Collaborative Research: GEER Post Disaster Reconnaissance

记录“极端事件”后的观察结果并从中吸取经验教训，对于推进多危害基础设施工程的最新水平至关重要。记录的观察结果可作为这些事件的影响、其潜在的起因机制以及设计程序验证的基准。获取从极端事件中吸取的重要经验教训是推进岩土工程研究的一项重要任务，因为许多设计过程都是基于经验方法，随着新的重要案例的出现，需要不断地重新评估。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。Geer勘察活动的范围包括地震、山体滑坡和泥石流，以及相关影响，如液化和断层破裂、建筑和桥梁基础故障，以及大坝、堤坝和围护结构的坍塌。GERE的主要目标包括：记录重要极端事件的岩土影响，以确定需要研究的重要专题；利用创新技术进行事后侦察；以及提高根据实地观察进行研究的个人的能力。极端事件期间产生的大部分数据都是易腐烂的，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“全面实验”的结果，这些实验经常在有限的预先警告下发生，如果有的话。自2015年以来，Geer已成功记录了18起极端事件的岩土影响，包括飓风伊尔玛和哈维，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、埃克托多、尼泊尔和美国等地的地震。GERE的许多努力导致了后续的资助项目，反映出GERR的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。在过去十年左右的时间里，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Geer成员发起的。在使用新技术和数据通信以及分享实地侦察方法方面，全球环境监测中心处于有利地位，将继续取得类似的进展。该合同为继续开展GERE活动提供资金，以便能够在自然灾害和人为灾害后进行快速、反应迅速的岩土调查。预计每年将进行两到四次中等规模活动后的调查。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GERE与NHERI倡议的其他现有和未来要素之间的互动。特别是，协调GERE和华盛顿大学NSF快速设施之间的互动已被确定为优先事项。为确保完成这一重要互动，PI将直接负责协调这些关键活动，包括制定和提供培训工作。如果发生更大的事件，Geer将建议由指定的Geer团队负责人向NSF提交一份快速提案，以有效地应对事件。不幸的是，极端事件将继续发生。更不幸的是，如果工程专业不收集易腐烂的数据，使其能够了解哪些设计程序能够产生良好的工程性能，哪些程序仍需改进。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，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，被认为是值得支持的。

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.