Powerful earthquakes can bring buildings down in seconds. In Digos City, Philippine scientists are measuring how violently the ground shakes, supplying data engineers can use to design stronger structures and help protect lives.
The DOST highlighted a strong-motion monitoring station at Davao del Sur State College in its October 20 report. The facility records ground acceleration, revealing the intensity of shaking at a specific location and helping engineers calculate the forces buildings must withstand.
Ground conditions can amplify an earthquake’s impact. Site-specific measurements help engineers design structures for the hazards communities face.
“Engineers will be able to use this [information] when they design a building, to know the expected ground acceleration so they can design a building in response to that,” Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Director Teresito Bacolcol said.
The need for this data was evident after the magnitude-6.0 earthquake in Davao de Oro on February 1, 2023. The quake injured 16 people and damaged 539 houses. PHIVOLCS found that underground geology amplified shaking in Compostela, while poor engineering practices and substandard materials contributed significantly to structural damage.
In 2019, PHIVOLCS launched the Metro Davao Earthquake Model Atlas, providing ground-motion hazard maps to guide earthquake-resistant building design.
The Digos station operates through a partnership with Davao del Sur State College, which provides the site, electricity and monitoring support. PHIVOLCS supplied the equipment and technical expertise. Its sensors also support rapid detection of strong earthquakes for tsunami monitoring and warning.
DOST reported 130 seismic stations nationwide and announced plans to install 300 additional stations over five years beginning in 2027 under the PHIVOLCS modernization program.
The expansion aims to bring more precise earthquake measurements into building design and disaster preparedness, strengthening the foundation for safer communities across the Philippines.
