Welcome to the Oregon Hazards Lab
Using Science, Technology, and Community Engagement to Understand, Detect, and Mitigate Multi-Hazards within the Pacific NorthwestWe 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.
225+
PNSN Seismic Monitoring Stations Across Oregon
66+
OHAZ Wildfire Detection Cameras Across Oregon
4.2Mil
Oregonians With Access to ShakeAlert EEW Alerts
2018
Year OHAZ Was Founded
24
OHAZ Staff
5
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.
News from the Oregon Hazards Lab
Bureau of Land Management Expands Wildfire Detection Camera Network in Oregon
Spotting wildfires as soon as they start is one of the best ways we can keep public lands, people, and wildlife safe. View this story map from the Bureau of Land Management to learn about the wildfire camera installed by the Oregon Hazards Lab on Bryant Mountain.
Wildfire Detection Camera Installed in McKenzie River Valley
Local officials installed a new wildfire detection camera from the Oregon Hazards Lab on one of the highest ridges in the McKenzie River Valley as part of wildfire prevention efforts across central and southern Oregon.
New Committee Established to Improve Wildfire Detection Technology
Governor Kate Brown created a new committee this year to create a coordinated statewide approach to wildfire detection camera networks. This committee will ensure that camera systems operated by the Oregon Department of Forestry, utilities, and and the Oregon Hazards Lab at University of Oregon are integrated and interoperable.