New Installation of Strong Motion Instrumentation Station

The state-of-the art strong motion recording and telemetry equipment proposed for installation at this station will contribute seismic data critical for understanding earthquakes and for emergency planning, potentially saving thousands of lives and millions of dollars in infrastructure damage during a large earthquake. The current property owner, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, has worked with the California Geological Survey (CGS) to find a suitable location in an open area with full sun exposure, near the Lat/Lon location noted above. CGS plans to install a small seismic monitoring station by pouring a small concrete pad measuring 4 inches thick by 40 inches long by 40 inches wide that includes three 18-inch post hole pillars. The pillars allow the pad/instrument to move with the soil rather than slide across the ground surface during an earthquake. A seismic instrument (tri-axial accelerometer) with a 36-inch-tall fiberglass (t-hut) or 46-inch-tall stainless steel (Caltrans) protective enclosure will be secured to the concrete pad. Solar panels will be affixed to the top of the fiberglass enclosure. All excavation will be dug by hand or mini-excavator, depending on site accessibility. There are no hazardous substances involved during construction nor as components. If necessary, a small generator will be used to power a hand-loaded concrete mixer and any other tools needed for construction. Construction/installation takes about 3 days.