Collaborative Research: Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Association: Turning Disaster Into Knowledge

记录并从“极端事件”的观察中吸取教训，对于推动多危害工程的最先进水平是非常宝贵的。记录的观察结果可作为我们理解这些事件的影响、其潜在的起因机制以及验证设计程序的基准。从极端事件中获取关键教训是推进岩土工程研究的一项重要任务，因为该专业的许多设计程序都是基于经验方法，随着重要案例的出现，需要重新评估这些方法。NSF赞助的岩土极端事件侦察协会(GEER)组织和支持岩土研究人员的侦察工作，并开发捕捉易腐烂数据的技术，以从这些事件中学习。GERE的主要目标包括记录重要极端事件的岩土影响以促进研究，采用创新技术进行事件后侦察，以及提高个人根据现场观察进行研究的能力。极端事件产生的许多数据很容易腐烂，因此必须在事件发生后不久收集。挑战是开发最有效的方法来记录在没有太多警告的情况下进行的全面实验的结果。自2006年以来，Geer已经成功地记录了19次极端事件的岩土影响，包括2008年的飓风Gustav、2011年的密西西比河下游洪水以及最近在海地、智利、新西兰和日本发生的地震。GERR的许多侦察工作都为研究项目提供了资金，表明GERE侦察工作正在确定可能导致科学和工程进步的重要研究问题。在最近的侦察工作中采用的许多创新技术，如利用GoogleEarthTM、全球定位系统设备、遥感和激光雷达，都是由全球地球观测系统成员发起的。在侦察中使用新技术和通信方法方面，GERE处于有利地位，将取得类似的进一步进展。该奖项为GERR继续开展活动提供资金，以使其能够对自然和人为灾害进行快速、反应迅速的岩土调查。预计每年将对中等规模的活动进行两到四次调查。如果发生大型事件，Geer将建议为确定的Geer团队提供快速资金，以便有效地应对这一大型事件。不幸的是，极端事件将会发生。如果工程专业没有捕捉到易腐烂的数据，使其能够了解哪些设计程序能够产生良好的抗震性能，哪些程序仍需改进，那将是更加不幸的。GEER及其自愿的地学专业参与者将帮助将灾难转化为知识。

Documenting and learning from observations from "extreme events" are invaluable to advancing the state-of-art in multi-hazards engineering. Recorded observations serve as benchmarks to our understanding of the effects of these events, their underlying causative mechanisms, and for validation of design procedures. Capturing the key lessons learned from extreme events constitutes an important task for advancing research in geotechnical engineering, because many of the profession's design procedures are based on empirical methods that require re-evaluation as important case histories emerge. The NSF-sponsored Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Association organizes and supports reconnaissance efforts by geotechnical researchers and develops techniques to capture perishable data to learn from these events. The primary objectives of GEER include documenting geotechnical effects of important extreme events to advance research, employing innovative technologies for post-event reconnaissance, and advancing the capabilities of individuals performing research based on field observations. Much of the data generated by extreme events is perishable and therefore must be collected soon after the event. The challenge is to develop the most effective means for documenting the results of a full-scale experiment that has occurred without much warning, if any. Since 2006, GEER has successfully documented the geotechnical effects of 19 extreme events, including Hurricane Gustav in 2008, the 2011 Lower Mississippi River Floods, and the recent earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, New Zealand, and Japan. Many GEER reconnaissance efforts have led to funded research projects, demonstrating that GEER reconnaissance efforts are identifying important research issues that can lead to advancements in science and engineering. Many of the innovative techniques employed in recent reconnaissance efforts, such as the utilization of GoogleEarthTM, GPS devices, remote sensing, and LIDAR, were initiated by GEER members. GEER is well positioned to make similar further advancements with respect to the use of new technology and communication approaches in reconnaissance.This award provides funds for continuation of GEER activities to enable quick, responsive geotechnical investigations of natural and human-made disasters. It is expected that two to four investigations of moderate-sized events would be conducted each year. If a large event occurs, GEER would recommend funding of a RAPID to an identified GEER team to respond effectively to this larger event. Unfortunately, extreme events will happen. It would be even more unfortunate if the engineering profession did not capture the perishable data that enables it to understand which design procedures result in good seismic performance and which procedures still need improvement. GEER with its willing geo-professional participants will help turn disasters into knowledge.