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Abstract The use of fiber-optic sensing systems in seismology has exploded in the past decade. Despite an ever-growing library of ground-breaking studies, questions remain about the potential of fiber-optic sensing technologies as tools for advancing if not revolutionizing earthquake-hazards-related research, monitoring, and early warning systems. A working group convened to explore these topics; we comprehensively examined the application of fiber optics in various aspects of earthquake hazards, encompassing earthquake source processes, crustal imaging, data archiving, and technological challenges. There is great potential for fiber-optic systems to advance earthquake monitoring and understanding, but to fully unlock their capabilities requires continued progress in key areas of research and development, including instrument testing and validation, increased dynamic range for applications focused on larger earthquakes, and continued improvement in subsurface and source imaging methods. A key current stumbling block results from the lack of clear data archiving requirements, and we propose an initial strategy that balances data volume requirements with preserving key data for a broad range of future studies. In addition, we demonstrate the potential for fiber-optic sensing to impact monitoring efforts by documenting the data completeness in a number of long-term experiments. Finally, we outline the features of a instrument testing facility that would enable progress toward reliable and standardized distributed acoustic sensing data. Overcoming these current obstacles would facilitate progress in fiber-optic sensing and unlock its potential application to a broad range of earthquake hazard problems. 

United Nations recognized access to safe drinking water as a human right, yet many countries in the developing world lack access to potable water. Recurrent incidences of water-borne illnesses have a devastating effect on the morale and personal well-being of many people living in developing countries, contrasting the achievement of the UN’s objective. Qualitative and semi-quantitative approaches used for risk assessment are often ineffective, time-consuming, and do not discern the risk due to ingestion of unsafe drinking water at the global scale. This research utilizes a global dataset of drinking water facilities to evaluate the risks using a clustering approach. Extensive data analysis involving predetermined risk thresholds, the exceedance of which indicates the potential adverse risk. These risk-thresholds are based on the JMP Service Ladder, which effectively utilizes density-based spatial clustering of applications. Risk analysis of 132 datasets was conducted to designate the risk categories ranging from low, medium, and high-risk. Of the dataset analyzed, 90 areas were designated as a low-risk category while 42 were medium-risk. Overall, the clustering approach is an excellent tool to analyze a large dataset for risk assessment which will help the potential stakeholder, including the water utility manager, to assess the potential risk due to declining water quality quickly. Additionally, the clustering approach can be further harnessed for better data visualization, long-term performance evaluation of water utility, and real-time drinking water quality monitoring.