Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
management consortium, integrating: (1) a system of 15 shared experimental facilities
(NEESResearchSites),(2)aCyberinfrastructureCenter(NEESit)thatoperatesandsup-
portstheextensiveITinfrastructureusedbyNEES,and(3)asystemofcentralizedreposi-
toriesforstoringshareddocuments,experimentaldata,simulationprogrammes,software
tools, etc.
NEES is an outstanding initiative fostering collaboration in earthquake engineering
research and is really pioneering in taking full advantage of the information and com-
munication technologies as well as the most recent innovations and concepts in the IT
sector. As stated in the NEESinc website, “NEES will revolutionize earthquake engi-
neering research and education. NEES research will enable engineers to develop better
and more cost-effective ways of mitigating earthquake damage through the innovative
use of improved designs, materials, construction techniques, and monitoring tools. This
research can also help prevent infrastructure damage from other natural disasters and
from terrorism. Preparing for and protecting against these threats makes American com-
munities more resilient and enhances their ability to meet the challenges posed by future
disasters.”
6.4. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION CHALLENGES
AND OPPORTUNITIES
Concerningco-operationforexperimentalfacilities,thereareseveralrequirementsbutthe
most important seems to be the issue of “standardization” for data models and formats
and communication protocols between countries and researchers, which will facilitate
dataexchangeandinteroperability.Theinternationalcommunityischallengedtodevelop
an international shared repository for earthquake engineering data, which could be used
for research and education. A workshop on data standardization was organized during
the2004WorldConferenceonEarthquakeEngineeringheldinCanada.Recently,NEES
organized a dedicated worldforum, which isaddressed in thenext section.
The NEES World Forum was organized by the NSF and hosted by NEES in San Fran-
cisco, March 2006 (Spencer et al., 2006). As stated by the organizers, the purpose of the
WorldForumistoengagearepresentativeinternationalgroupofresearchersandresearch
administratorstodiscussandpromoteopportunitiesforcollaborationwiththeNEESand
similarprogrammesworldwide,aswellasthelinkagesnecessarytofacilitatethiscollab-
oration. A brief overview of discussions during this world forum is included below.
6.4.1. Simulation
Simulation includes both computational and physical experimentation. Distributed and
hybrid testing both fall within this class of techniques. Larger and faster simulation was
identified as the immediate need within this cyberenvironment. To adequately study cer-
tain classes of systems, real-time simulation capabilities are required and should be pur-
sued. The most significant strides will be made within the community by leveraging
resources and sharing successes through the use of an open source, open architecture
approach for the benefit of researchers worldwide.
