The NHERI Science Plan identifies research gaps that need to be filled in order to render our infrastructure and communities more resilient. The Science Plan’s key research question #3 asks:

What are the key physical responses, vulnerabilities, and factors influencing post-event recovery of civil infrastructure and communities?

By characterizing response and performance of buildings and other structures using “vulnerability” as a criteria, it’s possible to identify threats to resilience and prioritize research thrusts. For example, research is necessary to identify vulnerability indicators and metrics; and to identify interrelationships of systems components — as well as interrelationships between civil infrastructure and community.

In addition, the research is needed to enhance performance-based design procedures for tsunami, storm surge and waves, and wind effects parallel to those available for earthquakes.

Read details about research question #3 in the NHERI Science Plan, available from the NHERI NCO Community Data repository.

Public bath house near the shoreline of Arahama Beach, Sendai, showing 4m of scour from tsunami (Photo: Lesley Ewing courtesy of American Society of Civil Engineers).