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Qualitative Seismic Microzonation of Yogyakarta City

Deasy R. Cahyaningtyas*) and Salahuddin Husein **)

*) Undergraduate student at Dept. of Geological Engineering, Gadjah Mada University; corresponding

email: deasyrimanda@gmail.com
*) Lecturer at Dept. of Geological Engineering, Gadjah Mada University; corresponding email:
shddin@ugm.ac.id

ABSTRACT

On May 27, 2006, many people died and infrastructure damaged due to a 5.8 Richter scale
shallow earthquake. The distribution of damage buildings and houses is different in each sub district and
has uneven pattern, particularly due to different geological, geotechnical, and seismic properties. One of
methods to study those factors is using qualitative microzonation that give an illustration of susceptibility
level of an area in response to the earthquake. This method relies on existing subsurface information,
could be claimed as a desk study or preliminary seismic microzonation. However, a qualitative
microzonation conducted in Yogyakarta City reveals that this method is suitable to shows appropriate
representation with damage infrastructure.

INTRODUCTION qualitative microzonation. These three methods

On May 27, 2006, a 5.8 Richter scale
earthquake had stroke Yogyakarta Province and
surrounding area. It was thought that the quake
resulted from movement of the Opak Fault, that
lies in the eastern part of Bantul Regency, which
caused near 6000 fatalities and thousands of
building and houses in Yogyakarta area damaged
or collapsed. In Yogyakarta City, like elsewhere
in adjacent areas, distribution of damage buildings
and houses was different in each sub-district and
has uneven pattern. This uneven pattern occurred
because different geological and geotechnical
properties, as well as seismic properties of the
rocks (amplification, period and frequency) in
each area. Therefore, an earthquake
microzonation map that could describe those
properties is in need to improve mitigation works
for future hazard.
Earthquake microzonation map is defined
in this study as a semi detail scale map (in
1:25000 or greater scale) which illustrates
zonation of distribution and susceptibility levels.
There are many methods used to give an
illustration susceptibility of an area in response to
the earthquake. In this study, there are three
methods that would be discussed to show the
susceptibility levels of Yogyakarta and
surrounding area in response to the earthquake,
i.e. ground amplification, ground period, and
would be compared with damage buildings and
houses data of May 27, 2006 earthquake in order
to know the most relevant method which shows
susceptibility illustration and the factors that
affect damage building and houses as the result of
earthquake.
GEOLOGICAL SETTING OF
YOGYAKARTA
The study area is part of distal zone of
Merapi Volcano, which consists of Quaternary
fluvio-vulcanic deposits. MacDonald & Partners
(1984), categorize the Quaternary deposits into
several formations, which are the Old Merapi,
Sleman, and Yogyakarta.
The Old Merapi Formation consists of
strongly fractured basalt and andesite lavas, with
indurated breccias, outcropped around the upper
cone of Merapi and were deposited during Upper
Pleistocene. The Sleman Formation has
designated as the lower part of a major
volcaniclastic unit which was formerly included in
the Younger Merapi Volcanics formation. In the
north, on the Merapi Upper Slopes, it consists of
sands and gravels with interspersed boulders, all
derived from volcanic ejecta. From Yogyakarta to
the south, the formation is overlain by the
Yogyakarta Formation so that full thickness of the
former formation can only be identified in
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boreholes. The Sleman Formation is thought to be
Upper Pleistocene to Holocene in age. The
Yogyakarta Formation forms the surface outcrop
throughout most of the lowland area of the
Yogyakarta Basin from the Merapi Middle Slopes
to the coast. It constutes the upper part of the
former Younger Merapi Volcanics. It consists of
an interbedded sequence of sands, gravels, silts,
and clays. The amount of clay increases
southwards.
The study area is part of Yogyakarta
Formation (MacDonald & Partners, 1984) (Figure
1). Based on boreholes data Sleman Formation
undernearth the Yogyakarta Formation, and
undernearth Sleman Formation, there is Sentolo
Formation, which predominantly consists of
limestone, also consists of marls, tuffs, and
conglomerates.
QUALITATIVE MICROZONATION
The qualitative microzonation is based on
seven parameters that qualitatively characterized
the local soil conditions and the expected
influence in amplification during the earthquake.
Detailed description of the scheme is given in
Noack & Fäh (2001). Those 7 parameters are:
1. The consolidation of the Quaternary deposits
expressed by their age. The lower a sediment
is consolidated, the lower its shear wave
velocity and the higher is the expected
amplification during earthquakes.
The study area is consist of Quaternary
sediment (Yogyakarta Formation) which
thought to Holocene in age (class 2) (Figure
2). It is shown by 32 borehole data (Figure 3)
and geological map of study area.
2. The type (grain size and lithification) of the
Quaternary sediments. As the qualitative rule
it can be assumed that, the smaller the grain
size of a sediment, the lower the shear wave
velocity.
The study area divided into 4 classes depend
on the lithology (Table 1) (Figure 4).
3. The thickness of the Quaternary sediments
weighted by their type. The thickness of the
sediments define the frequency band at which
amplification effects occur. The thicker the
soils, the lower the fundamental frequency of
resonance. Assuming the simple model of one
layer over a half space the expected
amplification is maximal at the fundamental
frequency of resonance and significant for the
frequency range above.
In study area, the thickness of Quaternary
sediments is homogen. The thickness of all
type of Quaternary sediments is more than 45
m (Class 3) (Figure 5).
4. Lateral variation in the thickness of the
Quaternary sediments to account for the
excitation of local surface waves and
resonances. It is often observed during
earthquakes, that lateral heterogeneities can
excite local surface wave, which, due to their
strong attenation only propagate a limited
distance, but within this range, can
significantly increase the duration and
amplitude of ground motion. At least for the
areas covered by Quaternary gravels, the
parameter for lateral variation also rates some
effects of subsurface and surface topography.
Basin type structures and topographic features
can be subject to resonance phenomena.
Based on borehole data, gradient of study area
is less than 0.01, that means there is no lateral
variation in the thickness of the Quaternary
sediment in study area (Class 0) (Figure 6).
5. The fifth parameter considers the potential of
liquefaction. This factor is limited to water-
saturated, cohesionsless, granular sediments at
depths less than 10 m. Liquifaction potential
in the rating scheme is expressed by the depth
to the water table.
The study area is divided into 3 classes
depend on the depth of water table (Table 1)
(Figure 7).
6. The sixth parameter characterizes the
differences in shear wave velocity given by
the lithology of the PreQuaternary sediments
underneath the Quaternary gravels.
Geologically, they are bedrock, but
seismically, these sediments belong partly to
the soft sediments. This can be expected from
the interpretation of ambient noise
measurements, that clearly show low
fundamental frequencies of resonance
between 0.4 – 1 Hz that can only be explained
by low shear wave velocities of some of the
Tertiary sediments (Fäh, et al., 1997 vide
Noack & Fäh, 2001) in the order of 500-900
m/s.
There is no outcrop of Tertiary sediments in
study area, so we can conclude no lithologic
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variation in the lithified preQuaternary

