Welcome to the Oregon Hazards Lab

Using Science, Technology, and Community Engagement to Understand, Detect, and Mitigate Multi-Hazards within the Pacific Northwest

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.

OHAZ and Oregon Rising

223+

PNSN Seismic Monitoring Stations Across Oregon

63+

OHAZ Wildfire Detection Cameras Across Oregon

4.2Mil

Oregonians With Access to ShakeAlert EEW Alerts

2018

Year OHAZ Was Founded

26

OHAZ Staff

7

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:

A wildfire detection camera is mounted on Butler Butte in Southwest Oregon with views of forested mountains.

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.

A young man and a young woman attach a sensor to a piece of seismic monitoring equipment.

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.

illustrated mural depicts natural disaster monitoring equipment on a mountainous coast

News from the Oregon Hazards Lab

New Wildfire Camera in Eugene Bolsters Fire-Spotting Network

New Wildfire Camera in Eugene Bolsters Fire-Spotting Network

Nov 21, 2022

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.