ADVANCES IN SEISMIC MICROZONING IN COLOMBIA

ANDRÉS JOSÉ ALFARO CASTILLO*

SUMMARY

In developing countries, like Colombia, there are many effects from natural events. They
could affect the Gross National Product (GNP) and the amount of displaced people and
refugees as well. Natural Risk reduction could be a priority responsibility for Colombian
authorities.

The Earthquake Engineering and Seismology Research Group, founded and directed by the
author since 1999, is working in Seismic Microzonation for the following Colombian cities:
Tunja, Barrancabermeja, Villavicencio, Ibagué, Neiva and Pasto. Additionally, the last two
years the group has made a Bogotá Regional Seismic Hazard assessment. In Colombia it is
necessary to improve the Seismic Hazard assessment, in both scales: regional and local.

However, we have two significant limitations: economic and human resources to evaluate
Seismic Hazard accurately and in a realistic way. On the other hand, we could use novel
and inexpensive technologies, like a Geographical Information System Database and
Microtremor Analysis in order to improve Colombian hazard assessment.

INTRODUCTION

The Earthquake Engineering and Seismology Research Group† is working on Local

Seismic Microzonation for the following Colombian cities: Tunja [1], Barrancabermeja [2],
Villavicencio [3], Neiva [4] and Pasto [5], we are using geological and geomorphic
information generating 1:25.000 scale maps. Additionally, for the city of Ibagué [6] we
used geotechnical information from logs and wells in order to improve the Local Seismic
Hazard Maps. Finally, the group made the Javeriana University Campus Seismic
Microzonation, which includes Bogotá Regional Seismic Hazard assessment [ 7].

It is necessary to reduce the natural hazard risk of Colombian cities. This topic was
successfully developed in highest hazard zones, like San Francisco and Tokyo. In order to

*
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Earthquake Engineering and Seismology Research Group
Researcher
†
The members of the Earthquake Engineering and Seismology Research Group are Rene Van
Hissenhoven, MSc, PhD; Alexander Caneva, MSc, PhD; Pilar Monroy, MSc; Alfonso Ramos, MSc;
Diego Garcia, MSc and Andres Alfaro, MSc
succeed we have to asses the seismic hazard accurately, and the vulnerability of buildings
as well.

COLOMBIAN NATURAL DISASTERS IN THE LAST TWO DECADES (1980S –

PRESENT)

This part summarize the most dramatic Natural disasters that have being happening in
Colombia in the last twenty years, however, this summary does not include floods and
landslides, because, unfortunately, they happen too many times every year in the whole
country.

Popayán Earthquake, March 31 1983. This earthquake affected Popayán City and
surrounding towns. It resulted in 287 deaths, 7,248 injured people, 13,650 dwelling
destroyed and a huge economic loss. Rebuilding cost approximately US$ 76 million. This
amount does not include National Monuments or Ancient Buildings damaged or destroyed
[8].

Ruiz Volcano Eruption, November 13, 1985.

The Eruption caused a huge mud avalanche, which destroyed the city of Armero
completely and the city of Chinchina partially, resulting in approximately 23,000 dead
people and 200,000 hurt people [ 9].

Murindo Earthquake, 1990.

The Murindo earthquake destroyed more than 200 dwellings in Chocó and Antioquia
Provinces.

Paez River Earthquake, June 6, 1994.

This earthquake generated an avalanche in the Paez River basin causing 1,000 dead people
and more than 30,000 hurt people.

Pasto Earthquake, March 4, 1995.

This earthquake caused 300 damaged dwelling and more than 1,000 people without home,
a public hospital out of service, and 10% of the schools damaged.

Earthquake in the Coffee Growing Region of Colombia, January 25, 1999.

This earthquake caused 1,185 dead, more than 8,000 injured people, and more than 400,000
hurt people. The most significant destruction happened in the city of Armenia, and in the
towns of Salento, Circasia and La Tebaida [10].

