Melosantos, A. A. et al.

Survey Report:

Performance of Broadband Seismic Network of the Philippines

Arnaldo A. Melosantos , Karl Vincent C. Soriano , Ponzch Colleen M. Alcones ,
Jose U. Pantig , Jun D. Bonita , Ishmael C. Narag ,
Hiroyuki Kumagai , and Hiroshi Inoue
Philippine

Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)

PHIVOLCS Bldg., C.P. Garcia Avenue, University of the Philippines Campus, Diliman, Quezon City, the Philippines
E-mail: a melosantos@yahoo.com
Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University
Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan

National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED)
3-1 Tenno-dai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-0006, Japan
[Received August 10, 2014; accepted November 24, 2014]

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology implements a program on seismic and tsunami
network development. It also plans to expand the
Philippine seismic network (PSN), commission new
stations, rehabilitate and improve existing stations,
and repair and maintain the PSN. The PSN consists
of 70 stations, 12 of which use broadband seismometers. Stations are strategically located to maximize
the use of data from stations. The broadband seismic
network is being developed to monitor earthquakes
in and around the Philippines and to provide more
accurate data for calculating earthquake parameters.
Using data obtain from broadband records, the system will immediately calculate earthquake parameters
useful for making decisions that provide highly accurate, timely warnings and information. PSN performance is evaluated in this study to ensure this. We consider background noise by analyzing station locations
and conditions and their data contribution to SWIFT
CMT solutions. We also use power spectral density
(PSD) to compare station noise levels to global standards and study data gaps and their causes. Based on
the above parameters and using a scale of poor-goodbest, the broadband seismic network is currently performing well.
Keywords:
PHIVOLCS

broadband, Philippine seismic network,

of 70 seismic stations, 12 of which use broadband seismometers. A collaborative project Enhancement of

Earthquake and Volcano Monitoring and Effective Utilization of Disaster Mitigation Information in the Philippines being implemented by PHIVOLCS and the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster
Prevention (NIED) is funded by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) SATREPS. This project
covers 10 of the 12 broadband seismic stations.

2. Seismic Network
The PSN consists of 70 seismic stations (Fig. 1), 12
of which use the broadband seismometers. Ten of these
12 stations are part of the JICA-SATREPS project (Fig. 2)
and are being upgraded. Stations are strategically located
to maximize the use of data gathered from these stations.

2.1. Locations
Broadband sensors placed in existing PSN stations as
follows:
(1) Basco, Batanes, northernmost part of the Philippines
(2) San Manuel, Pangasinan in Luzon mainland
(3) Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro, Western Philippines
(4) El Nido, Palawan, Western Philippines
(5) Brookes Point, Palawan, Western Philippines

1. Introduction

(6) Virac, Catanduanes, Eastern Philippines

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), a government agency, studies Philippines earthquakes and volcanoes and implements a program for developing seismic and tsunami networks, and
is working to expand the Philippine seismic network
(PSN). PHIVOLCS also commissions new seismic stations, rehabilitates and improves existing seismic stations,
and repairs and maintains the PSN. The PSN consists

(7) Jordan, Guimaras, Central Visayas

(8) Borongan, Eastern Samar, Eastern Philippines

(9) Mati, Davao Oriental in Southeastern, Philippines
(10) Pagadian, Southwest Mindanao
5 stations were operational by 2010, 3 in 2011, and 2
in 2012. Table 1 lists broadband seismic stations, their
location (longitude, latitude) and station codes.
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Performance of Broadband Seismic Network of the Philippines

Fig. 1. Philippine seismic network (PSN).

Fig. 2. PHIVOLCS-JICA-JST-SATREPS broadband stations.

Table 1. PHIVOLCS-JICA-JST-SATREPS broadband stations.