sediments (Class 0) (Figure 8).
7. The seventh parameter rates the influence of
the lateral variation of the fault. Resonance
effects may be expected at very low frequency
of the order of 0.4 – 0.5 Hz, due to basin
structure of the area within the nearby the
fault. The extent of the influence has been
fixed to 1000 m inside.
In this study, Opak Fault is the master fault
that influence the area. The distance between
Opak Fault and study area is more than 1000
m, outside the area of influence (Class 0)
(Figure 9).
Each of the seven parameter contributes to
the microzonation (Table 1). The contribution of
the effects of each parameter are classified to
values between 0 and 4 units on a qualitative scale
(Table 2). This value is assigned to a 25 × 25 m
grid. The value 0 is equivalent to no contribution
to local amplification and 4 means a high
contribution. Included in this figure is also the
percentage of the area covered by each class (0 –
4). Each map depicts geographically an
independent distribution of the different classes.
The qualitative microzonation map of
Yogyakarta and surrounding area are divided into
5 units area, with score from 9 to 13 (Figure 10).
The higher score in the area shows the higher
probability of the building and houses damage in
the area (Figure 11). Gamping, Kasihan, Sewon,
Umbulharjo, Kotagede, and Banguntapan
subdistricts are highly damage area with score 11
to 13. The area with score from 9 to 10, such as,
Godongtengen, Danurejan, Gondokusuman,
Wirobrajan, Ngampilan, Gondomanan,
Pakualaman, Kraton and Mergangsan are
subdistricts with low damage infrastructure.
References
Jogja Media Centre (2007) Damage Distribution
of Yogyakarta Earthquake 2006,
http://www.freewebs.com/gempadiy_med
iacenter.htm, downloaded on December
22, 2009.
MacDonald, Sir M. & Partners (1984) Greater
Yogyakarta Groundwater Resource Study,
Volume 3, Groundwater Development
Project, Direct General of Water
Resources Development, Ministry of
Publicworks, Government of Indonesia.
Mahendra, R.O. (2008) Pengaruh Kondisi
Hidrogeologi dan Tataguna Lahan
terhadap Tingkat Kandungan Nintrat
pada Airtanah di Kota Yogyakarta dan
Sekitarnya. Tugas Akhir tipe Skripsi,
Geological Engineering Gadjah Mada
University, Yogyakarta (not published).
Noack, T. and D. Fäh (2001) Earthquake
Microzonation : site effect and local
geology. A case study for the Kanton of
Basel-Stadt.

Conclusion

Qualitative microzonation is a suitable

method that shows appropriate representation
with damage infrastructure.

