A WebGIS-Based Platform for Sharing Earthquake Surface Rupture Data in Mainland China

Earthquake surface ruptures provide critical geological evidence for identifying seismogenic structures, reconstructing rupture processes of strong earthquakes, and assessing seismic hazards associated with active faults. The Mainland China Surface Rupture Database (MCSRD) has compiled surface rupture records from 632 data sources and 72 earthquake events, providing an important data foundation for investigating strong-earthquake surface ruptures in mainland China. However, offline data products are limited in supporting online visualization, interactive querying, and cross-platform sharing, which restricts the broader reuse of surface rupture data. In this study, we developed a WebGIS-based data-sharing system for earthquake surface ruptures in mainland China using MCSRD as the core data source and an open-source geospatial technology stack comprising PostgreSQL/PostGIS, GeoServer, Django, and Leaflet. The system enables the unified organization, online publication, interactive querying, result export, and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)-compliant service access of multi-source thematic data. Unlike platforms primarily designed for the management of basic active-fault information, the proposed system focuses on event-based surface rupture data from documented strong earthquakes, with emphasis on rupture geometry, coseismic displacement, reliability assessment, and source traceability. Application and performance testing results show that the system can transform offline MCSRD thematic data into standardized spatial information services, enhancing the online accessibility, interoperability, and reusability of earthquake surface rupture data. This study provides a practical implementation framework for the Web-based publication and open sharing of earthquake geology thematic data.