Station name
Station code Date of installation Latitude Longitude
1. Virac, Catanduanes
PVCP
November, 2010
13.596
124.154
2. Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur
PAGZ
November, 2010
07.848
123.382
3. Brookes Pt., Palawan
BATP
December, 2010
08.797
117.801
4. Jordan, Guimaras
GUIM
December, 2010
10.626
122.589
5. Looc, Occidental Mindoro
LUBP
December, 2010
13.734
120.246
6. Mati, Davao Oriental
MATI
November, 2011
06.946
126.257
7. Borongan, Eastern Samar
BESP
November, 2011
11.601
125.438
8. El Nido, Palawan
ENPP
December, 2011
11.206
119.425
9. Basco, Batanes
BBPS
June, 2012
20.441
121.964
10. San Manuel, Pangasinan
SMPP
September, 2012
16.150
120.680

2.2. Seismometers
Broadband seismic stations use the Trillium 240 manufactured by Nanometrics of Canada [1], considered one of
the highest performing seismic sensors. The Trillium 240
has a response flat to velocity from 240 seconds to 35 Hz
and noise below the new low noise model (NLNM) from
100 seconds to 10 Hz [1]. Its advanced thermal design reduces effects of significant temperature fluctuations, minimizing requirements for external thermal insulation. Its
low power consumption of 650 mW [1] is an advantage
for remote installations using solar panel batteries. In addition to the sensors cost effectiveness, it complements
the existing electronics and power system.
2.3. Vault Configuration
The 10 broadband sensor vaults were constructed for
this purpose within the perimeters of existing PSN staJournal of Disaster Research Vol.10 No.1, 2015

tions. The seismic vault has a 2 m2 outer housing 0.8 m

high. The seismic pier is located centrally, 0.625 m from
all walls and decoupled from them to reduce wind noise
effects. Fig. 3 shows an inner seismic vault 1.25 m high
and 0.75 m in diameter and the seismic pier 0.2 m below
ground level. It was constructed to minimize noise and to
hit the bedrock. To be able to achieve this, we dig more
than 1.2 m deeper. If bedrock is not reached, we use a
minimum of 4 galvanized iron pipes 1.5 inches in diameter and bury a maximum of 1.5 m deep. The area is then
covered with concrete and the sensor housed in a plastic
drum. After the broadband sensor was installed and tests
completed, space remaining inside the vault is filled with
2 layers of 6-inch concrete hollow blocks at the 4 corners
of the outer housing and with fine sand to fill any remaining space. The fine sand also helps to avoid unwanted
temperature change.
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Melosantos, A. A. et al.

backed up by a mirror station in Davao City, Mindanao,

the Philippines.

2.6. Data Processing and Management System

Fig. 3. Seismic vault design.

2.4. Communication and Power Supply System

Sensor data is digitized using the 24-bit 3-channel
Nanometrics Trident digitizer, which has a sampling frequency of 50 samples per second [1]. Then, using a
Cygnus satellite modem transceiver [1], digitized data
is transmitted to the PHIVOLCS Data Receiving Center
(DRC). The system uses satellite technology to transmit
seismic data to the DRC using the very small aperture
terminal (VSAT) ku-band over a transmission frequency
range of 14.014.5 GHz and a receiving frequency range
of 10.9511.7 GHz [2]. This band uses less power than
the C-band and an offset satellite dish antenna 1.8 meters
in diameter at each broadband station with corresponding hardware peripherals satellite modem transceivers,
low noise block (LNB) receivers, solidstate power block
(SSPB) transmitter and feed horn assemblies. The satellite dish sits on a metal mast 1 to 1.5 m high and 4 inches
in diameter. The mast is mounted on a concrete pier. This
band does not cause interference issues with microwave
signals.
The power supply consists of 10 12V-65Ah batteries
charged by 8 80W solar panels with a solar charge regulator to prevent the overcharging of batteries. The system
uses GPS to ensure that timing is synchronized.
2.5. PHIVOLCS DRC
The PHIVOLCS DRC is located at the main
PHIVOLCS office in Quezon City, Metro Manila, the
Philippines. An offset Ku band satellite dish antenna
3.8 meters in diameter is used by the PHIVOLCS DRC to
transmit and receive data. Carina [1], a transceiver, manages data sending to avoid data traffic and congestion. The
transceiver also remotely configures remote seismic stations in the network. Data received by individual remote
stations goes to a Naqs server (Nanometrics Acquisition
Software) [1] to display waveforms and store data. The
DRC also has data processing software. The system is
10

PHIVOLCS DRC data processing software displays

waveforms on a screen [1]. Data are then processed by
Hydra [1] automatic earthquake location software or else
processed manually. Hydra calculates earthquake parameters such as location, depth and magnitude. Further
data processing can be done using Atlas software [1].
SWIFT earthquake source parameter determination based
on waveform inversion of Fourier transformed seismograms [3] software automatically calculates focal mechanism solutions and is capable of manual recomputation
using data from the broadband seismic network. This
software has already used broadband data to calculate focal mechanism solutions of significant seismic events in
the Philippines.

