Short Course: Imaging and Analyzing Southern California's Active Faults with High Resolution Topography

A Joint SCEC, OpenTopography, UNAVCO and EarthScope short course
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona

January 25-26, 2016
 

Supported by: Southern California Earthquake Center, OpenTopography, UNAVCO and Earthscope
Organizers: Ramón Arrowsmith, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Christopher Crosby, UNAVCO, Boulder, CO
Alana Williams, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Jessica Sutton, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Instructors:
Ramón Arrowsmith, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Christopher Crosby, UNAVCO, Boulder, CO
Edwin Nissen, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO

Overview:

High resolution topographic data has become an important tool for earthquake scientists to make detailed observations and model surface evolution. Within the last decade, several efforts have been made to collect high resolution topographic (HRT) data for active faults (e.g. The B4 project, EarthScope, and numerous NCALM and USGS projects). These datasets are freely available online through OpenTopography, a NSF funded data distribution portal. The active faulting community has taken great interest in these exciting datasets, using them to generate new and important insights into earthquake processes in Southern California. OpenTopography in partnership with the Southern California Earthquake Center, UNAVCO, and EarthScope will host a short course at Arizona State University on January 25-26, 2016. This 2-day course will highlight recent research results and provide beginner to intermediate training on airborne and terrestrial lidar, and Structure from Motion technology, point cloud and raster-based data processing, and active fault-oriented analysis. We will emphasize fault trace and geomorphic mapping, topographic differencing, integration with other geospatial data, and data visualization and analysis approaches. Participants will have opportunities to discuss their research with other participants and the instructors.

Logistics:
Hotel: The Graduate | Driving directions airport to hotel | Walking directions hotel to Monday Workshop | Walking directions hotel to Tuesday Workshop | 
The Phoenix Lightrail will also take you from Sky Harbor Airport to ASU campus, just a short walk from The Graduate (Directions) | 

Additional Information Shared student lodging, breaks, and lunch will be covered for all participants. In addition, up to $250 for other travel expenses may be available with emphasis on students and early career scientists. We will be handing out and explaining the travel reimbursement process during the course.

If you plan to bring your own computer, the software that should be installed and functioning prior to arrival includes:

• ArcGIS (with Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst extensions)
• Matlab
• LAStools (http://rapidlasso.com/lastools/)--free version ok
• Agisoft Photoscan (http://www.agisoft.com/)--free version ok
• CloudCompare (http://cloudcompare.org/)--free
• Text editor
• Utility to compress/uncompress (.tar, .gz, .zip) files

We have put together a reading list that contains a number of relevant papers that you may find helpful to review prior to the course (highest priority is shown in italics).

On Monday evening in the Hayden Ballroom (second floor at the hotel), we will have short presentations by participants. You are STRONGLY encouraged to make one of these short (<5 minutes/<5 slides) presentations. We will have a computer and projector there and will collect the presentations in advance for quick transitions. Given the big group, we will be strict on timing, but we do look forward to hearing about your work, your ideas, or even questions. This will be very informal!

DRAFT SCHEDULE (subject to change based on composition of registered participants)

Monday, January 25th 2016

Tuesday, January 26th 2016