Seismology at UnB

In the 60's, UNESCO recommended that a high-sensitivity seismic array system should be installed in South-America so as to monitor mainly the earthquakes of the Andean region. In order to carry this project into execution, both the Institute of Geologic Sciences of Edinburgh (Great-Britain) and the Geophysical Institute of Peru joined forces, whose staff chose Brasilia as the area of choice for the seismic array. At the time, they had counted on the contribution of CNPq, which produced the extra money necessary for the project and made it easier for the equipment's import by the Federal District Government, which, then, obtained the nod for the instruments' installation in the interior of the Brasília's National Park. The University of Brasília also supported the project in a decisive way by creating a seismologic nucleus (Seismologic Station) to run the system, called SAAS (South American Array System).

The SAAS started operating in 1968. In the following decade, other worldwide systems were integrated with the Seismologic Station, such as the WWSSN (Worldwide Standardized Seismograph Network) and the IDA (International Deployment Accelerometer). In 1975, partnerships with energy companies began and, as a consequence, seismographic stations' implantation in different regions of the country.

British people carrying out tests, inside National Park of Brasília, going for the installation of the seismic array (1967)

In the 80's, new seismographic instruments were installed in Brasília, increasing the number of national seismographic stations. Also, it was in the 80's that the Seismologic Observatory (SIS) of the University of Brasilia (UnB) was created.

In the next decade, with the construction of the Observatory, other advancements were made, such as: the implantation of the GTSN system (Global Telemetered Seismograph Network); continuing of some service-rendering contracts; expansion on the technical-scientific areas' advising; and the conducting of some researches financed by external agencies or by the SIS itself. Nowadays, the Observatory is already consolidated and has become an national reference agency with regard to the Seismology field.