3. Evaluation of Broadband Network Performance

3.1. Background Noise
Ten broadband seismic stations are located strategically
to detect earthquakes in the Philippines. Location and
instrument selection consider background noise. We analyzed station locations and conditions and data contribution to SWIFT CMT solutions to identify its causes
and effects on data. SWIFT calculated solutions for
111 events with a magnitude range of 4.2 to 7.2 and depths
5 to 550 km for 2013 [4]. The PHIVOLCS earthquake catalog located 243 events with the same magnitude range of
4.2 to 7.2, showing that about 50% of the events located
by the PSN have centroid moment tensor (CMT) solutions by SWIFT. Bonita et al. [5] showed that CMT solutions by SWIFT are mostly consistent with solutions by
the global CMT project (GCMT) [6, 7]. To further check
performance in relation to background noise issues, we
used power spectral density (PSD) considering data from
broadband stations with no recorded earthquake and no
significant weather disturbance within a 24-hour period.
The 1 day record represents the noise level of each station
regardless of season. The PSD of noise level is expected
to vary per season and its effect to earthquake monitoring. The variation of noise level with season may be investigated further and not within the scope of this paper.
The calculated PSD represents noise level of a quiet 1 day
record. Fig. 4 shows the calculated PSD of background
noise records, i.e., no earthquake recorded and no data gap
for stations (thin line) compared to the PSD of the global
NLNM (dashed line) and the global new high noise model
(NHNM) (bold line) [8]. Eight of the 9 stations show plots
below the NHNM and within or above the NLNM.
The PVCP is located on private land used for breeding
game fowl. It is underlain by limestone [9] and 270 m
from a feeder road 3.6 km from the sea and 500 m from
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Performance of Broadband Seismic Network of the Philippines

Fig. 4. Power Spectral Density (PSD) plot of the 10 broadband stations. Stations (thin line) comparing to the PSD of
global NLNM (dash line) and global NHNM (bold line).

a national road about 1 km from a river away from populated areas. PVCP PSD results show that it falls below
the NHNM, except for periods exceeding 100 seconds to
the east and above the NLNM.
Journal of Disaster Research Vol.10 No.1, 2015

The PAGZ is located in an open area on top of a mountain of about 1 km from communication towers. The
PAGZ is underlain by pre-quaternary volcanics [9] and
is located 130 m from a feeder road about 5 km from the
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Melosantos, A. A. et al.

Fig. 4. Continued.

sea and 2.2 km from a national road away from populated

areas and 680 m asl. PAGZ PSD results show that it falls
within the NHNM, except for periods exceeding 100 seconds to the east and north and the NLNM.
The BATP is located inside a small private resort but
away from human activity. The BATP is underlain by alluvium [9] about 2 km from a national road away from
populated areas about 3 km from the sea. BATP PSD results show that it falls below the NHNM and above the
NLNM.
The GUIM is located inside a science high school training facility. Activities inside the compound occur usually
only 1 or 2 times a year and human movement is very far
from the seismic vault. The GUIM is underlain by alluvium [9]. It is about 50 m from a dirt road and 200 m
from a national road away from populated areas 3.4 km
from the sea. GUIM PSD results show that it falls within
the NHNM and the NLNM.
The LUBP is located on a small hill, underlain by alluvium [9] and is 340 m from a national road away from
populated areas. A creek runs northeast and southwest

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of a station about 150 m away and 740 m from the sea.

