David J Wald
Dr. Wald is a Seismologist with the USGS in Golden. He is involved in research, development & operations of several real-time earthquake information systems at the USGS National Earthquake Information Center. He developed and manages “ShakeMap”, “Did You Feel it?”, & is responsible for developing other systems for post-earthquake response & pre-earthquake mitigation, including ShakeCas
Wald's scientific interests include the characterization of rupture processes from complex recent and historic earthquakes using combined geodetic, teleseismic, and strong motion data; waveform modelling and inversion; analysis of ground motion hazards and site effects; earthquake source physics; and modelling earthquake-induced landslides, liquefaction, and losses, macroseismic intensity, building damage, financial and human impact, rapid damage and impact assessment, earthquake scenario development and mitigation planning and drills, and communication with the media, public, and emergency managers.
Previously at Caltech, and now at the Colorado School of Mines, Wald has advised dozens of post-doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate student research projects. Wald directly supervises 10 PhD level scientists and 5 five BS and MS level support staff, and supervises several students. Wald serves on several PhD committees at this time. This research has resulted in more than 450 professional publications that David has authored or co-authored, including journal papers, USGS publication series, conference papers, and published abstracts.
Education:
Post-doctoral Fellow, Geophysics, National Research Council, USGS, Pasadena, 1995
Ph.D., Geophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 1993
M.S., Geophysics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 1986
B.S., Geology & Physics, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, 1984
Science and Products
Bayesian updating of seismic ground failure estimates via causal graphical models and satellite imagery
Near real-time updating of pager loss estimates
Comment on “Which earthquake accounts matter” by Susan E. Hough and Stacey S. Martin
Evaluation of intensity prediction equations (IPEs) for small-magnitude earthquakes
An efficient Bayesian framework for updating PAGER loss estimates
The US Geological Survey ground failure product: Near-real-time estimates of earthquake-triggered landslides and liquefaction
Book review: Why do buildings collapse in earthquakes? Building for safety in seismic areas
ShakeMap operations, policies, and procedures
Amateur radio operators help fill earthquake donut holes
Quantifying nuisance ground motion thresholds for induced earthquakes
Assessing the long-term earthquake risk for the US National Bridge Inventory (NBI)
Financial risk innovation: Development of earthquake parametric triggers for contingent credit instruments
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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Bayesian updating of seismic ground failure estimates via causal graphical models and satellite imagery
Earthquake-induced secondary ground failure hazards, such as liquefaction and landslides, result in catastrophic building and infrastructure damage as well as human fatalities. To facilitate emergency responses and mitigate losses, the U.S. Geological Survey provides a rapid hazard estimation system for earthquake-triggered landslides and liquefaction using geospatial susceptibility proxies and ShAuthorsS. Xu, J. Dimasaka, David J. Wald, H. NohNear real-time updating of pager loss estimates
Initial alerts by PAGER (Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response) within minutes following an earthquake include several uncertainties, mainly due to potential inaccuracies in location, depth, fault delineation, and shaking estimates. We enhance an updating framework by incorporating early reports of fatalities within the first 24 hours, or so, of an earthquake to update PAGER’s overaAuthorsDavis Engler, Kishor Jaiswal, Hae Young Noh, David J. WaldComment on “Which earthquake accounts matter” by Susan E. Hough and Stacey S. Martin
In their analysis of the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) “Did You Feel It?” (DYFI) data Hough and Martin (2021) claim, among other assertions, that the following:Socioeconomic and geopolitical factors can introduce biases in the USGS’ characterization of earthquakes and their effects, especially if online data collection systems are not designed to be broadly accessible;These biases can, in turn,AuthorsDavid J. WaldEvaluation of intensity prediction equations (IPEs) for small-magnitude earthquakes
