Welcome to the Oregon Hazards Lab
Using Science, Technology, and Community Engagement to Understand, Detect, and Mitigate Multi-Hazards within the Pacific Northwest
223+
Seismic Monitoring Stations
63+
Wildfire Detection Cameras
$22M+
Funding Since 2020
2018
Year OHAZ Was Founded
28
OHAZ Staff
8
Student Researchers
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 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.
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.
News from the Oregon Hazards Lab
Oregon Hazards Lab Newsletter – August 2023
In our third edition of our quarterly newsletter, we share about meetings with federal and state representatives, recent installations of wildfire prevention sensors, and new earthquake preparedness and awareness resources. Contact us at ohaz@uoregon.edu if you would like to subscribe.
Oregon Hazards Lab Newsletter – May 2023
In our second edition of our quarterly newsletter, we share updates about the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system, our strengthened telemetry network, and new wildfire prevention cameras. Please contact us at ohaz@uoregon.edu if you would like to subscribe.
Oregon Hazards Lab Builds Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure Network
Natural disasters like wildfires and earthquakes are a part of life in Oregon. But with better data and more warning, emergency responders could quickly and effectively address emerging threats. The Oregon Hazards Lab is working towards that mission by leading the installation of sensors that monitor environmental conditions across the state.