Structure Instrumentation in the California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program

In the last 27 years the California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (CSMIP) in the California Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology has instrumented over 240 structures, including 160 buildings, 58 bridges, and 20 dams. In addition to these structures, CSMIP has installed over 500 ground response stations. Many of these stations have been installed since the 1994 Northridge earthquake. These modern stations have modem digital recording and communication systems that can transmit the recorded data to a central facility in Sacramento within a few minutes after the shaking occurs. The recorded data are automatically processed in the central facility and then disseminated rapidly to the users. These near-real-time data include acceleration, velocity, and displacement time series and response spectra.The near-real-time strong-motion data provide information on ground shaking and response of instrumented structures, and are useful not only for improving seismic design practices but also for post-earthquake damage evaluation of structures. This paper describes the current status and future plan of CSMIP structure instrumentation projects, and discusses quick application of strong-motion data to post-earthquake response and damage evaluation of structures.