LUBP PSD results show that it falls below the NHNM
and above the NLNM.
The MATI is located inside a government center of
very busy human activity because government offices are
nearby. A Hall of Justice building is about 20 m away.
The MATI is underlain by alluvium [9]. It is about 60 m
from a secondary road and 90 m from a national road and
about 700 m from populated areas, so most human noise
is caused by daytime activities within government offices.
It is about 2 km from the sea. MATI PSD results show
that it falls a bit below the NHNM and high for periods
exceeding 100 seconds east and north.
The BESP is located inside a science high school where
the nearest school building is about 200 m from the station and is underlain by alluvium [9]. It is 150 m from
a secondary road and 360 m from a national road 190 m
from populated areas 400 km from the sea and 520 m from
a river. The PSD shows that the BESP is not recording
properly due to a defective digitizer for seismic waves between 1 to 20 seconds, so analysis of its noise level is not

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Performance of Broadband Seismic Network of the Philippines

Table 2. Start of operation, data availability per year, and date of satellite migration for each station.
Station code Start of operation Data availability for the year Date of satellite migration Remarks on data gaps
2010 2011 2012 2013
PVCP
November, 2010 55% 64% 88% 96%
August, 2011
-Setting configuration
-Replacement of defective
Trident digitizer
PAGZ
November, 2010 53% 95% 83% 97%
August, 2011
BATP
December, 2010 51% 95% 82% 91%
July, 2011
GUIM
December, 2010
93% 95% 96%
July 2011
LUBP
December, 2010
58% 73% 80%
August, 2011
-Satellite migration
-Delay in identifying the issue on satellite communication interference
MATI
November, 2011
99% 75% 96%
August, 2011
BESP
November, 2011
99% 93% 99%
September, 2011
ENPP
December, 2011
86% 92% 98%
August, 2011
BBPS
June, 2012
97% 56%
June, 2012
-Damaged by Typhoon
SMPP
September, 2012
99% 99%
September, 2012

reliable using available data.

The ENPP is located on a slope inside a state university
away from school buildings and is underlain by sedimentary deposits [9]. It is 110 m from a national road away
from populated areas 1 km from the sea. ENPP PSD results show that it falls below the NHNM and above the
NLNM.
The BBPS is located in an open area along the slope
of a privately owned hill and is underlain by quaternary
volcanic deposits [9]. It is about 100 m from a national
road and is 150 m from a diesel power plant supplying
power to the island away from populated areas and 420 m
from the sea. BBPS PSD results show that it falls below
the NHNM and above the NLNM.
The SMPP is inside a hydroelectric power plant. The
seismic vault is inside a 2.5 m2 10 m artificial tunnel
about 200 m high. The plant spillway is about 60 m from
the power plant and the reservoir 50 m away from the
tunnel. The SMPP is underlain by old sedimentary marine deposits [9] and is 30 m from power plant roads used
during operations and away from populated areas. SMPP
PSD results show that it falls uniformly below the NHNM
and above the NLNM. Fig. 4-SMPP shows that noise levels are uniformly distributed in all periods relative to the
NLNM and NHNM, so the SMPP is ideal among stations.

3.2. Data Gap History of Station and Possible

Sources
Since the broadband seismic network started partial operation in 2010 and full operation in 2012, we gathered
data from the 10 stations. Table 2 and Fig. 5 show annual station data availability. Data shows a gap during inclement weather, especially during the rainy season, and
due to the satellite end of life (EOF) in December, 2010.
The satellite source started migrating in July, 2011.
In 2010, 3 stations commenced full operation. Data
availability is 50 to 55% for the 3 stations, gaps in this peJournal of Disaster Research Vol.10 No.1, 2015

Fig. 5. Data availability.

riod are related to EOF of the satellite the PSN is leasing

and bandwidth assigned to these stations has not yet been
adjusted.
An additional 5 stations were installed in 2011. Significant data gaps were apparent for the PVCP and LUBP and
are related to satellite EOF issues. For the LUBP, another
issue is the defective SSPB transmitter.
In the last quarter of 2012, all 10 stations had been
fully installed. Data gaps for 6 were due to various reasons. The PVCP Trident digitizer became defective and
were replaced in May 2012. The LUBP Cygnus modem
transceiver became defective and were identified by the
satellite provider as the source of interference to other
satellite transponders.
The 10 broadband stations were fully operational for
2013. Data availability charts of stations show, however, that 3 fall below acceptable data availability, i.e., the
LUBP, BATP and BBPS. The LUBP data gap remained
an issue related to communication for 2012. In March,
2013, the defective Cygnus modem transceiver was pulled
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Melosantos, A. A. et al.

