4th US-China-Japan Symposium on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering

本提案的目的是支持几位美国与会者前往中国青岛参加2002年10月28日至31日举行的第四届美日中生命线地震工程研讨会。本次会议将介绍12篇来自美国的论文。其中，三个参与者由太平洋地震工程中心（PEER）支持，三个由中美洲地震中心（MAE）支持，三个由地震工程研究多学科中心（MCEER）支持。本项目支助其余三名与会者的旅费以及会议材料的部分出版费用。会议的结果是制定了生命线地震工程研究的联合议程。研究议程由三国代表商定。指出了生命线地震工程面临的挑战，并提出了具体的解决方法。在NEES站点使用创新技术和新的实验室/仪器将是研讨会讨论的研究议程的一个特别的新重点。研讨会的广泛影响是(1)确定与美国相关的具体研究需求；(2)美国、中国和日本特别适合和需要合作的研究领域；(3)美国特定机构与中国和日本各自组织开展联合研究项目的机制。专题讨论会的调查结果将列入专题讨论会论文集，该论文集将予以公开，并将用于以后的活动。美国代表团中有四名女性，其中一名是助理教授，一名是年轻的研究科学家。研讨会的结果将有助于制定生命线地震工程研究的具体计划，重点是开发先进技术，使该领域达到下一个发展水平。生命线，包括交通、水、污水、电力和通信系统，是任何文明国家生存的关键，特别是在重大灾害之后。在过去的十年里，这个地震工程领域很少受到关注。2001年9月11日的事件表明，就像所有其他重大地震事件和自然灾害一样，一个社区从重大灾难中恢复的能力在很大程度上取决于该地区基础设施的可用性和快速恢复。因此，进行这项研究是很重要的。研究成果将继续对民用基础设施的设计和性能产生重大影响。

The objective of this proposal is to support the travel of several of the US participants to Qingdao, China, to participate in the 4th US-Japan-China Symposium on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering on October 28-31, 2002. Twelve papers are presented from US participants who have submitted papers to the symposium. Of those, three participants are supported by the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Center (PEER), three are supported by the Mid-America Earthquake Center (MAE) and three are supported by the Multidisciplinary Center on Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER). This project supports the travel funds for the remaining three participants plus partial publications costs for the conference material.A joint agenda for research in lifeline earthquake engineering is developed as a result of the symposium. The research agenda is agreed upon by the representatives from the three participating countries. The challenges in lifeline earthquake engineering are identified and specific approaches are proposed. Use of innovative technologies and the new laboratory/instrumentation at the NEES sites will be a particular new focus for the research agenda to be discussed at the symposium. The broad impact of the symposium are (1) the identification of specific research needs that are relevant to the US; (2) research areas where collaboration between the US, China and Japan are particularly suitable and desirable; and (3) mechanisms for developing joint research programs between specific institutions in the US and respective organizations in China and Japan. Findings from the symposium are included in the symposium proceedings volume, which will be made public and will be used in subsequent activities.Four women are included in the US delegation one of which is a starting assistant professor and one is a young research scientist. Results of the symposium will enable the development of a concrete plan for lifeline earthquake engineering research with a specific focus on the development of advanced technologies that will take the field to the next level of advancement.Lifelines, which include transportation, water, sewage, power, and communicationssystems are key to for any civilized nation's survival, particularly after major disasters.This area of earthquake engineering has received little attention in the past decade.Events of the September 11, 2001, have demonstrated, as all other prior major earthquakeevents and natural disasters, that the ability of a community to recover from a majordisaster depends extensively on the availability and rapid recovery of the infrastructure ofthe region. Thus, it is important that this research be pursued. Research results will continue to make significant changes in the design and performance of civil infrastructures.