The collected data form case histories that can be used to advance empirical methodologies and design guidelines. This paper will present an application of using advanced virtual technologies after the major 2016 Mw7.8 Muisne, Ecuador earthquake. A 3D point cloud was generated using digital and drone images that helped to visualize and understand large-scale failures, well-documented by the GEER (Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance) team that was on site shortly after the earthquake in collaboration with the Applied Technology Council (ATC). A macro-landslide triggered by the seismic shaking following rainfalls and a pre-shock all of which contributed to the failure was replicated in an interactive 3D space model. A Google Earth survey prior to the earthquake was combined with hundreds of drone photographs, to derive sections with automated slope and earth mass volume calculations which would be otherwise cumbersome without this technology. The information shed insight to the observations and was used for analyses using actual ground motion recordings near the landslides. 1 Principal, Geotechnical & Tunneling (GT) Technical Excellence Center, WSP USA, Sissy.Nikolaou@WSP.com 2 Geotechnical Engineer, GT Technical Excellence Center, WSP USA, Guillermo.DiazFanas@WSP.com 3 Senior Designer, Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) Technical Excellence Center, WSP USA, Themis.Vaxevanis@WSP.com Director, VDC Technical Excellence Center, WSP USA, Jay.Mezher@WSP.com Vaxevanis, T., Nikolaou, S., Diaz-Fanas, G., Mezher, J. Drone and imaging virtual tools for earthquake reconnaissance: 2016 Muisne, Ecuador earthquake. Proceedings of the 11 National Conference in Earthquake Engineering, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA. 2018. Eleventh U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering Integrating Science, Engineering & Policy June 25-29, 2018 Los Angeles, California Drone and Imaging Virtual Tools for Earthquake Reconnaissance: 2016 Muisne, Ecuador Earthquake S. Nikolaou, G. Diaz-Fanas , T. Vaxevanis, J. Mezher