News of the Institute
Jonathan P. Stewart to be Awarded the 2018 Bruce A. Bolt Medal
Jonathan P. StewartJonathan P. Stewart (M. EERI, 1994), Professor and Chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at University of California, Los Angeles, was chosen as the 2018 recipient of the Bruce A. Bolt Medal, which is awarded jointly by the Seismological Society of America (SSA), the Consortium of Organizations for Strong-Motion Observation Systems (COSMOS), and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI).
The Bolt Medal is awarded to recognize individuals worldwide whose accomplishments involve the promotion and use of strong-motion earthquake data and whose leadership in the transfer of scientific and engineering knowledge into practice or policy has led to improved seismic safety.
Dr. Stewart has made a number of significant contributions to earthquake engineering. His work on soil-structure interaction has resulted in empirically validated models for kinematic and inertial interaction effects on foundations and walls. His work on soil amplification has clarified the roles of linear and nonlinear response, the factors that affect them, and uncertainty in site response estimates; his nonlinear amplification models have been incorporated into contemporary ground motion prediction equations and form the basis for how site effects are handled in current practice. He recognized seismic compression of fills and unsaturated soils as an important problem and developed procedures for estimating earthquake-induced settlement of such materials. He has been an active participant in numerous post-earthquake field reconnaissance investigations, and has followed up on those investigations with research aimed at understanding observed performance of soil profiles, embankments and levees, and soil-structure systems in the U.S., Italy, Greece, Turkey, Taiwan, and Japan. He conceived of and is currently leading the development of the Next Generation Liquefaction (NGL) project, a major effort that will finally harmonize the data and model development process by which soil liquefaction hazard evaluation procedures are developed; he has shown remarkable initiative and leadership abilities in this process, which will have a major impact on the international practice of geotechnical earthquake engineering.
Jon Stewart has put a great deal of effort into transferring the results of his research and the research of others into engineering practice. In addition to publishing clear and practical papers in the technical literature, he has been active in study groups and code committees. He has taken the lead in writing major reports on ground motion evaluation for performance-based design, analysis and mitigation of landslide hazards, performance of nonlinear site response analysis, performance- based design of tall buildings, soil-structure interaction for buildings, and performance of hazard- consistent, one-dimensional ground response analysis. These reports are noteworthy for their combination of academic rigor and practical utility. He has served on and led code committees developing new site coefficients, nonlinear analysis procedures, and seismic hazard maps for the United States.
Dr. Stewart is the current editor of Earthquake Spectra and former Chief Editor for the ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. Previously, he was selected by the Seismological Society of America (SSA) and EERI to deliver the 2016 William B. Joyner Lecture in recognition of his work on the characterization of earthquake ground motions for engineering applications, with special emphasis on site response effects. Past recognition of Dr. Stewart’s work has included the Huber Prize and Casagrande Awards from ASCE, a Fulbright Scholarship from the US State Department, an NSF CAREER award, and the Distinguished Teaching Award from the UCLA Academic Senate.
The Bolt Medal will be presented to Jon Stewart at the Eleventh U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering (11NCEE) to be held in Los Angeles, June 25-29, 2018.
City of Berkeley Concrete Building Inventory Project Report
The final report for the EERI/City of Berkeley Concrete Building Inventory Validation Project is now available.
As part of this project, thirty-four volunteers participated in a sidewalk survey that covered over 250 buildings in the City of Berkeley, California, on Saturday, November 18, 2017. Based on the data from the survey, the project advisory committee identified several factors for the City of Berkeley to consider when allocating mitigation funding. The report describes the survey methodology and assessment procedure, summarizes the survey data, and includes the committee’s recommendations to the City for allocating mitigation funding.
The project report can be downloaded as a PDF. For more information visit the Concrete Coalition website.
42 Teams Selected to Participate in the 2018 SDC at the 11NCEE
Congratulations to the 42 teams who have been invited to attend the 2018 Undergraduate Seismic Design Competition (SDC)! View the list of the participating universities.
