Our goal: is to find solutions that will help prevent disasters and reduce the impact of those we cannot prevent.

We believe these solutions will come only through an integrated people/technology perspective.

Our experts work with community and business leaders in workshops, roundtables, and analysis. This blend of regionalized input and concerns with researchers from social sciences, business, science, and engineering will spark new questions. Result: innovation that works.

A summary of major research thrust areas is provided below:

• Sensors (i.e., development of wireless sensors for critical infrastructure monitoring and classified uses, and development of sensors for cellular telephones for early disaster warning and real-time risk assessment; Partners: BIT, VTSO, CELES; Funding Agencies: NSF, DOD, DHS, DARPA)
• Critical infrastructure protection (i.e., development of engineering and building technologies for physical protection of critical infrastructure from extreme loads; Partners: CELES; Funding Agencies: NSF, DOD, DHS, FHWA, USACE)
• Performance-based engineering (i.e., development of technologies, engineering design and analysis protocols, and advanced decision making tools for cost-optimized and performance-based design of infrastructure subjected to natural and human-induced hazards; Partners: CELES, VTSO; Funding Agencies: USGS, NSF, SCDOT, DDOT, FHWA, USACE)
• Risk assessment and management (i.e., advanced computer-based algorithms for prediction of natural and human-induced hazards and risk assessment and management; Partners: BIT, CELES, VTSO; Funding Agencies: NSF, USGS, FHWA)
• High performance computing (i.e., parallel computer analysis of natural and human-induced hazard scenarios and asymmetric prediction of threats; Partners: VTSO, CELES; Funding Agencies: NSF)
• Communication (i.e., use of cognitive radio for disaster response and recovery; Partners: BIT; Funding Agencies: NSF)
• Cyber security (i.e., creation of secure digital databases; Partners: BIT, ALTESS, CNA, CLI; Funding Agencies: DOD)
• Information technology (i.e., development of SAHANHA type on-line community for disaster response and recovery; Partners: BIT, CNA, CLI; Funding Agencies: DHS, NSF)
• Public policy and implementation (i.e., studying interfaces between technical, social, and policy issue that affect vulnerability and risk; Partners: IPG; Funding Agencies: NSF, DHS, and private sponsors)