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Nicolas Luco

Nico is a Research Civil Engineer in the Earthquake Hazards Program.

Science and Products

A risk map of the 50-state NSHM 2023 update showing the greater than MMI6 for chance of damaging shaking within 100 years.

USGS National Seismic Hazard Model User-Needs Workshop

The National Seismic Hazard Model Project (NSHMP) will be summarizing the 2023 National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) and presenting a preliminary future vision for the 2029 NSHM release. Day 1 will consist primarily of presentations as well as discussion and questions, and Day 2 will be focused on user participation.
By
Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center
USGS National Seismic Hazard Model User-Needs Workshop

USGS National Seismic Hazard Model User-Needs Workshop

The National Seismic Hazard Model Project (NSHMP) will be summarizing the 2023 National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) and presenting a preliminary future vision for the 2029 NSHM release. Day 1 will consist primarily of presentations as well as discussion and questions, and Day 2 will be focused on user participation.
Learn More
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Filter Total Items: 79

Earthquake early warning: Toward modeling optimal protective actions Earthquake early warning: Toward modeling optimal protective actions

Over the past few years early earthquake warning systems have been incorporated into earthquake preparation efforts in many locations around the globe. These systems provide an excellent opportunity for advanced warning of ground shaking and other hazards associated with earthquakes. This study aims to optimize this advanced warning for individuals inside a building when the alert is...
Authors
M. Wood, X. Zhang, X. Zhao, Sara K. McBride, Nico Luco, D. Baldwin, T. Covas
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

Open-source resources help navigate new IM regulations Open-source resources help navigate new IM regulations

The revision of federal safety regulations for integrity management of gas transmission pipelines to require explicit consideration of seismicity increases the importance for operators to be actively identifying high-consequence areas (HCAs), evaluating seismic-related threats, and choosing a risk model to support risk management decisions. To ensure equal access to information by both...
Authors
N. Simon Kwong, Kishor S. Jaiswal, J. W. Baker, Nico Luco, K. A. Ludwig, Vasey J. Stephens
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

Multi-period response spectra Multi-period response spectra

Multi-period response spectra (MPRS) are incorporated in the development of seismic design ground motions in the 2020 edition of the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures (2020 NEHRP Provisions) and are approved for adoption in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Standard, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and...
Authors
Sanaz Rezaeian, Nico Luco, C. A. Kircher
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Geologic Hazards Science Center

Earthquake risk of gas pipelines in the conterminous United States and its sources of uncertainty Earthquake risk of gas pipelines in the conterminous United States and its sources of uncertainty

Relatively little research has been conducted to systematically quantify the nationwide earthquake risk of gas pipelines in the US; simultaneously, national guidance is limited for operators across the country to consistently evaluate the earthquake risk of their assets. Furthermore, many challenges and uncertainties exist in a comprehensive seismic risk assessment of gas pipelines. As a...
Authors
N. Simon Kwong, Kishor S. Jaiswal, Jack W. Baker, Nico Luco, K. A. Ludwig, Vasey J. Stephens
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

Hazard-consistent seismic losses and collapse capacities for light-frame wood buildings in California and Cascadia Hazard-consistent seismic losses and collapse capacities for light-frame wood buildings in California and Cascadia

We evaluate the seismic performance of modern seismically designed wood light-frame (WLF) buildings, considering regional seismic hazard characteristics that influence ground motion duration and frequency content and, thus, seismic risk. Results show that WLF building response correlates strongly with ground motion spectral shape but weakly with duration. Due to the flatter spectral...
Authors
Robert Edward Chase, Abbie B. Liel, Nico Luco, Zach Bullock
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

The seismic hazard implications of declustering and poisson assumptions inferred from a fully time‐dependent model The seismic hazard implications of declustering and poisson assumptions inferred from a fully time‐dependent model

We use the Third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF3) epidemic‐type aftershock sequence (ETAS) model (UCERF3‐ETAS) to evaluate the effects of declustering and Poisson assumptions on seismic hazard estimates. Although declustering is necessary to infer the long‐term spatial distribution of earthquake rates, the question is whether it is also necessary to honor the...
Authors
Edward H. Field, Kevin R. Milner, Nico Luco
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Geologic Hazards Science Center
Hazard map from the 2023 50-state update of the National Seismic Hazard Model Project

New USGS map shows where damaging earthquakes are most likely to occur in US New USGS map shows where damaging earthquakes are most likely to occur in US

USGS scientists and our partners recently revealed the latest National Seismic Hazard Model, showing that nearly 75% of the United States could experience a damaging earthquake, emphasizing seismic hazards span a significant part of the country.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Communications and Publishing

Science and Products

A risk map of the 50-state NSHM 2023 update showing the greater than MMI6 for chance of damaging shaking within 100 years.

