Natural Disasters

The science of efficiently organizing and interpreting massive amounts of information -- a relatively new field called information fusion that originated from military applications -- is for the first time being applied to manmade and natural disasters by researchers at the University at Buffalo.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, structural engineers are grappling with a question that a month ago would have been completely unthinkable: Can buildings be designed to withstand catastrophic blasts inflicted by terrorists? Ten days after the terrorist attacks on the twin towers, structural engineers from the University at Buffalo and the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research headquartered at UB traveled to ground zero as part of a project funded by the National Science Foundation.

The University at Buffalo's Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering has been awarded $16.5 million in federal and state funding to develop the world's most versatile earthquake engineering research facility designed to provide testing capabilities that will revolutionize the understanding of how even very large structures behave during earthquakes.

The American Society of Civil Engineers has chosen George C. Lee, Ph.D., Samuel P. Capen Professor of Engineering at the University at Buffalo and director of the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering (MCEER) at UB, to receive the prestigious Nathan M. Newmark Medal for 2000.

Mention New York State's Finger Lakes region or its Southern Tier, and most people don't automatically think of earthquake country. But these upstate areas may be about to gain a reputation for greater seismic potential, according to recent research by a team of University at Buffalo geologists.

A project led by a University at Buffalo geologist involving the topographic mapper being flown by the space shuttle Endeavour could help to develop a new and far more accurate way to map features of shorelines and aid scientists in determining past and future volcanic and seismic activity in an area.

It won't be apparent to passengers landing on today's (Thursday, Jan. 6) inaugural flight at Istanbul's brand new international airport, but the roof of the massive terminal building features a unique approach to seismically modernizing the structure following last summer's devastating quake.

Just because a volcano isn't erupting doesn't mean it poses no danger. In papers being presented today (Tuesday, Dec. 14) at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, University at Buffalo volcanologists show how, in some cases, soft spots on volcanoes that simply collapse from the side may trigger mudflows that potentially can be more devastating than eruptions.

Mention the nation's most damaging natural disasters and most people probably think of earthquakes and floods. Wind probably isn't even on the list. But it should be, according to Michael Gaus, Ph.D., University at Buffalo professor of civil, structural and environmental engineering and president of the American Association of Wind Engineering, since the most vulnerable structures are low-rise buildings, such as residences.

The University at Buffalo and IBM Corp., the world's largest computer manufacturer, have signed a memorandum of understanding in which the two parties will collaborate on research and development of new technologies, education, training and placement of UB students, and delivery of educational services and business systems.