MCEER forms partnerships

The Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER) has formed a Strategic Partnerships Network to unite business, industry and government in advancing the application of technology.

The program will encourage the formation of alliances among manufacturers, engineers, information-technology specialists, facility owners and others involved in, and affected by, earthquake-mitigation technology.

The goal is to encourage "competitors (to) become friendly cooperators to achieve mutual business goals ... to protect lives, property and our nation's economy from natural disasters," said George C. Lee, MCEER director.

"Our overall goal is to create value through cooperation-valuable opportunities for participants to advance their organizations' missions, and valuable solutions to safeguard Americans and America's economy from earthquake disasters."

The partnership network will offer participants specialty interest groups centered around various technologies being studied at MCEER, including:

- Site remediation, to stabilize soils and foundations

- Structural control, to protect buildings and bridges from damaging vibrations

- Advanced-systems analysis and high-performance materials, to improve performance of lifelines

- Condition assessment, to better estimate real and potential earthquake losses

- Decision-support systems, to enhance emergency response and post-earthquake recovery.

"MCEER's research program is predicated on the promise that the technologies can dramatically advance the way our nation mitigates losses from earthquake disasters," Lee said. "Technology manufacturers, marketers, consultants and users all share a stake and can all benefit from the opportunity to work collectively to advance common goals and technology application."

For more information, contact Donald Goralski at MCEER by phone at 645-3391 or by email at goralski@acsu.buffalo.edu.