USGS National Seismic Hazard Model User-Needs Workshop

The National Seismic Hazard Model Project (NSHMP) will be summarizing the 2023 National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) and presenting a preliminary future vision for the 2029 NSHM release. Day 1 will consist primarily of presentations as well as discussion and questions, and Day 2 will be focused on user participation.
By
Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center
USGS National Seismic Hazard Model User-Needs Workshop

USGS National Seismic Hazard Model User-Needs Workshop

The National Seismic Hazard Model Project (NSHMP) will be summarizing the 2023 National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) and presenting a preliminary future vision for the 2029 NSHM release. Day 1 will consist primarily of presentations as well as discussion and questions, and Day 2 will be focused on user participation.
Learn More
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 79

Earthquake early warning: Toward modeling optimal protective actions Earthquake early warning: Toward modeling optimal protective actions

Over the past few years early earthquake warning systems have been incorporated into earthquake preparation efforts in many locations around the globe. These systems provide an excellent opportunity for advanced warning of ground shaking and other hazards associated with earthquakes. This study aims to optimize this advanced warning for individuals inside a building when the alert is...
Authors
M. Wood, X. Zhang, X. Zhao, Sara K. McBride, Nico Luco, D. Baldwin, T. Covas
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

Open-source resources help navigate new IM regulations Open-source resources help navigate new IM regulations

The revision of federal safety regulations for integrity management of gas transmission pipelines to require explicit consideration of seismicity increases the importance for operators to be actively identifying high-consequence areas (HCAs), evaluating seismic-related threats, and choosing a risk model to support risk management decisions. To ensure equal access to information by both...
Authors
N. Simon Kwong, Kishor S. Jaiswal, J. W. Baker, Nico Luco, K. A. Ludwig, Vasey J. Stephens
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

Multi-period response spectra Multi-period response spectra

Multi-period response spectra (MPRS) are incorporated in the development of seismic design ground motions in the 2020 edition of the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures (2020 NEHRP Provisions) and are approved for adoption in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Standard, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and...
Authors
Sanaz Rezaeian, Nico Luco, C. A. Kircher
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Geologic Hazards Science Center

Earthquake risk of gas pipelines in the conterminous United States and its sources of uncertainty Earthquake risk of gas pipelines in the conterminous United States and its sources of uncertainty

Relatively little research has been conducted to systematically quantify the nationwide earthquake risk of gas pipelines in the US; simultaneously, national guidance is limited for operators across the country to consistently evaluate the earthquake risk of their assets. Furthermore, many challenges and uncertainties exist in a comprehensive seismic risk assessment of gas pipelines. As a...
Authors
N. Simon Kwong, Kishor S. Jaiswal, Jack W. Baker, Nico Luco, K. A. Ludwig, Vasey J. Stephens
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

Hazard-consistent seismic losses and collapse capacities for light-frame wood buildings in California and Cascadia Hazard-consistent seismic losses and collapse capacities for light-frame wood buildings in California and Cascadia

We evaluate the seismic performance of modern seismically designed wood light-frame (WLF) buildings, considering regional seismic hazard characteristics that influence ground motion duration and frequency content and, thus, seismic risk. Results show that WLF building response correlates strongly with ground motion spectral shape but weakly with duration. Due to the flatter spectral...
Authors
Robert Edward Chase, Abbie B. Liel, Nico Luco, Zach Bullock
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

The seismic hazard implications of declustering and poisson assumptions inferred from a fully time‐dependent model The seismic hazard implications of declustering and poisson assumptions inferred from a fully time‐dependent model

We use the Third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF3) epidemic‐type aftershock sequence (ETAS) model (UCERF3‐ETAS) to evaluate the effects of declustering and Poisson assumptions on seismic hazard estimates. Although declustering is necessary to infer the long‐term spatial distribution of earthquake rates, the question is whether it is also necessary to honor the...
Authors
Edward H. Field, Kevin R. Milner, Nico Luco
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Geologic Hazards Science Center
Hazard map from the 2023 50-state update of the National Seismic Hazard Model Project

New USGS map shows where damaging earthquakes are most likely to occur in US New USGS map shows where damaging earthquakes are most likely to occur in US

USGS scientists and our partners recently revealed the latest National Seismic Hazard Model, showing that nearly 75% of the United States could experience a damaging earthquake, emphasizing seismic hazards span a significant part of the country.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Communications and Publishing
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