Universidad de Concepción · Chile · 2 – 4 September 2026

Training on Distributed Acoustic Sensing for earthquake research

A three-day hands-on workshop to build scientific capacity in Chile for DAS technology — from theory to field deployment to data analysis.

Dates Sep 2 – 4, 2026

Location UdeC, Concepción, Chile

Capacity 50 - 60 participants

Fees Free for all

Apply for a spot (closed) View program ↓

About the workshop

Chile lies on one of the world's most active tectonic boundaries yet access to distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) expertise and infrastructure remains extremely limited in the country. This workshop aims to help close that gap.

Over three days, participants will move from the fundamentals of fiber-optic sensing and work up to a real field deployment on the UdeC campus, followed by full data-analysis pipelines using modern open-source tools and machine learning.

The workshop is designed to democratize knowledge: is free to attend, travel scholarships are available, and we especially encourage applications from underrepresented groups, women, and early-career scientists (ECS).

Funding for the Training on Distributed Acoustic Sensing for Earthquake Research and Seismic Building Response was made possible by the Seismological Society of America through their SSA Community Grants Program.

Full days of training

50 - 60

Expected participants

1st

Hands-on DAS training in Chile

Free

Registration

Program

Three days, one complete pipeline

From seismic theory to fiber deployment to earthquake products — participants leave with practical skills and a working toolkit.

Sep

Day 1 — Scientific overview & seminars

📍 Auditorio Alamiro Rebolledo · CFM UdeC

Invited talks covering DAS theory, fiber sensing fundamentals, and international case studies. National and international speakers will present applications in earthquake analysis, seismic imaging, seismic hazard, structural monitoring, physics, telecommunications, among others. Space reserved for lightning talks by students and ECS.

Speakers:

Ethan Williams (UC Santa Cruz), Ettore Biondi (Stanford), Marcelo Soto (U. Técnica Federico Santa María), Teresa Peralta, María Constanza Flores (U. de Chile), Marcelo Cárdenas, Fernando Castillo, Gonzalo Montalva (U. de Concepción)

DAS theory Applications Invited talks Student & ECS lightning talks

Sep

Day 2 — Instrumentation & field deployment

📍 Outdoor fiber-optic network · campus UdeC

Hands-on experience with the DAS instrument. Participants learn deployment best practices, safety protocols, and logistical considerations, then deploy the fiber-optic cable on campus. Real seismic signals are recorded during the session, and this data may be used in Day 3.

Instrumentation Field deployment Data acquisition

Sep

Day 3 — Data processing & interpretation

📍 Computer Lab · CFM UdeC

Full workshop day: "Introduction to DAS for Seismology." Participants work with DAS data formats, preprocessing pipelines, and open-source tools, along with machine learning approaches for phase picking. The day includes group exercises, a plenary discussion on future research directions in Chile.

Data formats Open-source tools Machine learning Phase picking DAS pipelines

Invited speakers

International experts in fiber sensing

Leading researchers bringing cutting-edge DAS expertise to Chile.

Ethan F. Williams

Instructor & Invited speaker

Assistant Professor, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences · University of California, Santa Cruz

Applies fiber-optic sensing to seismology, oceanography, and acoustics. Research spans subduction geohazards, ocean–solid Earth interaction, and structural monitoring using DAS. Ph.D. Caltech (2023). GHI Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Washington (2023–2025).

↗ Research Homepage

Ettore Biondi

Instructor & Invited speaker

Assistant Professor of Geophysics · Stanford University

Research centers on fiber sensing and dense seismic arrays for geophysical applications — from volcanic system dynamics and earthquake physics to early warning systems and climate-related environmental sensing. Ph.D. Stanford (2021). Postdoctoral Researcher and Research Scientist, Caltech (2021 - 2025).

↗ Research Homepage

Organizing committee

Meet the team

Catalina Morales-Yáñez

Assistant Professor
Department of Geophysics
Universidad de Concepción
Lead organizer

↗ Research Homepage

Javier Ojeda

Assistant Professor
Department of Earth Sciences
Universidad de Concepción
Scientific coordination

↗ Research Homepage

Ethan Williams

Assistant Professor
Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences
UC Santa Cruz
International coord.

↗ Research Homepage

Gonzalo Montalva

Full Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Universidad de Concepción
Local logistics

↗ Research Homepage

Emily Brodsky

Full Professor
Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences
UC Santa Cruz
International coord.

↗ Research Homepage

Travel grants

Support for participants

We believe financial barriers shouldn't prevent talented researchers from participating. Limited travel grants are available.

Student & ECS grants

Travel scholarships are available to support participants from outside Concepción — particularly students, ECS, and members of underrepresented groups who lack access to national or other funding sources.

Priority is given to students and first-generation professionals. Workshop fees are fully waived for all students.

USD $100

Maximum grant per recipient (limited budget)

Open to students and ECS
Priority for participants outside Concepción
Priority for underrepresented groups
Workshop registration required
Limited funds — apply early

Resources

Resources & links

Slides, code, and datasets from the training will be posted here. When using this material, please acknowledge (when applicable): Ethan Williams, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of California - Santa Cruz; Ettore Biondi, Department of Geophysics, Stanford University; Jiaxuan Li Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science, University of Houston; Chun Zhang, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Institute of Acoustics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Haikou, Hainan, China; Weiqiang Zhu, Department of Earth & Planetary Science, University of California - Berkeley

GitHub repo ↗ Presentation slides (One Drive) ↗ Photos (One Drive) ↗

Training on Distributed Acoustic Sensing for earthquake research

Three days, one complete pipeline

International experts in fiber sensing

Meet the team

Support for participants

Student & ECS grants

Resources & links

News & Press