Fig. 5. Continued.

out and issues resolved in the first week of April, 2013.

The BATPs signal became intermittent in July, 2013. The
BBPS power supply was adversely affected by the renovation of its building in February to April, 2013 but resumed
normal operation in May, 2013.

4. Discussion
We analyzed station locations and conditions and data
contribution to SWIFT CMT solutions though location
and instrument selection that already considered the back-

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ground noise issue. Aside from location, construction

procedures for seismic vaults where seismometers were
placed also took minimizing human and outside noise
into consideration. SWIFT CMT solutions show that
data gathered from broadband stations were used in solutions. We also used PSD to compare station noise levels
to global standards. PSD results show 8 of the 9 stations
plots below the NHNM and within or above the NLNM.
Data gaps are attributed to issues such as communication due to satellite EOF, technical malfunctions of components and weather disturbances. These issues were addressed through satellite migration and repair and main-

Journal of Disaster Research Vol.10 No.1, 2015

Performance of Broadband Seismic Network of the Philippines

Fig. 5. Continued.

tenance of the system, except for weather disturbances.

Gaps due to weather disturbance could be addressed by
setting up a mirror station, as has been done. Note, however, that data analysis of the mirror station is not included
in this study.

5. Conclusions
We installed 10 broadband seismic stations as part of
the Philippine seismic network to contribute to earthquake
monitoring in the Philippines. We selected station loca-

Journal of Disaster Research Vol.10 No.1, 2015

tions and instruments considering low background noise.

We also used construction procedures for seismic vaults
where seismometers were placed to minimize human and
outside noise. We analyzed station locations and conditions and data contributions to SWIFT CMT solutions.
Stations were strategically located in the Philippines, but
they may be too few to increase detectability. PSD results
show 8 of the 9 stations plots below the NHNM and within
or above the NLNM or within global standards. Data
gap issues were appropriately addressed through satellite
migration and repair and system maintenance, except for
weather disturbances. PSD and data gap analysis helped

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Melosantos, A. A. et al.

Fig. 5. Continued.

determine seismic station performance and could be useful for reference in the installation of seismic stations.
Based on considered parameters used in this performance
evaluation and using a scale of poor-good-best, the broadband seismic network of the Philippines is performing
well.
Regional seismic network and source analysis is very
important in rapidly determining earthquake source information. The current upgrade of PSN with broadband
seismic stations and the use of SWIFT help provide focal
mechanisms and understanding of recent large damaging
earthquakes [3]. Current PSN broadband stations provide
data for regional source analysis using SWIFT, in which
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SWIFT CMT solutions were found to be mostly consistent with the GCMT [5]. These thus indicate that the upgraded PSN is performing well and could be further improved by making a denser and more uniform broadband
seismic network.
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the helpful support extended by the
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and SATREPS. We would
also like to acknowledge the support of PHIVOLCS and NIED
partners who joined the team during installation of broadband sta-

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Performance of Broadband Seismic Network of the Philippines

tions. Some figures were generated using REDAS software. Seismic vault design was by Engr. Angelito Lanuza, licensed civil
engineer.

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[7] G. Ekstrom, M. Nettles, and A. M. Dziewonski, The Global CMT
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Name:
Arnaldo A. Melosantos

Affiliation:
Supervising Science Research Specialist, Seismological Observation and Earthquake Prediction Division, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Address:
PHIVOLCS Bldg., Carlos P. Garcia Ave., University of the Philippines
Diliman Campus, Diliman, Quezon City, the Philippines

Brief Career:
1989 Joined the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Selected Publications:

Instrumentation Seismology

*Profiles of co-authors are omitted in this special issue.

Journal of Disaster Research Vol.10 No.1, 2015

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