ISO 37174:2024

International
Standard
ISO 37174
First edition
Smart community infrastructures —
2024-02
Disaster risk reduction — Guidance
for implementing seismometer
systems
Reference number
© ISO 2024
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Value, purpose and structure of the system . 2
4.1 General .2
4.2 Value of utilizing seismometer systems .2
4.3 Purpose of use .3
4.4 Data specifications .3
4.5 Structure of the system .3
5 Utilization of seismometer data . 5
5.1 General .5
5.1.1 Data acquisition . . .5
5.1.2 Data specifications .6
5.1.3 Devices and facilities available for data acquisition .6
5.2 Utilization of data before disasters .6
5.3 Utilization of data during disasters .7
5.4 Utilization of data after disasters .7
6 Functions of seismometers and data use . 7
6.1 Purposes of using seismometer systems .7
6.2 Functions of seismometer systems .10
7 Ensuring availability and interoperability of seismometer data .11
7.1 Ensuring availability of seismometer data.11
7.2 Ensuring the interoperability of seismometer data .11
Annex A (informative) Example of seismometer data categorization selection .12
Annex B (informative) Recommended data table by category .13
Annex C (informative) Mapping the usage of seismometer systems for disaster risk reduction
to the disaster-management process and the ISO 37123 indicators .16
Bibliography . 17

iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 268, Sustainable cities and communities,
Subcommittee SC 1, Smart community infrastructures.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
Introduction
Earthquakes are one of the most devastating of all natural hazards. To achieve the goal set by the Sendai
[19]
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, it is necessary for relevant stakeholders in
communities to prevent and reduce damage caused by earthquakes and maintain the level of services and
quality of life in the community after an earthquake. Effective use of a seismometer system contributes to
these objectives by enabling more informed emergency responses. Data from seismometer systems also
helps to improve understanding and modelling of ground motion and structural behaviour, leading to
improved seismic design regulations and improved seismic risk modelling.
In some seismically active countries, the damage caused by earthquakes has also been mitigated by installing
appropriate seismometers and by effectively utilizing the data obtained. These data can be utilized for:
— land use control;
— the structural design of buildings and other facilities;
— emergency responses;
— evacuation guidance;
The data also help organizations to develop business continuity plans to help them to respond, recover and
return to a pre-defined level of operation following the disruption.
However, the effectiveness of seismometer systems as one of the tools for seismic risk reduction has not
been recognized globally due to a lack of systematic knowledge sharing. In countries or regions with rapid
urbanization and significant earthquake risk, the lack of knowledge has resulted in the underutilization of
seismometer systems. This makes the communities in these places less resilient.
This document aims to assist relevant stakeholders of communities, such as various levels of governments,
planners, developers and operators, in optimizing their investment in urban development by deploying and
utilizing seismometer systems as a tool for the disaster risk reduction of earthquakes. This document also
describes a categorization of the purposes of seismometer systems for achieving disaster risk reduction, as
well as the specifications of seismometer systems required for this specific purpose, as part of the smart
community infrastructures described in ISO/TR 6030.
Analysis of the data obtained from seismometer systems provides information for managing risk and
reducing the impact on people, organizations, infrastructures and livelihoods. It also provides information
for planning preventive measures and emergency responses after an earthquake. For these reasons, effective
utilization of data will enable communities to enhance their resilience to earthquakes.

v
International Standard ISO 37174:2024(en)
Smart community infrastructures — Disaster risk reduction
— Guidance for implementing seismometer systems
1 Scope
This document provides guidance for developing, implementing and maintaining seismometer systems as
a part of the infrastructure for disaster risk reduction in smart communities. The seismometer systems
in this document can be used for the observation of seismic activity, such as earthquakes, micro-seismic
motion and volcanic tremors, especially in seismically active areas.
This document gives examples of how different types of seismometers can fulfil the needs and expectations
of users and help planners, developers and community operators to effectively use seismometers and related
data for disaster risk reduction.
This document is not applicable to the following:
— drop-ball type and pendulum type seismometers;
— how to design and develop seismometer systems (e.g. seismometers installed in railway systems).
The features of the seismometer systems in this document are not intended for the measurement of
vibrations caused by landslides.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
hazard map
map developed to illuminate areas that are affected or vulnerable to a particular hazard (e.g. earthquakes,
landslides, rockslides)
[SOURCE: ISO 37123:2019, 3.4]
3.2
earthquake focus
point inside the Earth where an earthquake originates, the fault rupture starts, and the seismic waves are
generated
3.3
seismic intensity
degree of ground shaking at a given location, resulting from an earthquake
Note 1 to entry: The criteria for seismic intensity levels vary from country to country.

