SCEC Award Number 09181 View PDF
Proposal Category Individual Proposal (Data Gathering and Products)
Proposal Title SCEC Portable Broadband Instrument Center
Investigator(s)
Name Organization
Jamison Steidl University of California, Santa Barbara
Other Participants
SCEC Priorities D, A4, B4 SCEC Groups Seismology
Report Due Date 02/28/2010 Date Report Submitted N/A
Project Abstract
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Intellectual Merit The PBIC equipment has contributed to a number of important results over the years, including analyses of fault-zone guided waves, aftershock seismicity studies, site response analysis studies, building response studies, and detailed images of crustal velocity structure derived from the LARSE refraction profiles. Through support of local experiments in southern California the PBIC continues to support research and provide students and researchers with experience using seismic equipment to collect their data.
Broader Impacts The educational impact of the PBIC is demonstrated by the number of undergraduate and graduate student participants in field deployments, and the routine maintenance and operations of the PBIC (Figure 1). Most experiments use undergraduate and graduate students in the deployment and maintenance of the stations, many at UCSB, but also at institutions within California and in some cases nationwide (SCEC summer intern programs). Giving the students hands-on experience in how the data is collected is an important part of the education of future geophysicists, especially in a time when data is so readily available via the Internet without any knowledge of what is involved in the data collection process. In addition, the number of women and minority students previously and currently involved in the PBIC program is significant. Outreach to K-12 students has always been an important part of the PBIC program, with the “make your own earthquake” demonstration being a hit year after year with all K-12 age groups.
Exemplary Figure N/A