The Seismological Observatory of the University of Brasília
The Observatory Seismologic (SIS) is a Center of the Geosciences Institute (IG) of the University of Brasília (UnB). It's responsible for three areas, namely: teaching (of both undergraduate and graduate students), the Extension Courses, seismicity-related research and the structure of the Earth. Its main activity is the seismographic monitoring of Brazilian seismicity, which is natural and induced by underground water reservoirs. It has at its disposal its own headquarters (picture to the right), which has a great physical (Computer and Data-analysis laboratories, an Electronic Workshop; an Exhibition on Seismology, a library, among others), instrument-related ( digital seismographic systems, specter's analyzers, gravimeter, generators and radio- frequency measurers, function generators, GPS's etc.) computer-related (a local network with six stations of work, PC's and peripherals) and human resources structure (professors, administrative-technicians, service-rendering people and both undergraduate and graduate scholarship students).
The SIS has, besides, at its disposal, a database (SISBRA) where information about historical and instrument-related seisms that have ever been heard of since the 16th century are cataloged. All this structure is supported by funds raised by the Observatory itself by means of advisory contracts and service-rendering performed within the scope of FUB and in partnership with Supporting Foundations. Besides, the SIS/UnB operates and/or co-ordinates a vast network of seismographic stations set up in 32 different places in the Brazilian territory, especially in areas nearby dams. This is done under contracts with energy companies; Civil Defense's national system; U.S Geological Survey and the Brazilian Army. We can also highlight, the running of the only Brazilian infrasound station (jointly with the United Nations) and of a seismic station belonging to the Nuclear Explosions-Monitoring International System. The picture below shows the Observatory Seismologic's localization.