3. Early warning: From critical processes to rapid disaster information

Near-real time measurements and data processing, the identification of critical situations, and the forecasting or prediction of impending disasters help to optimize crisis management. Hence, methodologies that will balance the demands for accuracy and speed will be developed, and deployed in appropriate locations for testing and modification.
Timely information and early warning have proven their capability of significantly reducing the losses due to extreme natural events. Near real-time measurements, data analysis and simulations allow to gain information that can be used to warn people at risk and disaster managers before an event, to activate protecting shutdown functions, and to provide information during a crisis situation. The basis for reliable early warning is the rapid analysis of critical processes and the identification of short-term changes that may result in critical situations and imminent threats. Tools will be developed that provide automated alarms and fast information for disaster management, decision-makers, public and media.
Near-real time measurements and data processing, the identification of critical situations, and the forecasting or prediction of impending disasters help to optimize crisis management. Hence, methodologies that will balance the demands for accuracy and speed will be developed, and deployed in appropriate locations for testing and modification.

3.1 Earthquake early warning
As most of the seismological processing methods existing so far have not been developed or optimised for real-time applications as required for earthquake early warning, one of our core tasks is the development of real-time algorithms for the rapid determination of earthquake source parameters.

3.2 German Task Force
campaigns of the “German Task Force Earthquakes”