Welcome to the Oregon Hazards Lab
Using Science, Technology, and Community Engagement to Understand, Detect, and Mitigate Multi-Hazards within the Pacific Northwest
The Oregon Hazards Lab is a research lab within the University of Oregon's Department of Earth Sciences. We currently partner in these efforts:
Pacific Northwest Seismic Network
Along with the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Washington, we monitoring ground motion to better understand earthquake and volcano hazards and their impacts on communities in Oregon and Washington.
ShakeAlert® Earthquake Early Warning System
Since 2014, the Oregon Hazards Lab has been an instrumental partner in building and promoting the U.S. Geological Survey’s earthquake early warning system.
Wildfire Detection Cameras
With hundreds of mountaintop cameras installed throughout the western United States, this high-speed wildfire detection network provides firefighters and first responders a new way to spot and track wildfires.
Wildfire Smoke Sensors
As part of our partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, we are deploying 30 smoke sensors across Western Oregon and testing their effectiveness at detecting emerging wildfires.
Sage Continuum
We are building a continent-spanning network of smart sensors to improve the flow of information between scientists and the natural world.
Willamette Watershed Project
The Oregon Hazards Lab is developing resilient communications infrastructure for the Santiam, Sisters, and McKenzie River corridors that will support a natural disaster monitoring and alerting network.
219
ShakeAlert Seismic Stations
45
Wildfire Detection Cameras
30
Wildfire Smoke Sensors
2018
Year OHAZ Was Founded
27
Full-Time Staff
7
Student Researchers
News from the Oregon Hazards Lab
OHAZ is Hiring Student Field Technicians for Summer 2024
Undergraduate field technicians will travel to remote locations across Oregon to install, maintain, and operate multi-hazard monitoring systems. Position duration will be from June 1 to September 30, full time Monday through Friday. Field deployments of 1 ‐ 5 days will be frequent throughout the summer season, with UO lab‐based work in‐between deployments. No prior experience is necessary.
ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning and School Safety Workshop
The ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System can detect earthquakes so quickly that alerts can be delivered to schools before they feel shaking. ShakeAlert can be integrated into school paging systems to deliver life-saving alerts to students and teachers. Attend this free virtual workshop to learn how ShakeAlert can be used in your school.
Merkley and Wyden Announce $19 Million for Oregon Wildfire Resiliency in Newly Passed Spending Bills
The Oregon Hazards Lab will receive $610,000 to expand its wildfire detection camera network, which provide firefighters and first responders with real-time, live images and time lapse footage to spot and track wildfires. OHAZ will use this funding to better coordinate and optimize existing cameras, as well as place more wildfire cameras.