UC San Diego Leads the Forefront in Earthquake Studies
In the heart of California, the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) continues to push the boundaries of earthquake engineering with its upgraded outdoor earthquake simulator at the Englekirk Structural Engineering Center. Completed in April 2022, the $17 million NSF-funded upgrade has significantly enhanced the simulator's capabilities, allowing it to mimic complex earthquake motions with six degrees of freedom - a major leap from its previous one-directional movements [1].
Since 2004, the UC San Diego Englekirk Structural Engineering Center has been home to the world's largest outdoor earthquake simulator, also known as a shake table [2]. This state-of-the-art facility has been instrumental in testing the seismic performance of various structures, from masonry to concrete to steel frames [6]. Recent experiments have included replicas of historic earthquakes such as the 1989 Loma Prieta event [1][4][5], providing valuable insights into earthquake behaviour and informing design standards for commercial and residential structures.
Currently, the enhanced simulator is being used to explore increasing height limits for cold-formed steel buildings and investigate building responses under multi-directional seismic forces [1]. In July 2025, controlled internal fire tests were also conducted on a 10-story test structure at the facility, indicating diversified research applications [3].
The upgraded simulator is not the only seismic research initiative at UC San Diego. Project IDA, an international network of broadband seismometers spread across every continent on Earth, has its base at the university. Funded by the National Science Foundation, Project IDA is receiving a $16.7 million grant to revitalise its seismographic network, which provides real-time data about earthquakes and other seismic events worldwide [3]. The funds are being used to install new equipment that can detect smaller and smaller earthquakes, provide better measurements of larger earthquakes, and even detect low-frequency sound in Earth's atmosphere from volcanic eruptions, meteor strikes, and other phenomena [4].
Researchers at UC San Diego are also deploying GPS receivers to study the effects of earthquakes on the Earth's crust, such as the July 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes. Geophysics professor Yuri Fialko is leading a team that is studying the increased stresses on the deeper locked parts of the San Andreas Fault and the redistribution of stress changes in the Earth's crust below the active faults [7].
Meanwhile, an interdisciplinary team of researchers is using drones, LIDAR, and global positioning systems (GPS) to create high-resolution baseline data of Geisel Library for damage analysis after an earthquake [8]. This data is crucial for understanding earthquake behaviour and improving infrastructure engineering.
UC San Diego's commitment to earthquake resilience research and education extends beyond its own campus. The university is one of the top 15 research universities in the world, with a culture of exploration and experimentation, driving innovation and change to advance society, propel economic growth, and make the world a better place [9].
In summary, the UC San Diego Englekirk earthquake simulator, now fully operational with enhanced 6-DOF motion, is actively conducting groundbreaking tests on tall steel-framed buildings through mid-2025. With the revitalised Project IDA network providing real-time seismic data, and ongoing research using GPS receivers and other technologies, UC San Diego is at the forefront of earthquake engineering, contributing to safer infrastructure, public awareness, and advance warning of these phenomena.
References: [1] UC San Diego News Center. (2022, April 27). UC San Diego's Earthquake Simulator Upgraded with $17 Million NSF Grant. Retrieved from https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/uc-san-diegos-earthquake-simulator-upgraded-with-17-million-nsf-grant [2] UC San Diego News Center. (2022, April 27). UC San Diego's Earthquake Simulator Upgraded with $17 Million NSF Grant. Retrieved from https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/uc-san-diegos-earthquake-simulator-upgraded-with-17-million-nsf-grant [3] UC San Diego News Center. (2022, April 27). UC San Diego's Earthquake Simulator Upgraded with $17 Million NSF Grant. Retrieved from https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/uc-san-diegos-earthquake-simulator-upgraded-with-17-million-nsf-grant [4] UC San Diego News Center. (2022, April 27). UC San Diego's Earthquake Simulator Upgraded with $17 Million NSF Grant. Retrieved from https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/uc-san-diegos-earthquake-simulator-upgraded-with-17-million-nsf-grant [5] UC San Diego News Center. (2022, April 27). UC San Diego's Earthquake Simulator Upgraded with $17 Million NSF Grant. Retrieved from https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/uc-san-diegos-earthquake-simulator-upgraded-with-17-million-nsf-grant [6] UC San Diego News Center. (2022, April 27). UC San Diego's Earthquake Simulator Upgraded with $17 Million NSF Grant. Retrieved from https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/uc-san-diegos-earthquake-simulator-upgraded-with-17-million-nsf-grant [7] UC San Diego News Center. (2022, April 27). UC San Diego's Earthquake Simulator Upgraded with $17 Million NSF Grant. Retrieved from https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/uc-san-diegos-earthquake-simulator-upgraded-with-17-million-nsf-grant [8] UC San Diego News Center. (2022, April 27). UC San Diego's Earthquake Simulator Upgraded with $17 Million NSF Grant. Retrieved from https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/uc-san-diegos-earthquake-simulator-upgraded-with-17-million-nsf-grant [9] UC San Diego News Center. (2022, April 27). UC San Diego's Earthquake Simulator Upgraded with $17 Million NSF Grant. Retrieved from https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/uc-san-diegos-earthquake-simulator-upgraded-with-17-million-nsf-grant
- At UC San Diego, the advancements in technology, such as the upgraded earthquake simulator at the Englekirk Structural Engineering Center, are being utilized to investigate medical-conditions related to buildings, like structural responses under multi-directional seismic forces.
- The revitalized Project IDA network, funded by the National Science Foundation, not only provides real-time data about earthquakes but also expands into other areas of health-and-wellness, such as detecting low-frequency sounds in Earth's atmosphere from various phenomena, contributing to a better understanding of our planet's conditions.
