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

记录和学习从“极端事件”的观察是非常宝贵的，以推进国家的最先进的多灾害工程。 记录的观察结果作为基准，我们了解这些事件的影响，其潜在的成因机制，并验证设计程序。 捕捉从极端事件中吸取的关键教训是推进岩土工程研究的重要任务，因为许多专业的设计程序是基于经验方法，需要重新评估重要的案例历史出现。 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的主要目标包括记录重要极端事件的岩土工程影响，以推进研究，采用创新技术进行事后侦察，并提高个人根据实地观察进行研究的能力。 极端事件产生的许多数据都是易损坏的，因此必须在事件发生后立即收集。 目前的挑战是开发最有效的手段来记录在没有太多警告（如果有的话）的情况下进行的全面实验的结果。 自2006年以来，GEER已成功记录了19次极端事件的岩土工程影响，包括2008年的古斯塔夫飓风、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。 许多GEER侦察工作已经导致资助的研究项目，表明GEER侦察工作正在确定重要的研究问题，可以导致科学和工程的进步。 在最近的侦察工作中采用的许多创新技术，如GoogleEarthTM、全球定位系统设备、遥感和激光雷达的使用，都是由GEER成员发起的。 GEER在勘察中使用新技术和通信方法方面处于有利地位，可以取得类似的进一步进步。该奖项为GEER继续开展活动提供资金，以实现对自然和人为灾害的快速、快速岩土工程调查。 预计每年将对中等规模的事件进行两至四次调查。 如果发生大型事件，GEER将建议向已确定的GEER团队提供RAPID资金，以有效应对这一大型事件。不幸的是，极端事件会发生。 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抗震性能，哪些程序仍需改进，那将是更不幸的。 GEER及其自愿的地理专业参与者将帮助将灾害转化为知识。

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.