Gamping, Kasihan, Sewon, Umbulharjo,
Kotagede, and Banguntapan subdistricts are
highly damage area with score 11 to 13 in
qualitative microzonation of Yogyakarta and
surrounding area.
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TABLE 1. Schematic representation of the application of the qualitative rating scheme. The local contribution of
each characteristic parameter are mapped on 25 × 25 grid. The zonation map is the sum of all the different
contributions at each grid cell (modified from Noack & Fäh, 2001). The parameters are modified appropriate with
Yogyakarta and surrounding area condition

PARAMETER WEIGHT REMARKS

1. Consolidation of the Quat ernary sediments (as a
function of age)
• Pleistocene alluvium (highly consolidated) 0 • No contribution from Prequaternary lithified
• Holocene alluvium (medium consolidated) 2 sedimentary rocks
• Pleistocene and Holocene slopewash and Pleistocene 3 • Map is compiled from geologic maps, well
loess (low consolidation) data, map of hazardous waste and outcrop
• Artificial fill (very low consolidation) 4 A buiding site
2. T y p e o f Q u a t e r n a r y s e d i me n t s ( g r a i n s i z e
c e me ntat ion)
• Sand with gravel 1
• Sand with gravel dominant and little clay 2 • Map is compiled from lithologic descriptions
• Sand with clay dominant and little gravel 3 of boreholes
• Sand with clay 4
3. T h i c k n e s s o f Q u a t e r n a r y s e d i me n t s ( d e pe n d on
t h e t ype o f t h e s e d ime n t )
No variation of thickness of Quaternary sediments 3 • Weights are dependant on the type of the
The thickness of the Quaternary sediment is more Quaternary deposit
than 45 m
4. La t e r a l v a r ia t i o n s o f t h e t h i c kn e s s o f t h e
Quaternary sediment s
• The gradien value at study area is homogen 0 • Map is calculated from the map of the
less than 0.01 thickness of the Quaternary sediments
• Quaternary sediment thickness is homogen
5. De pt h to g rou n d wat er tab le
• 10 - 20 m 2 • Map is calculated from the map of the mean
• 3 - 10 m 3 groundwater table
• 1-3m 4
6. Litho logic variat ions in t he lith ifie d • Map is compiled from lithologic descriptions
Prequaternary sediments of boreholes and outcrop
No outcrop of tertier sediments 0 • No outcrop of tertiary sediment in study
area
7. . Lateral influence of Opak master fault • In this study Opak Fault movement is
• Outside the area of influence (> 1000 m) 0 believed as the cause of Bantul earth-
• Within the area of influence (1000 m) 1 quake.
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TABLE 2. Buildings and houses damage of Mei 27, 2006 earthquake from Jogja Media Center (2007)

Buildings and houses damage (units)

No Subdistrict
Collapse Heavy Damage Light Damage Total
1 Sewon 8281 8496 6004 22781
2 Banguntapan 5557 8232 7452 21241
3 Kasihan 1790 4657 12103 18550
4 Umbulharjo 1738 2249 0 3987
5 Kotagede 238 864 490 1592
6 Gamping 160 1922 1551 3633
7 Mlati 99 487 2157 2743
8 Depok 85 656 3148 3889
9 Jetis 73 594 1207 1874
10 Gondokusuman 50 310 33 393
11 Kraton 38 0 114 152
12 Tegalrejo 18 38 0 56
13 Ngaglik 12 132 528 672
14 Pakualaman 9 92 190 291
15 Mantrijeron 0 225 0 225
16 Mergangsan 0 83 0 83
17 Danurejan 0 61 365 426
18 Gondomanan 0 26 11 37
19 Wirobrajan 0 25 175 200
20 Ngampilan 0 10 15 25
21 Gedongtengen 0 0 17 17
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FIGURE 1. Regional geological map of Yogyakarta Basin (modified from MacDonald & Partners, 1984)
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FIGURE 2. State of Quaternary sediment consolidation, based on boreholes data.

FIGURE 3. Fence diagram of Quaternary sediments in Yogyakarta City, based on boreholes data.
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FIGURE 4. Types of Quaternary sediments, based on boreholes data.

FIGURE 5. Thickness of Quaternary sediments in Yogyakarta City, based on boreholes data.

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FIGURE 6. Lateral variation of Quaternary sediments in Yogyakarta City, based on boreholes data.

FIGURE 7. Depth to ground water table in Yogyakarta City (Mahendra , 2008)

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FIGURE 8. Surficial pre-Quaternary lithologies in Yogyakarta City, based on geological map.

FIGURE 9. Lateral influence of the master fault, i.e. the Opak Fault, based on geological map.
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FIGURE 10. Qualitative seismic microzonation of Yogyakarta City.

FIGURE 11. Distribution of damages in Yogyakarta City