Welcome to the Oregon Hazards Lab
Using Science, Technology, and Community Engagement to Understand, Detect, and Mitigate Multi-Hazards within the Pacific NorthwestWildfire Prevention, Research, and Policy
The University of Oregon is a national leader in wildfire prevention, research, and policy — driving innovative solutions to protect communities and restore landscapes.
226+
PNSN Seismic Monitoring Stations Across Oregon
68+
OHAZ Wildfire Detection Cameras Across Oregon
4.2Mil
Oregonians With Access to ShakeAlert EEW Alerts
2018
Year OHAZ Was Founded
19
OHAZ Staff
4
Student Researchers
The Oregon Hazards Lab is a program within the University of Oregon's Department of Earth Sciences. We currently partner in these efforts:
Mobile Deployment Units
The Oregon Hazards Lab is building out a stock of lightweight portable wildfire camera kits that public land management agencies can rapidly deploy to monitor new ignitions.
Pacific Northwest Seismic Network
Along with the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Washington, we monitor 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 a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, we deployed 30 smoke sensors across Western Oregon in 2023 and tested 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.
We Are Oregon, Rising
Learn how the mission and vision of OHAZ fit within Oregon Rising, the University of Oregon’s strategic framework to accelerate its impact on our state, our nation, and the world.
News from the Oregon Hazards Lab
Join the Great Oregon ShakeOut at the University of Oregon
October 16 is ShakeOut – the world’s largest earthquake drill! ShakeOut happens on the third Thursday of October every year. It is an annual opportunity to practice how to protect yourself during an earthquake. As soon as you feel shaking or get an earthquake early warning alert, you should Drop, Cover, and Hold On! OHAZ is partnering with several other University of Oregon programs to host a series of events on campus during ShakeOut week.
Because Seconds Matter: ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning for Lifeline Infrastructure
The ShakeAlert Early Warning System can provide seconds to tens of seconds of warning before dangerous earthquake shaking arrives. Communities can integrate ShakeAlert EEW data into lifeline facilities to mitigate damage and enhance situational awareness. This webinar, hosted by the Cascadia Lifelines Program on October 23, will describe how public transit agencies and water-wastewater utilities can use ShakeAlert-powered technology to automatically stop trains, slow pumps, and close valves upon earthquake detection.
From Ridgetops to the Lab, UO Researchers Pursue Wildfire Resilience
Fire is a complex, dynamic phenomenon—meeting its challenge requires multidisciplinary approaches and collaborative engagements of community, agency, and scholarly resources. The University of Oregon, a leading research university, is at the forefront of building societal resilience, creating critical knowledge, and developing cutting-edge approaches to help mitigate, prevent, and better understand the effects of wildfire.