Forecasting Magnitudes and Locations of Potential Earthquakes along Railway Lines in Hormozgan Province Using Artificial Neural Network (ANN)

Predicting the magnitude and location of earthquakes can significantly mitigate the impact of this natural phenomenon. Anticipating potential earthquake locations can enhance infrastructure resilience and reduce vulnerability. This study aimed to forecast and analyze the magnitude and location of potential earthquakes along the railway lines in Hormozgan Province using intelligent Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithms. The model utilized earthquake location, magnitude, and depth data from the International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering, as well as fault lengths in the region as the input variables. The findings revealed 32 potential earthquake points in the study area with projected magnitudes ranging from 4.3 to 5.2 on the Richter scale. The earthquake prediction-based zoning of Hormozgan Province indicated that the southern and central parts (north of the Strait of Hormuz) were at a high risk. Consequently, the rail lines in this area were more susceptible. Specifically, Tunnel No. 23 was situated in a high-risk zone and Tunnels 21, 22, and 23 were in close proximity to earthquakes with magnitudes exceeding 5 on the Richter scale.