This study assesses existing intensity prediction equations (IPEs) for small unspecified magnitude (M ≤3.5) earthquakes at short hypocentral distances (Dh) and explores such earthquakes’ contribution to the felt shaking hazard. In particular, we consider IPEs by Atkinson and Wald (2007) and Atkinson et al. (2014), and evaluate their performance based on “Did You Feel It” (DYFI) reports and recorAuthorsGanyu Teng, Jack W. Baker, David J. WaldAn efficient Bayesian framework for updating PAGER loss estimates
We introduce a Bayesian framework for incorporating time-varying noisy reported data on damage and loss information to update near real-time loss estimates/alerts for the U.S. Geological Survey’s Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) system. Initial loss estimation by PAGER immediately following an earthquake includes several uncertainties. Historically, the PAGER’s alertingAuthorsHae Young Noh, Kishor Jaiswal, Davis T. Engler, David J. WaldThe US Geological Survey ground failure product: Near-real-time estimates of earthquake-triggered landslides and liquefaction
Since late 2018, the US Geological Survey (USGS) ground failure (GF) earthquake product has provided publicly available spatial estimates of earthquake-triggered landslide and liquefaction hazards, along with the qualitative hazard and population exposure-based alerts for M > 6 earthquakes worldwide and in near real time (within ∼30 min). Earthquake losses are oftentimes greatly aggravated by theAuthorsKate E. Allstadt, Eric M. Thompson, Randall W. Jibson, David J. Wald, Mike Hearne, Edward J. Hunter, Jeremy Fee, Heather Schovanec, Daniel Slosky, Kirstie Lafon HaynieBook review: Why do buildings collapse in earthquakes? Building for safety in seismic areas
No abstract available.AuthorsDavid J. WaldShakeMap operations, policies, and procedures
The US Geological Survey’s ShakeMap is used domestically and globally for post-earthquake emergency management and response, engineering analyses, financial instruments, and other decision-making activities. Recent developments in the insurance, reinsurance, and catastrophe bond sectors link payouts of potentially hundreds of millions of dollars to ShakeMap products. Similarly, building codes, posAuthorsDavid J. Wald, Charles Worden, Eric M. Thompson, Mike HearneAmateur radio operators help fill earthquake donut holes
If you’ve ever seen tall antennas rising from everyday residences in your community and wondered what they are for, it could be that those homes belong to ham radio enthusiasts who enjoy communicating with each other over the airwaves. In addition to having fun with their radios and finding camaraderie, many ham radio operators are also prepared to help neighbors and authorities communicate duringAuthorsDavid J. Wald, Vince Quitoriano, Oliver DullyQuantifying nuisance ground motion thresholds for induced earthquakes
Hazards from induced earthquakes are a growing concern with a need for effective management. One aspect of that concern is the “nuisance” from unexpected ground motions, which have the potential to cause public alarm and discontent. In this article, we borrow earthquake engineering concepts to quantify the chance of building damage states and adapt them to quantify felt thresholds for induced eartAuthorsRyan Schultz, Vince Quitoriano, David J. Wald, Gregory C. BerozaAssessing the long-term earthquake risk for the US National Bridge Inventory (NBI)
We estimate annualized earthquake loss associated with over 600,000 bridges located throughout the contiguous United States. Each year, the Federal Highway Administration, in partnership with State Departments of Transportation, undertake a massive exercise to update the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) by combining data from states, federal agencies, local jurisdictions, and tribal governments. ThAuthorsKishor Jaiswal, N. Simon Kwong, S. S. Yen, D. Bausch, Kuo-wan Lin, Nicolas Luco, David J. Wald, J. RozelleFinancial risk innovation: Development of earthquake parametric triggers for contingent credit instruments
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has developed financial risk management strategies for natural disasters focusing primarily on the emergency phase of the catastrophes where financial support is more cost-efficient and certainly most needed. The main IDB financial instrument to provide liquidity in the aftermath of catastrophic events is the Contingent Credit Facility (CCF). The CCF is aAuthorsGuillermo Collich, Rafael Rosillo, Juan Martinez, David J. Wald, Juan José DuranteNon-USGS Publications**
References in Google Scholar**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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