Low-temperature thermochronology is a key technology for studying neotectonics and landscape evolution. However, it is intrinsically different from the other geochronological methods in the data expression, analysis and interpretation. In recent years, with the widespread adoption of low-temperature thermochronology techniques, the size volume of data has continuously increased, giving rise to many studies on tectonic geomorphic evolution based on big data. However, these data are mostly scattered across literature from different sources, with inconsistent formats and contents, and varying data quality, which to a certain extent hampers innovative research based on big data. There is a need to construct specialized databases to cope with the growing low-temperature thermochronology data and meet the demands of innovative research using big data.

In this paper, four conventional geochronological databases, including National Geochronological Data Base, Geochron, Petlab, DataView, and recent databases, AusGeochem and Sparrow are reviewed for comparison of their capability in data sources, data volume, data storage structure, completeness of data content, data entry methods, data retrieval methods, coverage areas, database update patterns, and data analysis tools. The conventional geochronological databases, of which the thermochronological data comprise only a small part, are generally stored in databases similar to or outside this subject, such as radioisotope chronology database, geochronology database, petrological mineral and geological analysis databases. They amplify the commonalities between different disciplines, and thus focus only on the presentation of sample units. It is not suitable for “big data” research, because all the data are managed by relational database with strictly structured tables and limited data sources. It was found that conventional geochronological databases design approaches are often suitable for absolute age data. However, low-temperature thermochronology differs from conventional geological dating methods, as its age values only record cooling time. The more geologically significant cooling history comes from numerical simulations based on elevation profiles, track lengths, and the diffusion dynamics models of the(U-Th)/He system. Additionally, the innovation in experimental techniques also imposes new requirements on the construction of thermochronology databases.

Comparing with the conventional geochronology databases, recent databases focus more on low-temperature thermochronological data and support both the structured and unstructured data with variable data sources, which makes it more comprehensive and professional. These databases own the characteristics of flexibility and expandability, especially for the addition of new dating methods and experimental methods, the storage of big data and the linkage between laboratories and database. Using different types of database platform and associated APIs, both relational and non-relational data can be involved and managed for data query, analysis and visualization. However, the construction of these recent databases is still in the preliminary exploration stage, and ensuring the continuous growth of data remains a challenge. Moreover, establishing a flexible numbering system for sustainable and expandable unique identification of samples and data is also an important task for recent databases. Finally, in addition to raw data, numerous thermal history information is included in published paper related to fission track. These interpretations or inverted results constitute interpretive data, which are crucial for reconstructing cooling history or tectonic uplift. Therefore, how to incorporate such data into the database is also a question that must be considered during database design.

The key to supporting the database lies in the users who it oriented. Considering the needs of users in professional field for scientific research management, experimental analysis and “big data” innovative research, as well as in view of the problems existing in the current databases, we put forward following suggestions for the future construction of low-temperature thermochronology database.

Firstly, in order to ensure the activity of specific low-temperature thermochronology database. from a technical perspective, artificial intelligence technologies such as natural language processing or other forms of machine learning algorithms should be utilized to semi-automatically or automatically extract information from paper, assisting users in quickly extracting relevant information and understanding the content of the literature. Platforms like Semantic Scholar, GeoDeepDive, and DeepShovel have implemented interactive features in data mining, wherein data is normalized and automated into the database based on user-specified rules, significantly reducing manpower and time costs in data acquisition, providing great convenience. In terms of ideology, the open-sharing academic ecosystem has given rise to open-sharing platforms such as arXiv for preprints, data repositories like Pangaea, and the Deep-Time Digital Earth integrated online research platforms, drastically shortening the cycle from research and experimentation to publication. This facilitates the incorporation of the latest research data into databases, greatly expanding the data sources. Regarding user volume, academic social networks possess advantages in academic tracking and dissemination, breaking down academic-related hierarchies, promoting academic exchange and cooperation, and attracting more users.

Secondly, more detailed data storage capabilities and simpler data operation behaviors help improve the expansibility of the database. Most existing geochronological databases use relational databases, which are a strictly structured way of storing data. The most typical data structure presentation form is two-dimensional table, which is very suitable for logical geological data. However, non-relational databases are not tables but databases oriented towards structured and unstructured data storage requirements, which have filled the gaps in relational databases. In practical applications, the advantages of both types of databases can be combined to comprehensively include basic geological information and interpretive information, achieving the effect of New SQL.

