Course C1 — Record Selection and PSHA with OpenQuake and ESHM2020

3 days | For structural and geotechnical engineers | English

Overview

This course provides a rigorous and practical treatment of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis and ground motion record selection, built around the OpenQuake engine and the 2020 European Seismic Hazard Model (ESHM2020). It targets engineers who use design spectra and ground motion sets in their structural analyses but treat hazard as a black box. After this course participants can run their own PSHA, produce site-specific hazard curves and disaggregation results, and select and scale ground motion records using both UHS and Conditional Mean Spectrum approaches.

Prerequisites

Basic structural engineering, familiarity with design spectra, Python basics.

Software

Software: OpenQuake Engine, Python (OpenQuake API), ESM/PEER databases for record selection

Learning Objectives

Understand the PSHA framework: source models, GMPEs, hazard integral, return periods
Navigate and use ESHM2020 — source model, ground motion characterisation, logic tree
Run site-specific PSHA with OpenQuake: hazard curves, uniform hazard spectra, disaggregation
Interpret disaggregation results for record selection target definition
Select and scale ground motion records using UHS and Conditional Mean Spectrum criteria
Apply vertical motion considerations and near-fault effects where relevant

Daily Schedule

Day	Topics
Day 1	PSHA theory: seismic source models, attenuation (GMPEs), hazard integral, return period. ESHM2020 overview: source zones, fault model, ground motion logic tree. OpenQuake installation and first hazard run.
Day 2	Site-specific PSHA with OpenQuake: hazard curves, UHS, disaggregation by magnitude, distance, and epsilon. Interpreting disaggregation for record selection. Site response and Vs30 considerations.
Day 3	Ground motion record selection: UHS vs CMS target spectra, selection algorithms, scaling and spectral matching. Hands-on selection from ESM and PEER databases. Vertical motion: V/H ratios, separate vertical PSHA. Delivering a complete hazard report.