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
Bureau of Land Management Partners with University of Oregon on Innovative Wildfire Detection Cameras
The Bureau of Land Management and the Oregon Hazards Lab are together developing the most innovative wildfire detection camera network in the United States. The Oregon/Washington Bureau of Land Management awarded the University of Oregon $718,346 in Fiscal Year 2022 to install cameras across Eastern Oregon, and has programmed $475,000 for the wildfire cameras in Fiscal Year 2023.
Medford 549c is First School District in Oregon to Use ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning
Medford 549C School District is now the first school district in Oregon to use ShakeAlert earthquake early warning technology. Learn more about the role the Oregon Hazards Lab plays in the ShakeAlert System and how we can help install earthquake early warning technology in your school.
New Wildfire Camera in Eugene Bolsters Fire-Spotting Network
The Crestview wildfire detection camera is the 32nd in Oregon and the first one in Eugene. It provides a clear view of Eugene and the University of Oregon campus. And the microwave dishes mounted alongside the camera are strategically positioned to transmit signals from other fire detection cameras in the region.