ADVANCES IN SEISMIC MICROZONING STUDIES IN COLOMBIA

Most of Colombian people live in towns and cities, which are located in significant seismic
hazard zones (pga more than 150 gals for 475 years), additionally at least 30 cities have
more than 100,000 inhabitants. Chart 1 summarizes some studies for Seismic Microzoning
in Colombia.

CHART 1

COLOMBIAN CITIES WITH MORE THAN 100,000 INHABITANTS

WITH SIGNIFICANT SEISMIC HAZARD

City Population Hazard References Figure

Last National PGA
Census
1993 (475 years)
Armenia 211,000 >200 gals [11]-[12]
Barrancabermeja 136,000 100-200 gals [13][2]. Figure 1
Bello 260,000 100-200 gals [14]
Bogotá 100-200 gals [15]
Bucaramanga 403,000 >200 gals [16]
Cali 1.636,000 >200 gals [17]
Dosquebradas 115,000 >200 gals [18]
Envigado 110,000 100-200 gals [14]
Ibagué 336,000 100-200 gals [6] Figure 2
Itagui 168,000 100-200 gals [14]
Manizales 341,000 >200 gals [19][20]
Medellin 100-200 gals [21]
Neiva 223,000 >200 gals [4][22] Figure 3
Pasto 244,000 >200 gals [23][5] Figure 4
Pereira 329,000 >200 gals [18]
Popayán 175,000 >200 gals [24]
Tunja 102,000 100-200 gals [25][26] [27] Figure 5
Villavicencio 190,000 >200 gals [28][3] Figure 6

Chart 1 summarizes some of the most important Microzoning studies developed in the last
years in Colombia. This means that Universities like Nacional de Colombia, Los Andes and
Javeriana and Government agencies like Ingeominas, have been done remarkable
contributions to assess the seismic local hazard. Nevertheless, it is necessary to improve
most of these studies and, additionally, to contuct studies for cities like Cucuta (population
462,000 inhabitants), which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1875 [29].

Additionally, cities like Tunja, Neiva, Pasto, Barrancabermeja and Ibagué need to improve
their Local Seismic Hazard Assessment, including geophysical, geological, seismological
and geotechnical surveys, because these studies are in a rudimentary level based on a
compilation and an interpretation of available data. Analysis done included interpretation
of aerial photographs and morphological analysis [1], [21], [5], [2] and [6].
 DISCUSSION

In spite of the fact that in the last ten years a remarkable effort has been done in order to
develop Seismic Microzoning studies of the biggest cities in Colombia, like Bogotá [15],
Armenia [12], Medellín [21], Tunja [25], Barrancabermeja [2], Villavicencio [3], Neiva [4],
Pasto [5], Ibagué [2], Bucaramanga [16], Manizales [20], etc. There are more than 10 cities
bigger than 100,000 inhabitants and located in hazardous regions that need Seismic
Microzoning studies (e.g.: Monteria, Cucuta, Palmira, Buenaventura, Tumaco, Quibdo,
etc).

Geological mapping for cities like Tunja, Ibagué, Barrancabermeja, Pasto and Neiva need
to be complemented by cross-sections and one or several block diagrams in order to
provide a three dimensional model of these cities. Also, it is advisable to carry out
geophysical seismic refraction and reflection studies.

Additionally it is necessary to carry out neotectonic studies for seismogenetic fault

identification, using the most known general methods, e.g: microseismicity analysis,
statigraphical analysis, evaluation of Quaternary deformation, the digging of
reconnaissance trenches and the drilling of boreholes.

