The SAFER Geodatabase for the Kathmandu Valley: geotechnical and geological variability

Charlotte E. L. Gilder; Rama Mohan Pokhrel; Paul J. Vardanega; Flavia De Luca; Raffaele De Risi; Maximilian J. Werner; Domniki Asimaki; Prem Nath Maskey; Anastasios Sextos

doi:10.1177/8755293019899952

The SAFER Geodatabase for the Kathmandu Valley: geotechnical and geological variability

Charlotte E. L. Gilder, Rama Mohan Pokhrel, Paul J. Vardanega, Flavia De Luca, Raffaele De Risi, Maximilian J. Werner, Domniki Asimaki, Prem Nath Maskey, Anastasios Sextos

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Abstract

The Kathmandu Valley is within a seismically active region and only few recorded strong motion data are available for the region. Geophysical information in the valley is very sparse. Additionally, the absence of an open database which compiles in situ geophysical tests, borehole records and geotechnical laboratory data is preventing the advancement of knowledge in the region. This paper presents SAFER/GEO-591 database, named after the EPSRC funded project Seismic Safety and Resilience of Schools in Nepal (SAFER). SAFER/GEO-591 contains data from groundwater wells and boreholes originally commissioned for research and commercial purposes. This work discusses (i) the quality assessment and harmonization process conducted on the dataset, (ii) shear-wave velocity (Vs) measurements and geotechnical parameters with depth and elevation in the Valley, (iii) a review of the current understanding of the Valley sediment/bedrock topography, and lastly (iv) new geological cross sections. A companion paper presents an updated VS30 map across the Valley based on the contributions of this paper. The database can be freely downloaded from the University of Bristol Repository via DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5523/bris.2d5fji307ihtm28492er663bwf

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1549–1569
Number of pages	21
Journal	Earthquake Spectra
Volume	36
Issue number	3
Early online date	6 Feb 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/8755293019899952
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2020

Keywords

geodatabase
Nepal
boreholes
shear-wave velocity
VS30

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10.1177/8755293019899952

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SAFER Seismic safety and resilience of schools in Nepal
Sextos, A., De Luca, F., Vardanega, P. J., Agarwal, J., Alexander, N. A. & Werner, M.
1/05/17 → 30/06/21
Project: Research, Parent

The SAFER Borehole Database (SAFER/GEO-591_v1.0)
Gilder, C. (Creator), Pokhrel, R. M. (Creator) & Vardanega, P. J. (Creator), University of Bristol, 23 Sep 2019
DOI: 10.5523/bris.2d5fji307ihtm28492er663bwf, http://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/2d5fji307ihtm28492er663bwf
Dataset

Dr Paul J Vardanega
- p.j.vardanegabristol.acuk
- Department of Civil Engineering - Associate Professor in Civil Engineering
- Earthquake and Geotechnical Engineering
- Cabot Institute for the Environment
Person: Academic , Member
Dr Max Werner
- max.wernerbristol.acuk
- School of Earth Sciences - Associate Professor of Geophysics and Natural Hazards
- Geophysics
- Cabot Institute for the Environment
Person: Academic , Member

Cite this

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title = "The SAFER Geodatabase for the Kathmandu Valley: geotechnical and geological variability",

abstract = "The Kathmandu Valley is within a seismically active region and only few recorded strong motion data are available for the region. Geophysical information in the valley is very sparse. Additionally, the absence of an open database which compiles in situ geophysical tests, borehole records and geotechnical laboratory data is preventing the advancement of knowledge in the region. This paper presents SAFER/GEO-591 database, named after the EPSRC funded project Seismic Safety and Resilience of Schools in Nepal (SAFER). SAFER/GEO-591 contains data from groundwater wells and boreholes originally commissioned for research and commercial purposes. This work discusses (i) the quality assessment and harmonization process conducted on the dataset, (ii) shear-wave velocity (Vs) measurements and geotechnical parameters with depth and elevation in the Valley, (iii) a review of the current understanding of the Valley sediment/bedrock topography, and lastly (iv) new geological cross sections. A companion paper presents an updated VS30 map across the Valley based on the contributions of this paper. The database can be freely downloaded from the University of Bristol Repository via DOI:https://doi.org/10.5523/bris.2d5fji307ihtm28492er663bwf",

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author = "Gilder, {Charlotte E. L.} and Pokhrel, {Rama Mohan} and Vardanega, {Paul J.} and {De Luca}, Flavia and {De Risi}, Raffaele and Werner, {Maximilian J.} and Domniki Asimaki and Maskey, {Prem Nath} and Anastasios Sextos",

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language = "English",

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pages = "1549–1569",

journal = "Earthquake Spectra",

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AU - Gilder, Charlotte E. L.

AU - Pokhrel, Rama Mohan

AU - Vardanega, Paul J.

AU - De Luca, Flavia

AU - De Risi, Raffaele

AU - Werner, Maximilian J.

AU - Asimaki, Domniki

AU - Maskey, Prem Nath

AU - Sextos, Anastasios

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AB - The Kathmandu Valley is within a seismically active region and only few recorded strong motion data are available for the region. Geophysical information in the valley is very sparse. Additionally, the absence of an open database which compiles in situ geophysical tests, borehole records and geotechnical laboratory data is preventing the advancement of knowledge in the region. This paper presents SAFER/GEO-591 database, named after the EPSRC funded project Seismic Safety and Resilience of Schools in Nepal (SAFER). SAFER/GEO-591 contains data from groundwater wells and boreholes originally commissioned for research and commercial purposes. This work discusses (i) the quality assessment and harmonization process conducted on the dataset, (ii) shear-wave velocity (Vs) measurements and geotechnical parameters with depth and elevation in the Valley, (iii) a review of the current understanding of the Valley sediment/bedrock topography, and lastly (iv) new geological cross sections. A companion paper presents an updated VS30 map across the Valley based on the contributions of this paper. The database can be freely downloaded from the University of Bristol Repository via DOI:https://doi.org/10.5523/bris.2d5fji307ihtm28492er663bwf

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The SAFER Geodatabase for the Kathmandu Valley: geotechnical and geological variability

Abstract

Keywords

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Projects

SAFER Seismic safety and resilience of schools in Nepal

Datasets

The SAFER Borehole Database (SAFER/GEO-591_v1.0)

Profiles

Dr Paul J Vardanega

Dr Max Werner

Cite this