SISMONET: Capturing the Seismic Heartbeat of the Cosmos - SALOS Algorithm Suazabots

NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024 | Team: Suazabots
Challenge: Seismic Detection Across the Solar System

Project Summary

Planetary seismology faces significant challenges due to the difficulty of transmitting high-resolution data to Earth. SISMONET addresses this by implementing the SALOS algorithm, a refined STA/LTA (Short-Term Average / Long-Term Average) approach designed to distinguish between seismic signals and background noise with high precision.

Our solution optimizes data selection, ensuring that only scientifically relevant information is prioritized for transmission, thereby increasing reliability and energy efficiency for planetary landers.

The SALOS Algorithm

The core of this project is the SALOS algorithm. It analyzes wave amplitude over consecutive periods to identify the onset of seismic events in data from the Apollo (Moon) and InSight (Mars) missions.

Key Features:

• Multi-Range Detection: Categorizes data based on amplitude thresholds:
  • Green: High-amplitude data.
  • Orange: Intermediate-range data.
• Density Analysis: Identifies the onset of earthquakes by detecting the accumulation of intermediate and high-amplitude signals.
• Dynamic Adaptability: Unlike static triggers, SALOS allows for threshold adjustments based on the specific seismic environment (Mars vs. Moon).

Performance and Results

Based on rigorous testing against NASA’s baseline algorithms:

• Effectiveness: 98.2% (compared to the 92% baseline).
• Accuracy: Successfully identified the earthquake onset in 169 out of 172 plots.
• Optimization: The 3 remaining plots were addressed through dynamic threshold adjustments, demonstrating the program's flexibility.

Repository Structure

• /MARS: Implementation and scripts for Mars InSight Lander data.
• /MOON: Implementation and scripts for Apollo Passive Seismic Experiment data.
• Scripts: Python-based tools using ObsPy, NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib.

Installation & Requirements

To run the SALOS algorithm, you need Python 3.x and the following libraries:

pip install numpy pandas matplotlib scipy obspy

Usage

1. Configuration: Open the script in the /MARS or /MOON folder and set your local paths:

input_folder = r"C:\path\to\your\data"
output_folder = r"C:\path\to\save\results"

2. Run: Execute the script. The system will process .mseed and .csv files automatically.
3. Review: Check the output folder for generated plots. Earthquake regions will be highlighted in purple, with threshold crossings marked in orange and green.

Resources & Documentation

• Demo Video: Watch on YouTube
• Project Workspace: Google Drive Folder
• Official Profile: NASA Space Apps Project Page

Team Members

• Wilmer Andres Silva Suarez
• Salomón Jarro Cerón
• María Angélica Sandoval
• Oscar Roberto Fonseca Barrera
• Samuel Nicolás Rodríguez López

References

• NASA Space Apps 2024 Seismic Detection Data Packet.
• Apollo Passive Seismic Experiment Data Description.
• Mars InSight Seismic Data Information Sheet.
• Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (BSSA): STA/LTA parameter setting research.

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Developed by Team Suazabots for the 2024 NASA Space Apps Challenge.