On the other hand, in order to refine Microzonation studies it is necessary to evaluate soil
parameters, in the city of Ibagué [6] some of the parameters (Vs, Vp, damping, etc.) were
estimated using empirical correlations [30]. Sometimes, geological and geotechnical
available data is not enough, in these cases, Microtremors could offer valuable and
inexpensive information about several soil materials (Figure 7) [31]. Summarizing, one of
the most significant challenges in Colombia is to improve and to assess Seismic
Microzoning Studies.
Figure 1. Microzonation in Barrancabermeja (Without scale – Original scale 1:25.000) [2]

Figure 2. Soils in Ibagué – Blue dots indicate logs and boreholes location (Without scale
– Original scale 1:25.000) [6]
Figure 3. Microzonation in Neiva (Without scale – Original scale 1:25.000) [22]
 Coordenadas EW
975500 m E 976500 m E 977500 m E 978500 m E 979500 m E 980500 m E

628000 m N 628000 m N

627500 m N 627500 m N

627000 m N 627000 m N

626500 m N 626500 m N

626000 m N 626000 m N
Coordenadas NS

Coordenadas NS
625500 m N 625500 m N

625000 m N 625000 m N

624500 m N 624500 m N

624000 m N 624000 m N

623500 m N 623500 m N

623000 m N 623000 m N

975500 m E 976500 m E 977500 m E 978500 m E 979500 m E 980500 m E

Coordenadas EW

Velocidad de Ondas de Corte estimada

65 m/s a 85 m/s
85 m/s a 100 m/s
100 m/s a 115 m/s
115 m/s a 130 m/s
130 m/s a 145 m/s
145 m/s a 160 m/s

Figure 4. City of Pasto . Shear Wave Velocity from Soil Indexes [30] Without scale [5].
Figure 5. Microzonation in Tunja (Without scale – Original scale 1:25.000) [26]

Figure 6. Microzonation in Villavicencio (Without scale – Original scale 1:25.000) [3]

 EAST
26000 28000 30000 32000 34000
90000 90000
0.06

88000 88000
0.00 0.33 0.00
0.40
0.00
0.15
0.15 0.00 0.50
0.45
0.15 0.17
0.83
86000 0.06 0.00
1.43
86000
0.32
0.06
0.10 0.59
0.21 0.90 0.29 0.06 0.33
0.30 1.30
0.43 0.40 0.00
0.17 0.06 0.06 0.21
0.33 0.60
0.43 0.07 0.20 1.73 0.77
0.25 0.91 0.00 1.67 1.810.91
1.43 0.29 1.73 0.67 0.83
0.00 1.00 1.25
1.00 1.71
84000 0.17 0.77 0.90
0.67 1.15
1.43
1.67
1.00 1.88 1.00
1.67
1.71 84000
1.99 1.67
1.43
0.13 0.06 1.54
1.06
0.24
0.30 1.11 0.00 1.25
1.67
1.67 1.25
0.08 0.91 1.250.91 1.11 0.00
0.00
0.16 0.250.22 0.23 1.67 1.67
1.00 1.25
NORTH

NORTH
0.23 0.25 0.26
0.25
0.25 1.00 1.25 1.25 1.111.25
0.13 0.50 1.11
0.14 1.25 0.56
1.11 1.00 1.25
1.00
0.00 1.11 1.25
82000 0.27 0.27
0.33 0.77
1.00
1.25
0.25 1.00 0.67
1.10
1.43 1.54 82000
0.83
0.91 1.11 0.77
0.67 0.00 1.25
1.25
0.91 1.00 0.50 0.06
1.00 0.50 0.67 0.50
0.38
0.28
0.770.50 0.29
0.29
0.50 0.70 0.28

80000 0.48
0.48
0.45
0.63 0.40 0.34 80000
0.91
0.56
0.09
0.83
0.25
0.50
0.530.59 0.50

78000 78000
1.10
0.56
0.50 1.00
0.67
0.56 0.63
0.71 0.71
0.67 0.77 0.83
76000 0.77 0.63 0.91
0.83 76000
0.77
0.77
0.77 0.77

26000 28000 30000 32000 34000

EAST

Figure 7. Soil’s predominant periods of Barcelona, from microtremors [31]

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