FAQ

  • In partnership with the University of Western Ontario and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, we have developed new seismic susceptibility and hazard maps for much of the Metro Vancouver area.
  • The maps are the first-of-their-kind for this area and offer detailed information to better understand which locations may be more susceptible to earthquake impacts and the anticipated severity of earthquake shaking amplification due to site and basin effects, and triggering of landslides and liquefaction resulting from strong1 or very strong2 earthquake shaking.
  • These susceptibility and hazard maps may be used in communities for emergency preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery purposes, including urban planning, asset-management and risk and vulnerability assessments.

Questions and Answers

1. What is the purpose of the seismic microzonation maps project?

    • This is a multi-year research project that creates earthquake hazard maps at a 1:50,000 scale in Metro Vancouver.
    • The maps give detailed information about the susceptibility and hazard potential of the variation in earthquake shaking due to soil and basin effects, and the triggering of liquefaction and landslides in different areas of Metro Vancouver.
    • Metro Vancouver has the highest seismic risk in Canada, but differences in local ground conditions mean the effects of earthquakes will vary across neighbourhoods and regions.
    • There are 29 maps in total, and they provide the most complete and accurate information to date on earthquake susceptibility and hazard potential in the Metro Vancouver region.
    • This includes amplification of earthquake ground shaking due to site and basin effects, and the triggering of landslides and liquefaction – the process in which saturated, loose sandy soil loses strength during shaking and behaves like a liquid.
    • Key benefits of the seismic hazard maps developed as part of the Metro Vancouver Seismic Microzonation Project include:
      • A better understanding of locations that may be more susceptible to ground shaking, landslides and liquefaction during an earthquake
      • A better understanding of the amount and spectral periods at which earthquake shaking amplification will occur due to site and basin effects during strong1 or very strong2 earthquake shaking
      • A better understanding of the severity and locations where liquefaction and landslides would be triggered by strong1 or very strong2 earthquake shaking
      • Maps can be used by local governments in Metro Vancouver to improve emergency and land-use planning, such as identification of areas where essential facilities and utilities may be at risk

2. How will the data be used?

    • The intention is to give people and communities the most detailed information possible about the potential variation in earthquake shaking and triggering of liquefaction and landslides across Metro Vancouver resulting from strong1 or very strong2 earthquake shaking.
    • By achieving the above, people and communities also have access to the most detailed information possible about geophysical and geotechnical properties of the subsurface ground conditions under Metro Vancouver and thereby the ground’s associated susceptibility to earthquake shaking amplification, liquefaction and landslides.
    • The project also included working with the not-for-profit organization Engineers and Geoscientists BC to develop professional practice guidelines for seismic microzonation mapping.
    • These guidelines will support other seismically-at-risk communities in B.C. in developing their own maps.
    • The maps can be used by communities for emergency preparedness, response, disaster mitigation and recovery purposes, and can help determine risk and vulnerabilities.
    • They can also be used for urban planning; for example, land use and infrastructure planning and development, and can be customized by communities to meet their specific local needs.

3. Is this information available to the public?

4. Have you completed mapping for all of Greater Vancouver?

    • This completes phase 1 of the project, which focuses on the west side of Metro Vancouver. The communities mapped include:
      • Village of Horseshoe Bay
      • District of West Vancouver including Sunset Beach
      • District and City of North Vancouver
      • City of Vancouver
      • City of Burnaby
      • City of New Westminster
      • City of Richmond
      • City of Delta
      • Electoral Area A (University Endowment Lands and University of British Columbia)
      • City of Coquitlam
      • Village of Anmore
      • Village of Belcarra
      • City of Port Coquitlam
      • City of Port Moody
      • City of White Rock
      • City of Surrey
    • Phase 2 focuses on eastern communities and will be completed in late 2026. This includes:
      • City of Pitt Meadows
      • City of Maple Ridge
      • City and Township of Langley

5. Will this project expand to other regions in B.C. with high earthquake risk, such as Vancouver Island?

    • Seismic microzonation maps are already available for the Greater Victoria region.
    • Communities can apply to the Province’s Disaster Resilience Innovation Funding (DRIF) program to undertake their own Seismic Microzonation Mapping Projects.
    • Where possible, it is recommended that communities work together to develop these maps for their region.

6. Have First Nations communities been involved in this process?

    • At this time, First Nations communities in the region have expressed interest in the maps and their usefulness but have not provided permission to publicly share information related to their reserve lands.
    • Information related to reserve lands will be shared directly with the First Nations’ governments and will not be included in the public portal.

1 strong shaking related to a 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years or 475-year mean return period; the considered strong shaking level has a 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years or would be exceeded every 475 years on average.

2 very strong shaking related to a 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years or 2475-year mean return period; the considered very strong shaking level has a 2% probability of being exceeded in 50 years or would be exceeded every 2475 years on average.