Thirdly, highlight its highlight. Chronological data of sample and the single data that make up the sample chronology are significant, it will be effective in distinguishing low-temperature thermochronology from other similar disciplines if the coding style of sample and single data that are not registered on IGSN can be standardized to highlight the characteristics of subject data.

Finally, by combining the strengths of both conventional and recent databases, incorporating the concept of open academia, leveraging advanced information mining and transmission technologies, and utilizing a storage approach that combines structured and unstructured data, it can greatly meet the comprehensive needs of users, ranging from laboratories to scientists, and further to data consumers.

The Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system(XXFS)is a strongly active left-lateral strike-slip fault zone on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. It controls the eastern boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan block, Which is one of the most active tectonic zones in the north-south seismic belts. There have been 36 destructive earthquakes since 1327AD. The historical strong earthquakes in the middle section of the XXFS fault system are mainly distributed along Anning River faults and Zemu River faults, such as M7.0 in 814AD, M7^1/2 in 1536AD, M6^3/4 in 1732AD, M7^1/2 in 1850AD and M6^3/4 earthquakes in 1952AD. However, as an important part of the middle of XXFS, the Daliangshan fault zone only recorded a magnitude of M5^1/2 in 1480AD, and there was a lack of earthquake records above a magnitude of 6 which may be due to the quiet period of earthquakes, or the location of remote mountainous areas where historical records are missing. The paleoseismic study revealed that there were surface rupture events along the Butuo and Jiaojihe faults in the southern section of the Daliangshan fault zone in 970-1510AD and 1310-1660AD respectively, with a magnitude of not less than 6.5; Along the Puxiong fault in the middle section of the Daliangshan fault zone, there was a surface rupture event in 927-1360AD, with a magnitude of not less than 7.0. However, there are no corresponding historical records of the earthquakes in these three historical periods, indicating that strong historic earthquakes in the Daliangshan fault zone may be missing.

The Yuexi fault is the only branch fault in the Daliangshan fault zone dominated by thrust slip. The fault spreads in an arc shape, with a total length of about 50km, and controls the quaternary basins such as Zhenxi, Xinmin, and Yuexi. The topographic height difference between the fault’s two sides is about 2 000m. The middle section of the fault is the eastern boundary fault of the Yuexi Basin, which cuts through the piedmont alluvial fan, forming fault scarps several meters to tens of meters high. Together with the Puxiong fault on the east side, which is dominated by left laterally slipping, a positive flower-type structure is formed in the middle section of the Daliangshan fault zone. There are previous discoveries about fault scarps of the Yuexi fault on the piedmont alluvial fans, but no paleoseismic research has been reported up to now.

On the basis of remote sensing interpretation and field geological and geomorphological survey of the Yuexi fault, a big trench was excavated across the 12m-high fault scarp on the late quaternary alluvial fan in the Yuexi Basin, which revealed four paleoseismic events since the late quaternary and the coseismic vertical slip of the last one is ~1.2m. Based on trench analysis, 14 stratigraphic units are defined from which carbon samples are acquired for geochronological analysis. Through radioactive carbon dating and correction of the dating data by the OxCal software, and OxCal model building to limit the age of paleoearthquake events, the ages of the four events were 25260-23880BC, 23930-23500BC, 20980-1400BC, and 270-1500AD. According to historical records, a destructive earthquake occurred in Yuexi County on September 13, 1480AD, which triggered landslides, 7 earthquakes on that day, and more than 20 aftershocks as of the 27th, with a tremor range of 150km. We consider that the latest event should be the Yuexi earthquake in 1480AD according to the historical records of earthquake damages. Based on the paleoearthquake research, this event very likely led to a coseismic rupture of the Yuexi and the Puxiong faults. According to the empirical scaling laws between magnitude and rupture length, the magnitude of the surface ruptured paleoearthquake is estimated to be more than M7.0. The results provide basic data for evaluating seismic activity and analyzing seismic risk in this area.