The SDC will take place during the 11th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering (11NCEE) that will take place from June 25-28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. This will be the 15th annual competition and it will make history by hosting a record number of 42 teams from EERI student chapters representing universities from around the world.
EERI extends its ongoing thanks to the outstanding team of graduate students working on EERI's Student Leadership Council who host and organize this incredible event.
Reminder: Register Now for the 11NCEE. Early-bird registration rates end on February 28, 2018!
Back to top >News of the Profession
Links to Recent News and Views
Eight (8) recent articles, stories, opinions, or reports from around the web.
China Invests Heavily in Earthquake Disaster Mitigation (Xinjuanet) China will invest more than 200 million yuan (31.3 million U.S. dollars) in research on seismological technology over the next five years to help with earthquake disaster mitigation. Read more
Were Mexico’s September Quakes Chance or a Chain Reaction? (Earth & Space Science News) Last year, two major earthquakes—one 12 days after the first—shook Mexico. New analysis blames this very unlikely event on chance. Read more
Canada Could Become a Leader in Building for Earthquakes (Journal of Commerce) John Sherstobitoff (M.EERI,1991), founding director of the British Columbia regional chapter of EERI, discusses performance-based design (PBD) to achieve post-earthquake functionality. Read more
Disaster Resilience Saves Six Times as Much as It Costs (CityLab) A new (NIBS) report finds that federal disaster-mitigation grants produce an average of $6 in societal savings for every dollar spent. Read more
The Day An Earthquake In America Caused A Tsunami In Japan (Forbes) January 26, 1700, a tsunami hit the coasts of Japan without warnings. Inscriptions on 600 years old stone markers warn "If an earthquake happens, beware of tsunamis." Read more
CGS Seismic Hazard Program Maps: Release of Official Maps of New and Revised Earthquake Fault and Seismic Hazard Zones (news release) California Geological Survey (CGS) released four new and revised Official Maps of Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones and ten Official Maps of Seismic Hazard Zones on January 11, 2018. The areas covered by Earthquake Fault Zones are within Los Angeles and Napa counties, and affect the cities of Beverly Hills, Culver City, Los Angeles, Napa, Santa Monica, Vallejo, and West Hollywood. Read more
USGS Seismologist Elizabeth Cochran Studied the Performance of Mexico City’s Earthquake Early Warning System During Devastating Sept. 19, 2017 Event (USGS news release) The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute mobilized a team of recognized expert scientists to Mexico to assess the performance of the Mexico Seismic Warning System (Sistema de Alerta Sísmica Mexicano or SASMEX) and the public’s perception of the alerts. Read more
Utah’s Portable Classrooms Put Kids at Risk, Engineering Experts Say (Salt Lake Tribune) Civil engineering and architectural groups urge tougher building standards on 100s of units, saying Utah lacks clear rules for anchoring modular classrooms to the ground, potentially putting thousands of students in danger. Read more
Back to top >
Publications
Earthquake Spectra: Preprint Manuscripts
Two (2) preprint manuscripts have been posted to the Earthquake Spectra website prior to formal publication. The papers to be published are:
- Evaluation of a Substitute Structure Method to Estimate Seismic Displacement Demand in Piers and Wharves by Rakesh K. Goel (M.EERI,1994)
- Estimating Seismic Forces in Ancillary Components and Nonbuilding Structures Supported on Piers, Wharves, and Marine Oil Terminals by Rakesh K. Goel (M.EERI,1994)
To read all current preprint manuscripts posted, visit Earthquake Spectra preprints.
