Frequency-dependent topographic seismic amplification by a "gray box model" using GIS morphometric data

Topographic seismic amplification can have a relevant effect in hilly and mountain areas and it assumes a relevant role in urban planning and seismic slope instability. On the other hand, recent studies on this topic strongly suggest the necessity to assess or predict topographic effect as a frequency depending variable and in an adequate way, in contrast with the simplistic models that use an inadequate uniform spectral scaling factor. Following this suggestion and taking into account the results of the aforesaid studies, a computerized model was developed based on common topographic attributes such as DTM, slope angle and curvature, taking into consideration the uniform rigidity of the relief. The model is defined as grey box model due to the fact that it is constructed on the awaited physical behaviour along the relief and initially trained on topographic amplified data of uniform regular relief, data product by 2D numerical analysis The validation of model was performed on two well-known areas. The results show a high prediction capacity of the model and how it can be driven for the optimization of performance in different real areas.