The UNAM Uses AI to Improve Monitoring of Popocatépetl Researchers from the Institute of Geophysics (IGF) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) have launched an ambitious project aimed at revolutionizing the monitoring of the Popocatépetl volcano through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). This innovative effort, led by researcher Marco Calo in collaboration with doctoral students Leonarda I. Esquivel Mendiola and Karina Bernal Manzanilla, aims to complement the technique of ambient noise tomography that is already in use.

UNAM Uses AI to Improve Monitoring of Popocatépetl Researchers from the Institute of Geophysics (IGF) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) have launched an ambitious project aimed at revolutionizing the monitoring of the Popocatépetl volcano through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). This innovative effort, led by researcher Marco Calo in collaboration with doctoral students Leonarda I. Esquivel Mendiola and Karina Bernal Manzanilla, aims to complement the technique of ambient noise tomography already being carried out in the area. The work of the research team is based on the use of two complementary methods: seismic interferometry, which utilizes ambient seismic noise to obtain internal images of the volcano, and monitoring of small tremors within the colossus through artificial intelligence. This combination of techniques will improve the models that explain the functioning of Popocatépetl and provide support to Civil Protection and government authorities in decision-making to protect the population. Thanks to the network of seismic instruments deployed around the volcano, researchers can obtain internal images with unprecedented resolution, reaching depths of up to 10 kilometers within the volcano's structure. These images reveal the seismicity and anomalies present in the subsurface, allowing for a better understanding of how seismic waves propagate at different speeds inside the volcano. One of the most important findings obtained by the research team is the identification of the mobility of magmatic material through different conduits between rock fractures, as opposed to the traditional idea of a single magma chamber. To address this complexity, Karina Bernal Manzanilla is working on training an artificial intelligence system capable of distinguishing and recognizing different types of tremors within the volcano, which will significantly improve the resolution of images captured in shallower areas. The comparison of the results obtained through this novel AI system with the monitoring carried out by the National Disaster Prevention Center (CENAPRED) has revealed that artificial intelligence has the ability to identify the seismicity present in official reports and discover new seismic events that could go unnoticed by manual observation. This technological advancement will undoubtedly allow for more detailed and real-time monitoring of the Popocatépetl volcano, strengthening the response capacity to potential eruptions and contributing to the protection of the population at risk. In summary, the application of artificial intelligence in monitoring Popocatépetl represents a significant step forward in the field of volcanology and natural risk management in Mexico. The combination of scientific expertise with cutting-edge technology promises to provide valuable results that will benefit not only researchers but also authorities and the general population. This project once again demonstrates UNAM's commitment to innovation and excellence in scientific research that contributes to the well-being of society.