3.4
magnitude
number that characterizes the relative size of an earthquake
3.5
disaster
situation where widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses have occurred that
exceeded the ability of the affected organization, community or society to respond and recover using its
own resources
[SOURCE: ISO 22300:2021, 3.1.73]
3.6
P-wave
primary wave
elastic body wave in which the particle motion is in the direction of propagation
[SOURCE: ISO 19901-10:2021, 3.73]
4 Value, purpose and structure of the system
4.1 General
Seismometer systems should be selected according to their purpose and specifications for data acquisition
(see 4.3 and 4.4). When developing and implementing seismometer systems, planners, developers and
operators of communities should define the purpose and specifications for data acquisition and the structure
of the system.
NOTE A flowchart that can be used for determining the appropriate seismometer systems for specific purposes is
provided in Annex A.
4.2 Value of utilizing seismometer systems
Examples of values achieved by effective use of seismometer systems are as follows:
a) from the perspective of stakeholders:
1) reducing negative consequences and protecting lives, property, and the environment;
2) recovering quickly from damage;
3) meeting stakeholder expectations;
4) taking quick protective actions following earthquakes;
b) from the perspective of community operations:
1) improving the ability to maintain functions immediately after an earthquake and other seismic
activity;
2) taking proactive actions in an effective and efficient manner;
3) fostering communities that are resilient, sustainable, liveable and smarter;
4) providing an effective response strategy to emergencies and disasters;
c) from the economic perspective:
1) reducing legal and financial burdens;

2) reducing costs incurred by earthquakes;
d) from the business perspective:
1) strengthening resilience;
2) maintaining and improving reputation and credibility;
3) strengthening sustainability;
e) for research and the professional community:
1) improving the understanding of natural phenomena (e.g. earthquakes and volcanos);
2) improving the understanding of vibrations on the ground and in structures due to natural
phenomena (e.g. earthquakes and volcanos);
3) improving design regulations and structural design.
By effectively utilizing seismometer systems, planners, developers and operators of communities can
contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3, 8, 9 and 11.
4.3 Purpose of use
Planners, developers and operators of communities should define the purposes for using seismometer
systems. Examples of purposes include:
— assessing the exposure to hazards in the area;
— early detection and warning;
— evacuation alerts;
— controlling devices and systems.
Further details on the purposes of use are described in 6.1 and 6.2.
4.4 Data specifications
Seismometer data is time-series data for vibrations. The specifications for data acquisition should include:
— variables (e.g. acceleration, velocity and displacement);
— accuracy of location and time;
— real-time acquisition capability;
— data format.
4.5 Structure of the system
Seismometer systems can include the following components, as shown in Figure 1:
— seismometers for measuring environmental vibrations (e.g. seismic motion or volcanic ground motion);
— data obtained by seismometer;
— processing components;
— other peripheral equipment (e.g. communication infrastructure, power supply facilities, fixing devices).

When performing seismic observations at multiple points using the communication infrastructure, the
following factors should be considered:
— the observation environments that are likely to impact the performance of seismometer systems;
— the spatial distribution of seismometer systems, including location, density and network.
Key
a
Electric power.
b
Vibration caused by seismic motion or volcanic ground motion.
c
Data.
Figure 1 — Example of a seismometer system and interactions

Seismometer systems for communities can be implemented in various places for different purposes, as
shown in Figure 2, in which number labels represent locations and letter labels represent purposes.
Key
Structures and areas
1 roads, bridges
2 shopping centres, amusement facilities, large meeting halls, hospitals
3 housing area
4 schools
5 high-rise buildings
6 laboratories
7 hazard areas
8 public offices
9 electric power, city gas facilities
10 factories
11 coastline
Purpose of seismometer systems
A hazard area survey
B volcanic tremor survey
C micro-seismic motion monitoring
D national disaster management network
E local disaster management network
F wide-area earthquake warning system
G earthquake evacuation warning system
H emergency stoppage system in the event of an earthquake
I structural damage survey
J structural deterioration survey
Figure 2 — Examples of the potential use of seismometer systems in a community
5 Utilization of seismometer data
5.1 General
5.1.1 Data acquisition
Planners, developers and operators of communities can utilize seismometer systems differently in various
phases, including before, during and after disasters.
Planners, developers and operators of communities should therefore install the appropriate type of
seismometer system, after considering how to use them in each phase.