It is crucial to reveal the surface traces and activity of active faults by obtaining high-precision microtopography and three-dimensional shallow geometry. However, limited by the traditional geological investigation methods in the field and geological condition factors, the measurement method on microtopography and shallow geometry of active fault is badly insufficient. In this study, the TLS and GPR are firstly used comprehensively to delineate the microtopography and shallow geometry of the normal fault scarp on the north margin of Maoyaba Basin in Litang. Firstly, the vertical displacements of two landforms produced by the latest two periods of normal faulting and the two-dimensional GPR profiles are obtained separately. Secondly, the three-dimensional measurement method of active fault based on TLS and GPR is preliminarily established. On this basis, three-dimensional model of fault scarp and three-dimensional images of subsurface geometry are also obtained. These data all reveal a graben structure at normal fault scarps. Thirdly, the fusion and interpretation of three-dimensional data from the surface and subsurface are realized. The study results show:1)the vertical displacements of the T₁ and T₂ terraces by the normal fault movement is 1.4m and 5.7m, the GPR profile shows a typical fault structure and indicates the existence of small graben structure with a maximum width of about 40m in the shallow layer, which further proves that it is a normal fault. 2)the shallow geometry of the normal fault scarp can be more graphically displayed by the three-dimensional radar images, and it also makes the geometry structure of the fault more comprehensive. The precise location and strike of faults F₁ and F₂ on the horizontal surface are also determined in the three-dimensional radar images, which further proves the existence of small graben structure, indicating the extensional deformation characteristics in the subsurface of the fault scarps. Furthermore, the distribution of small graben structure on the surface and subsurface is defined more precisely. 3)the integrated display of microgeomorphology and shallow geometry of normal fault scarp is realized based on the three-dimensional point cloud and GPR data. The fusion of the point cloud and GPR data has obvious advantages, for the spatial structure, morphological and spectral features from the point cloud can improve the recognition and interpretation accuracy of GPR images. The interpreted results of the GPR profiles could minimize the transformation of the surface topography by the external environment at the most extent, restore the original geomorphology, relocate the position and trend of faults on the surface and constrain the width of deformation zones under the surface, the geological structure, and the fault dislocation, etc.
In a word, the TLS and GPR can quickly and efficiently provide the spatial data with multi-level and multi-visual for non-destructive inspection of the microgeomorphology and shallow structure for the active fault in a wide range, and for the detection of active fault in the complex geological environments, and it is helpful to improve the accuracy and understanding of the investigation and research on microtopography and shallow geometry of active faults. What's more, it also offers important data and method for more comprehensive identification and understanding of the distribution, deformation features, the behaviors of active faults and multi-period paleoseismicity. Therefore, to continuously explore and improve this method will significantly enhance and expand the practicability and application prospects of the method in the quantitative and elaborate studies of active faults.

The Ganzi-Yushu Fault, the boundary of Bayan Har active tectonic block, Qiantang active tectonic block and Sichuan-Yunan active tectonic block, is a sinistral strike-slip fault zone with intensive Holocene activity. Thus, the study of activity characteristics and rupture behavior of paleoearthquakes in the late Quaternary on the Ganzi-Yushu Fault is of fundamental importance for understanding the future seismic risk of this fault. The southeast section of Ganzi-Yushu Fault is made up of three segments of Ganzi, Manigange and Dengke, where a M_S7.3 earthquake in 1866, a M_S7.7 earthquake in 1854 and a M_S7.3 in 1896 occurred, respectively. There is still lack of in-depth study on the active features and the cascading rupture possibility of these segments, which hindered the evaluation of seismic risk for the southeast section of Ganzi-Yushu Fault. By the means of field geological survey and micro topography measurement, this paper studied the geological and geomorphological features of the southeast section of the Ganzi-Yushu Fault. The results show that the Ganzi and Dengke segments show obvious extension movement, in addition to the left-lateral movement. For Manigange segment, the characteristics of the movement are mainly left-lateral strike-slip and thrusting, and the maximum vertical displacement of the Holocene strata is greater than 2m. In part areas, the movement is normal faulting, which perhaps relates to the left stepping zone in the local stress environment. Therefore, combining the research results such as the fracture distribution in different motion characteristics, rupture behavior of paleoearthquakes, and the distribution of historical earthquake surface ruptures, we divide the southeast section of Ganzi Yushu Fault into Ganzi, Manigange and Dengke segment, and consider the Yakou and the Dengke Basin as the stepovers and the segments' boundaries. As the small scale of impermanent barriers including Dengke Basin and the ridge near Yakou, of which the width is about 1~2km, they may be broken through in great earthquake rupture in future. A trench was excavated in Zhuqing township to investigate the paleoearthquakes on the Manigange segment, radiocarbon dating was employed and 3 paleoseismic events were revealed in the Zhuqing trench, which are the seismic events occurring respectively at 3875~3455BC, after 775BC, and the latest one that ruptured the surface. Compared with the previous results of paleoseismology in the southeast section of Ganzi-Yushu Fault, it is found that the paleoseismic events in the Manigange segment are obviously different with that in Ganzi segment and Dengke segment. Due to the lack of sufficient data on the southeast section of the Ganzi-Yushu Fault, it still needs further discussion whether the cascade-rupturing between these segments exists.

