Mid-America Earthquake Center

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9701785 Abrams The primary objective of the Mid-America Earthquake (MAE) Center is to reduce potential earthquake losses in the central and eastern United States by concentrating on problems associated with low-frequency seismic events and the consequences these have for the people, economy, and civil infrastructure. Research and implementation projects are in two focus areas: (a) identification and evaluation of possible seismic hazards; and (b) development of loss reduction strategies for the built environment. Research projects address seismic source modeling, ground motions (i.e., synthesis, instrumentation, catalogs), site characterization and response, ground failures, soil-structure interaction, assessment and strengthening of foundations and structures, risk and reliability, societal response, and economic impact. The initial focus is on essential facilities (i.e., buildings that support functions related to post-earthquake emergency response and disaster management) and transportation networks (i.e., highways, railroad systems, major waterways and shipping facilities, and airports). Research teams will use recent advances in networking technology to interact. The MAE Center's World Wide Web communications link the core institutions, as well as earthquake research centers around the world, and include public education features. Center goals include educating the next generation of seismologists and earthquake engineers, attracting under-represented minorities and women to these technical disciplines, and implementing research results in practice. The MAE Center will be one of three EERC's networked with an overarching governing board to provide synergism in creating new knowledge, educating the next generation of earthquake engineers and scientists, and providing outreach to industry, government, pre-college schools and potential user groups.