Physical transparency
Works from released seismic energy derived from historical events.
THEK Research Institute · Earthquake Engineering · Seismic Risk
SERRA/MEL
Seismic Energy Release Risk Assessment — a physics-based framework that analyzes earthquake catalogs in the physical domain of released tectonic energy rather than relying only on the compressed magnitude scale.
Created by: M.Sc. (TUM) Marcelo Moncayo Theurer · Institution: THEK Research Institute.
Foundational backgroundUnderstand the 2000 origin and scientific context.ApplicationsSee institutional, engineering and research uses.THEK publicationsReturn to the institutional publication catalogue.
25+years of research
2000Tokyo origin
2016Pedernales validation
30Ecuadorian cantons
Core idea
From magnitude to physical energy.
Magnitude is logarithmic and compresses the physical scale of seismic energy. SERRA/MEL transforms historical catalogs into energy-release histories so that reactivation stages, dominant seismic sources and engineering-relevant risk parameters can be studied from the region’s own record.
Scientific positioning: SERRA/MEL focuses on the physical state of energy accumulation and release, the classification of seismogenic threat zones and engineering-oriented seismic risk assessment.
National application
Energy-based seismic risk mapping for Ecuador.
The framework translates historical energy behavior into spatial interpretation that can support planning, engineering and risk-management discussions.
Framework components
A bridge between seismology, engineering and decision-making.
Reactivation stages
Identifies periods of increased energy release and lower-activity phases.
Risk maps
Converts energy concentration into spatial products for planning.
SIGSA analysis
Groups complex seismic behavior into integrated seismically active systems.
Engineering chain
Links released energy, equivalent magnitude, attenuation and design acceleration.
Updating
Can be recalculated as new seismic-catalog data become available.
Historical validation
From the 2005 map to Pedernales 2016.
The validation study documents prospective assertions associated with the ESPOL work and compares them with later seismic activity, including the 2016 Pedernales earthquake.
Live demonstration
See the framework in an operational environment.
Open THEK’s historical seismic prototype to explore the operational direction of the SERRA ecosystem.
Collaboration & services
Request an explanatory meeting.
For collaborations, courses, consulting projects, municipal studies, institutional partnerships or conference invitations.