Living with disaster is an objective reality that human must face especially in China. A large number of earthquake case studies, such as the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, 2010 Yushu earthquake, 2014 Ludian earthquake, have demonstrated that earthquake heavy damage and casualties stem from ground-faulting or rupturing along seismogenic active fault, near-fault high ground accelerations and building catastrophic structural failure. Accordingly, avoidance of active faults may be an important measure to effectively reduce earthquake hazard, which may encounter in the future, but how to avoid an active fault and how much a setback distance from the active fault is required to ensure that the ground faulting and rupturing has no any direct impact on buildings. This has been the focus of debate both for domestic and foreign scholars. This paper, first of all, introduces the definition of active fault. Then, quantitative analyses are done of the high localization of earthquake surface ruptures and relationship between the localized feature of the coseismic surface ruptures and building damages associated with the measured widths of the historical earthquake surface rupture zones, and an average sstatistic width is obtained to be 30m both for the earthquake surface rupture zones and heavy damage zones along the seismogenic fault. Besides, the widths of the surface rupture zones and spatial distribution of the building damages of the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake and 2008 Wenchuan earthquake have also been analyzed to reveal a hanging-wall effect:Width of surface rupture zone or building damage zone on the hanging-wall is 2 or 3 times wider than that on its foot-wall for a dip-slip fault. Based on these latest knowledge learnt above, issues on avoidance object, minimum setback distance, location requirement of active fault for avoidance, and anti-faulting design for buildings in the surface rupture zone are further discussed. Finally, we call for national and local legislatures to accelerate the legislation for active fault survey and avoidance to normalize fault hazard zoning for general land-use planning and building construction. This preventive measure is significantly important to improve our capability of earthquake disaster reduction.

The northern margin of West Qinling-Lajishan Fault is reckoned as an important geomorphologic and geological boundary. The elevation and local relief differences between the two sides of the boundary are distinct. The aim of this study is to understand the topographic differences and morphologic evolution mechanisms between the eastern and the western side of the northern margin of West Qinling-Lajishan Fault. The digital elevation model combined with geologic data has been used to: 1)Extract local relief and swath profiles to quantitatively reveal the topographic characters of the eastern and the western side of the boundary; 2)Make statistics on the elevation modes of the Cenozoic sandstones on both sides of the fault. The results show that the older strata lie at higher elevations in the eastern region of the boundary; And for the west of the boundary,older strata(Paleogene and Neogene)perch on lower elevations,however,the Quaternary strata lie in the lowest elevation. The differential topographic evolution history of the two sides of the boundary indicates the complexity of Cenozoic strata development. Moreover,the lithological combination and sedimentary facies of the Cenozoic strata in the eastern and western side of the northern margin of West Qinling-Lajishan boundary are summarized,and the denudation and aggradation history of the two sides of the boundary are compared in this study. A longer constant denudation history in the eastern side than the western side has been suggested. The results also indicate the differential tectonic evolution history between the two sides of the boundary. Outward growth of the Tibetan plateau appears in the eastern side. The deformation and uplifting decrease as propagating northeastward. For the western side,the deformation pattern is more complex with different evolution histories of faults under stronger compression. The limited river erosion has enhanced the up-growth of this part of the plateau.