🔬 Research Summary: Building Resilient Coastal Infrastructure

The core mission of the Windstorm Impact, Science, and Engineering (WISE) Research Group is to develop innovative, resilient coastal infrastructure capable of withstanding the devastating effects of windstorms and seismic events. We focus on translating advanced research into practical, market-driven solutions that protect lives and economic stability.

🌪️ The Challenge: Protecting Vulnerable Communities

Coastal regions, especially those like Louisiana, face immense threats from natural hazards, leading to catastrophic reconstruction costs and the potential for significant loss of life.

  • Multi-Hazard Risk: While the focus is heavily on mitigating catastrophic windstorm losses, our research scope extends to addressing seismic risks in vulnerable areas, ensuring comprehensive resilience against multiple threats.
  • The Need for Proactivity: Our work is driven by the necessity of moving beyond conventional, reactive coastal defenses toward proactive, adaptable strategies that are integrated into early planning stages.

💡 Our Approach: Innovation and Adaptability

Our team is dedicated to innovating structural designs and developing retrofits for existing infrastructure, ensuring enhanced survivability during critical hazard events.

Methodology Highlights

  1. Structural Innovation: Designing new structures and retrofitting existing ones to enhance their ability to withstand windstorm and seismic forces.
  2. Resource Stewardship: Integrating considerations for efficient resource management and sustainability into our engineered solutions.
  3. Collaborative Solutions: Engaging diverse perspectives and local stakeholders to ensure research findings are accessible and beneficial to all affected communities.

Key Infrastructure Applications

  • Residential & Offshore: Enhancing the durability of homes, large industrial buildings, and structural stability of offshore wind turbines.
  • Transportation Systems: Protecting bridges and critical transportation networks from high winds and other severe weather impacts.
  • Energy Facilities: Ensuring the continued operation and structural integrity of energy infrastructure, including petrochemical facilities.
  • Policy & Industry: Informing design codes and disaster preparedness strategies based on rigorous experimental and computational results.

📈 Societal and Educational Impact

Our research is fundamentally aimed at empowering communities and cultivating the next generation of engineering leaders.

  • Empowering Communities: Our ultimate objective is to provide innovative, market-driven solutions that mitigate storm impacts, preserve resources, and stimulate economic growth, ultimately elevating the quality of life for residents.
  • Workforce Development: We provide valuable educational opportunities for students and emerging researchers, emphasizing skills-based workforce development and broadening participation in STEM fields. By engaging students, we ensure a pipeline of talent equipped to address future engineering challenges. 

📚 Selected Publications