Secondary metrics, such as magnitude and seismic intensity, can be calculated with seismometer data.
For example, magnitude can indicate the amount of energy released by an earthquake. In addition, seismic
intensity can indicate the site-specific strength of an earthquake and the potential damage.
5.1.2 Data specifications
5.1.2.1 Data to be acquired
Acceleration, velocity or displacement of motion should be acquired as time-series data. When conducting a
spatial analysis, information on the location should be acquired, and time synchronization should be applied.
5.1.2.2 Data specifications
Acceleration, velocity or displacement of motion should be acquired with appropriate accuracy of time and
location for the specific purpose.
5.1.2.3 Data format
A common data format can be used to enhance interoperability among the different seismometer systems.
5.1.3 Devices and facilities available for data acquisition
5.1.3.1 Seismometer
Guidance for a suitable amplitude least count, frequency range and sampling rate are provided in Annex B.
5.1.3.2 Arrangement of seismometers
The arrangement of seismometers should reflect the intended purpose. For example, to assess the
vulnerability of an area, seismometers should be spatially distributed to cover the area. To assess the
damage and soundness of a building structure, seismometers should be vertically distributed. More than
one seismometer can be installed on multiple floors, if necessary.
5.1.3.3 Peripheral equipment
A power supply and a communication network should be provided. Additional power supplies for emergency
purposes should also be provided. Seismometer systems should be installed following the manufacturer’s
specifications.
5.2 Utilization of data before disasters
Planners, developers and operators of communities can use seismometer systems, before a disaster occurs,
for the following purposes:
— monitoring seismic and volcanic activity;
— investigating and understanding the hazard exposure of communities;
— identifying the spatial vibration characteristics of areas through a ground survey using microearthquake
data;
— creating hazard maps and earthquake risk maps;
— diagnosing disaster resistance, soundness and deterioration of the instrumented structures (those with
seismometers) in communities;
— building the capacities of communities and citizens as well as mitigating damage by using early warning
systems for drills and emergency stoppage systems.

5.3 Utilization of data during disasters
Planners, developers and operators of communities can use seismometer systems, during disasters, for the
following purposes:
a) immediately upon sensing the P-wave of an earthquake:
— for reducing the number of victims by using early warning systems;
— for preventing damage by controlling emergency stoppage equipment and systems;
b) immediately after detecting the ground motion caused by a strong earthquake:
— for estimating the characteristics of the earthquake, generating quick estimation maps of the
earthquake disaster damage and making tsunami predictions;
— for promoting early evacuation to avoid secondary disasters due to tsunami;
— for rapid and remote estimation of the damage to instrumented structures;
— for preventing secondary damage caused by aftershocks;
— for preventing unnecessary evacuations from slightly damaged instrumented structures.
5.4 Utilization of data after disasters
Planners, developers and operators of communities can use seismometer systems, after disasters, for the
following purposes:
a) emergency response:
— conducting emergency services, such as search and rescue, based on a rapid impact estimation;
— assessing the safety of instrumented structures by rapidly estimating the severity of structural
damage;
— providing warning of aftershocks by monitoring seismic activity;
— carrying out emergency stoppage of gas, electricity and water supply facilities in the damaged area
that can lead to secondary events;
NOTE Secondary events include, e.g. aftershocks, tsunami, fires, power outages, caused by earthquakes.
b) recovery and reconstruction:
— assessing the damage to instrumented structures;
— prioritizing activities in reconstruction planning;
— analysing the recorded data to better understand the ground response and structural behaviour
to improve the seismic design and seismic evaluation regulations as well as rehabilitation and
methodologies for seismic risk assess
...