South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium
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Omnibus FY04-06 Research Projects
Omnibus FY00-02 Research Projects

Omnibus FY04-06 Research Projects

Title: K-12 Education Program on Wind Hazards Assessment and Mitigation Measures

Investigator(s): Dr. Timothy Reinhold, Clemson University
Tim.Reinhold@ces.clemson.edu

Description: Reinhold proposes to build on his previous work in coastal hazards by engaging in a coastal hazards education initiative that is premised on the observation that parents tend to respond well when their children bring home information from school about safety hazards. Project objectives are to: (1) develop education modules that cover risks associated with severe windstorms (e.g., hurricanes), home construction weakness, potential mitigation measures and the benefits of using improved construction methods in new housing; (2) empower students to conduct self home evaluations, by developing inspection and assessment tools for students to use to evaluate their home, identify areas where the home is vulnerable to windstorm damage, and give their home an overall rating; (3) train teachers; and (4) assess the effectiveness of the education modules. A recent analysis of windstorm damage for the U.S. East and Gulf coasts suggests that the average annual loss is about $5 billion. Families in hurricane prone coastal areas need reliable, balanced information on these risks. The target audiences are science teachers and elementary, middle and high school students. The investigator will utilize the results of three previously funded Sea Grant projects as the foundation for this project. This project will be initiated with Sea Grant development funds in Year 1 (March 1, 2004 to February 28, 2005). The PI will be asked to resubmit a revised full proposal for Year 2(with a March 1, 2005 start date). Thus, funding for the Year 2 start-up has been included in the Consortium’s Program Development project (P/M-2).

Title: Determination of Hurricane Wind Loads and Wind Effects

Investigator(s): Dr. Timothy Reinhold, Clemson University
Tim.Reinhold@ces.clemson.edu

Description: This study will characterize the wind structure in hurricanes and the associated wind loading of buildings. The investigator will also evaluate performance of retrofit technologies in reducing hurricane wind damage and losses. This research could improve the ability of government and industry to establish cost-effective mitigation measures.

Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Timothy Reinhold, Clemson University

Description: This project utilizes Clemson University's testing facilities to evaluate proposed solutions for providing significant improvements in buildings' resistance to wind loads and wind effects associated with severe windstorms, such as hurricanes. The protection of buildings is integral to the coastal zone's sustainable development. With research results, the investigator will create a tool for property owners' use in assessing their property's vulnerability to high winds.

Title: Characterization of Surface Level Winds in Hurricanes

Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Peter Sparks and Dr. Timothy Reinhold, Clemson University

Description: The researchers will employ portable towers, instrumented with anemometers, to obtain high-resolution wind speed data in hurricanes. Collected data will include along-wind, across-wind, and vertical velocity components of severe winds at 5- and 10-meter heights in a variety of terrain conditions and varied distances from the coast. The United State's vulnerability to hurricane wind damage has been made apparent in recent years. As a step toward reducing damage, the researchers seek to understand the wind conditions that cause the damage. The investigators will provide wind speeds to NOAA/AOML/HRD for incorporation in their composite wind field model and for correlation with drop sonde and Doppler radar data.