FIU and UW Organize Joint Workshop for Prospective Users
Published on June 5, 2018
Jack Dafni of the RAPID EF demonstrates use of scanner to detect damages to hazard impacted houses.
Together, Florida International University and the University of Washington hosted an NSF NHERI Users Workshop at the FIU Wall of Wind Experimental Facility. The May 17 and 18 event provided prospective NHERI users with useful information about the resources and services available at the NHERI WOW and RAPID EFs, and provided practical tips for engaging the EFs to obtain NSF funding for natural hazards mitigation research.
The joint workshop emphasized the concept of multi-EF proposals that take advantage of the unique experimental wind hazard research infrastructure at the WOW and the state-of-the-art remote sensing instrumentation at the RAPID. A live demonstration of joint-facility use was highlighted at the workshop. Group and individual discussions between participants and NHERI PIs optimized the learning experience for the 13 participants, many of whom left with a proposal in development.
RAPID and WOW PIs Joe Wartman and Arindam Chowdhury were pleased with the collaborative nature of this successful workshop. Logistics planning, participant recruitment, joint facility demonstration and materials development, funding of participant support, and workshop execution required a genuine team effort over several months. The entire FIU WOW EF staff were generous with their time and made the RAPID PIs feel welcome. The RAPID PIs also were gratified by the opportunity to interact with wind hazard research-oriented participants.
The experience has initiated plans for the RAPID to engage in future joint NHERI workshops. PIs from both EFs are confident that the participants experienced an organized and informative workshop that underscored and integrated the unique aspects of both facilities.
