38 Plate Boundary Evolution and Lithospheric Dynamics of Western North America (Posters)

We invite presentations on Cenozoic tectonics, volcanism, sedimentation, and geohazards offshore and along the margin of western North America. Example topics include crustal structure, mantle processes, triple-junction migration, paleomagnetism, active faulting, marine stratigraphy, and seismicity.

Friday, 24 April 2026
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
LMH, 5th Floor Chapel

Urban Accelerometric Monitoring in Northern Baja California: The RAII-UABC Network and Its Integration into Regional Seismic Response

Paper number: 38-4
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Authors

Abstract

The Accelerometric Network of the Institute of Engineering of the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (RAII-UABC) is a recently established urban seismic network designed to enhance seismic monitoring and rapid response capabilities in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, a region of high seismic hazard associated with the Imperial–Cerro Prieto fault system, which extends across the U.S.–Mexico border into Southern California. Deployed and operational in 2025, the network represents a bi-nationally relevant monitoring effort within a tectonically complex and highly populated borderlands region.

In its initial phase, the RAII-UABC consists of 15 triaxial accelerometer stations using low-cost, high-performance MEMS sensors. Stations are installed on the UABC campus and at selected high schools, leveraging existing infrastructure to ensure physical security, continuous power supply, and reliable network connectivity. Continuous waveform data are transmitted in real time via the SeedLink protocol to the II-UABC operations center, where SeisComP is used for data acquisition, storage, quality control, and operational monitoring. The system is interoperable with external seismic networks, including the National Strong Motion Program and the Southern California Seismic Network, enabling regional data exchange and comparative analyses.

Accelerometric waveforms are processed automatically and in near real time to compute peak ground acceleration (PGA) and Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI). These parameters are used to generate high-resolution ground-shaking maps for earthquakes with magnitude M ≥ 3.5, which constitute a primary operational product of the network. Shaking maps are systematically transmitted to municipal civil protection authorities to support rapid situational awareness, damage prioritization, and decision-making during seismic emergencies. For each recorded event, the system produces a comprehensive database including acceleration, velocity, and displacement time series in physical units, as well as station-specific response and Fourier spectra.

As part of its ongoing evolution, a significant expansion of the RAII-UABC is planned for 2026, with the installation of approximately 70 additional stations and the deployment of a public web portal for data access and product dissemination. Through interinstitutional coordination and cross-border data integration, the RAII-UABC contributes to a more unified understanding of seismic processes in the Baja California–Southern California region, strengthening urban resilience and improving seismic risk management across the borderlands.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 3

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026CD-411030

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