Collaborative Research: GEER Post Disaster Reconnaissance

在“极端事件”之后记录和学习观测结果是推进多灾害基础设施工程最新技术的核心。 记录的观测结果可作为这些事件的影响、其潜在的成因机制以及验证设计程序的基准。 捕捉从极端事件中吸取的关键经验教训是推进岩土工程研究的一项重要任务，因为许多设计程序都是基于经验方法的，随着重要的新案例的出现，需要不断重新评估。 美国国家科学基金会赞助的岩土极端事件勘测（GEER）协会组织和支持岩土研究人员的勘测工作，并开发技术来捕获易腐烂的数据，以从这些事件中学习。 GEER勘察活动的范围包括地震、滑坡和泥石流，以及相关影响，如液化、断层破裂、建筑物和桥梁基础破坏，以及大坝、堤坝和挡土结构倒塌。 GEER的主要目标包括：记录重要极端事件的岩土工程影响，以确定需要研究的重要主题;采用创新技术进行事后勘测;并提高个人根据实地观察进行研究的能力。 在极端事件期间产生的许多数据是易损坏的，因此必须在事件发生后不久收集。 目前的挑战是制定最有效的办法，记录“全面试验”的结果，这些试验往往在事先警告有限的情况下进行。 自2015年以来，GEER已成功记录了18次极端事件的岩土工程影响，包括飓风厄玛和哈维，南卡罗来纳州，伊利诺伊州和德克萨斯州的洪水，以及墨西哥，新西兰，厄瓜多尔，尼泊尔和美国的地震等。GEER的许多努力已经带来了后续资助项目，这反映出GEER的侦察工作正在确定可以促进科学和工程进步的重要研究问题。 在过去十年左右的侦察工作中采用的许多创新技术，如GoogleEarthTM、GPS设备、遥感和激光雷达的使用，都是由GEER成员发起的。 GEER在使用新技术和数据通信以及共享方法进行实地侦察方面处于有利地位，可以继续取得类似的进步。该奖项为GEER继续开展活动提供资金，以便在自然灾害和人为灾害发生后进行快速，快速的岩土工程调查。预计每年将在中等规模的事件后进行两至四次调查。 这项工作的一个重要方面是利用最近建立的NSF NHERI倡议的好处，并加强GEER与NHERI倡议的其他现有和未来要素之间的互动。 特别是，已将重点放在协调GEER与华盛顿大学NSF RAPID设施之间的互动上，作为优先事项。 为了确保完成这一重要的互动，PI将直接负责协调这些关键活动，包括培训工作的开发和交付。 如果发生较大的事件，GEER将建议由指定的GEER团队领导向NSF提交快速提案，以有效应对事件。 不幸的是，极端事件将继续发生。 如果工程专业人员不掌握易失效的数据，使其能够了解哪些设计程序导致良好的工程性能，哪些程序仍需改进，那将是更不幸的。 GEER及其参与的专业地理参与者将继续帮助“将灾害转化为知识”。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Documenting and learning from observations after "extreme events" is central to advancing the state-of-art in multi-hazards infrastructure engineering. Recorded observations serve as benchmarks of the effects of these events, their underlying causative mechanisms, and for validation of design procedures. Capturing key lessons learned from extreme events constitutes an important task for advancing research in geotechnical engineering since many design procedures are based on empirical methods that require continuous re-evaluation as important new case histories emerge. The NSF-sponsored Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Association organizes and supports the reconnaissance efforts of geotechnical researchers and develops techniques to capture perishable data to learn from these events. The scope of GEER reconnaissance activities includes earthquakes, landslides, and debris flows, and associated impacts such as liquefaction, and fault rupture, building and bridge foundation failures, as well as dam, levee and retaining structure collapses. The primary objectives of GEER include: documenting geotechnical effects of important extreme events to identify important topics in need of 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 during extreme events is perishable and therefore must be collected soon after the event. The challenge is to develop the most effective approaches for documenting the results of "full-scale experiments" that often occur with limited advance warning, if any. Since 2015, GEER has successfully documented the geotechnical effects of 18 extreme events, including hurricanes Irma and Harvey, floods in South Carolina, Illinois, and Texas, and earthquakes in Mexico, New Zealand, Equador, Nepal and USA, amongst others. Many GEER efforts have led to follow-on funded projects, reflecting 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 reconnaissance efforts over the past decade or so, such as the utilization of GoogleEarthTM, GPS devices, remote sensing, and LIDAR, were initiated by GEER members. GEER is well positioned to continue making similar advancements with respect to the use of new technology and data communication and sharing approaches for field reconnaissance. This award provides funds for continuation of GEER activities to enable rapid, responsive geotechnical investigations after natural and human-induced disasters. It is expected that two to four investigations after moderate-sized events will be conducted each year. An important aspect of the work is to leverage the benefits of the recently established NSF NHERI initiative and to enhance the interactions between GEER and the other existing and future elements of the NHERI initiative. In particular, a strong focus to coordinate interactions between GEER and the NSF RAPID facility at the University of Washington has been identified as a priority. To ensure that this important interaction is accomplished, the PI will assume direct responsibility for coordinating these critical activities including development and delivery of training efforts. If a larger event occurs, GEER will recommend submission of a RAPID proposal to NSF by an identified GEER team leader to respond effectively to the event. Unfortunately, extreme events will continue to 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 engineering performance and which procedures still need improvement. GEER with its engaged and expert geo-professional participants will continue to help "turn disasters into knowledge".This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.