The California Integrated Seismic Network Kiosk

By the Institute for Crustal Studies and NEES at UCSB








Introduction to CISN and the CISN Kiosk

Six organizations came together in 2000 to form the California Integrated Seismic Network, CISN. The primary mission of CISN is to “...operate a reliable, modern, statewide system for earthquake monitoring, research, archiving, and distribution of information for the benefit of public safety, emergency response, and loss mitigation.” Via three main management centers CISN coordinates the various Californian seismic station’s data and provides it to researchers and emergency response. One of the tools created by CISN is the CISN Display program. Originally intended to provide emergency information concerning recent earthquakes, the program can also be used as an educational tool for the public to explore. The program can be purchased or further reviewed at the CISN Website.

In 2009 the Institute for Crustal Studies (ICS) and UCSB's Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) unit created an interactive kiosk so the public could explore the CISN Display program. Located in Girvetz Hall , the CISN Kiosk can be used via touch-pad and shows real-time data on any earthquake’s size, magnitude, and location.

Here is a gallery of CISN Dispaly photos.


Where can a CISN Kiosk be Found?

The CISN Display Kiosk can be found on the ground floor of Girvetz Hall just outside of room 1140. Plans are underway to install the system in Ellison Hall and Webb Hall (as of spring 2010).


About NEES

The Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation, NEES, is a ten year program started in 2004 to improve our study of earthquakes. Fifteen experimental facilities across the country collaborate to simulate and research seismic eventsin order to understand their affect on the planet and man-made structures. NEES’s goals are to broaden the field of earthquake study by operating the largest and most advanced experimental facilities in the field, and providing an IT infrastructure capable of integrating this information. NEES at UCSB manages and processes the data from various local earthquake facilities, such as the Hollister Earthquake Array and the UCSB Array located outside Webb Hall.

More information can be found at the NEES@UCSB Website


About ICS

Established over 18 years ago, ICS was conceived as an interdisciplinary research unit focused on the Earth’s crust: the evolution of the crust from its inception to present, the natural resources contained within the crust and at its surface, and the natural hazards that result from geological processes. Drawing from geologists, physicists, chemists, geographers and other scientists, ICS uses an integrated view to study things like Geochronolgy, the role of climate in shaping the landscape, and the fate of chemicals in our groundwater system. For more information please visit the ICS website .