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NSF PA/M 01-36 - September 28, 2001
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At WTC Site, New Federal Grants to Study Structural
Engineering and Hazard Response
The National Science Foundation
(NSF) awarded eight grants this week to
engineering and social science researchers
to conduct post-disaster assessments at
the terrorist attack sites. The university-based
teams will use the federal funds to collect
and analyze data on structural engineering
and damage assessment while debris is
being removed. They will also analyze
the emergency response and management.
The data will be used in engineering studies
to help improve the structural integrity
of the nation’s buildings, utilities and
other infrastructure during fires, earthquakes,
explosions and other hazards. They will
also be used to improve the nation’s response
to such threats.
Attachment
NSF QUICK RESPONSE RESEARCH AWARDS
- Abolhassan Astaneh-Asl, University of
California at Berkeley, and a colleague are collecting
data on the mechanical and structural properties
of the World Trade Center (WTC) towers, particulary
steel affected by heat, fire and impact.
- David Bloomquist, University of Florida,
leads a team at the WTC and Pentagon using a new
land-based laser system to produce high-resolution
3-D "maps" of the interior and exterior of damaged
buildings, particularly identifying displacements
and cracks (images available).
- J. David Frost, Georgia Institute of
Technology, and his team are collecting data on
structural damage at the WTC, using handheld technology
recently developed to quickly collect data after
earthquakes. The equipment includes a GPS, digital
camera and handheld computer.
- John Harrald, George Washington University,
and colleagues aim to study the coordination and
communications of emergency, medical, law enforcement
and military responders.
- George Lee, State University of New York
at Buffalo, and others from the NSF-supported
Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering
Research are assessing the damage to buildings
surrounding the WTC and the response of hospitals
and other emergency services (see http://mceer.buffalo.edu).
- Dennis Mileti, University of Colorado
at Boulder, is coordinating the travel of quick
response teams from the NSF supported Natural
Hazards Research Application and Information Center
(see http://www.Colorado.EDU/hazards).
- Frederick W. Mowrer, University of Maryland,
is studying the performance of fire protection
materials and systems during the fires and collapse
of the WTC towers.
- William A. Wallace, Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute, leads a team studying infrastructure
interdependence, such as how power loss affects
control systems, and ways to mitigate and respond
to failures.
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