If you have questions about Spectra, contact Managing Editor Liz Stalnaker at liz@eeri.org
Back to top >Professional Opportunities
Job Posting: Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Lehigh University
The Lehigh University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Professor Dan M. Frangopol (M.EERI,1987) is looking for a Post-Doctoral Research Associate on projects related to life-cycle reliability and risk, maintenance, health monitoring, management and optimization of civil and marine infrastructure systems. Candidates must have a Ph.D. and strong background and research accomplishments in structural engineering in one or more of the following areas: Structural Reliability and Probabilistic Methods, Risk Assessment and Decision Making under Uncertainty, Climate Change Adaptation, Monitoring-Maintenance-Management-Cost of Civil and Marine Infrastructure (particularly bridges and ships), Structural Optimization, and Life-Cycle Engineering.
There is no online application available for this position. The job description and instructions for applying can be found online here.
Back to top >Opportunities for Students - February 1, 2018
EERI 2018 Undergraduate Student Paper Competition
Deadline: March 15, 2018
EERI is pleased to announce its 2018 Undergraduate Student Paper Competition. The purpose of the competition is to promote active involvement of students in earthquake engineering and the earthquake hazards research community. Please post and share the attached flyer. The general rules of the contest are as follows:
1. The paper must be directly related to earthquake engineering or earthquake hazard reduction.
2. The paper or extended abstract must not exceed four (4) pages in length inclusive of all tables and figures.
3. The paper must be authored by the student alone. In addition, a faculty member or other advisor can provide feedback before submission of the paper but may not co-author the paper. The advisor’s name should be included in the “acknowledgements” section of the paper.
4. Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited U.S. college or university and must be U.S. residents.
5. A registration grant for the EERI Annual Meeting, to be held at the 11NCEE on June 25-29, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA, will be made available to the winning author, in addition to a small travel stipend, as long as funds are available. The winning paper may also be considered for publication in Earthquake Spectra.
6. Application Process and Deadline: undergraduate papers must be e-mailed by March 15, 2018 to: eeri@eeri.org.
Liu Huixian 2018 Earthquake Engineering Scholarship Awards
The Huixian Earthquake Engineering Foundation (China) and the US-China Earthquake Engineering Foundation (USA) are pleased to announce that about ten (10) Liu Huixian Earthquake Engineering Scholarship Awards are available in 2018. Applicants must currently be enrolled as a full-time master’s degree or doctoral student in earthquake engineering or a closely related field. Applicants must be at a university or research institute in China, USA, Singapore, or a member center of the Asian-Pacific Network of Centers for Earthquake Engineering Research (ANCER).
Application materials should be submitted online to the Secretariat of the Huixian Earthquake Engineering Foundation by June 30, 2018. Learn more.
Back to top >Membership Renewal Reminder
Last Chance to Renew Your EERI Membership for 2018!
EERI thrives on the the dedication and involvement of our members, and we appreciate your support. If you have not already renewed your membership for 2018, please do so now. 2018 will be a milestone year for the Institute, one you do not want to miss.
To renew your EERI membership, find the email we sent on January 5, 2018, which provided a link to your personal renewal page showing contact information with options for selecting chapter membership and making a voluntary contribution to the EERI Endowment Fund. Or, simply login and renew online. To login, use your email address as your username, and your EERI ID number as your password. If you need assistance, please email eeri@eeri.org. If you have already renewed for 2018, we thank you.
We hope you will continue to support EERI and renew your membership for 2018.
EERI Member Spotlight
M. Saiid Saiidi Inducted in the Mexican Academy of Engineering
Professor M. Saiid Saiidi (M.EERI,1981), PhD, PE, University of Nevada-Reno, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Director, Center for Advanced Technology in Bridges and Infrastructure (CATBI) and Co-Director ABC-UTC, was recently admitted to the Academy of Engineering of Mexico.
Established to recognize the most accomplished and prominent engineers in Mexico, AEM selects a number of internationally recognized individuals from around the world with outstanding contribution to engineering following a rigorous nomination and evaluation process.
The induction ceremony was held in Mexico City in November 2017. Saiidi was praised by the nomination and selection panel for his pioneering research and implementation on advanced materials in earthquake engineering of bridges to substantially improve the resiliency of infrastructure. A medal and certificate were presented to Prof. Saiidi during the induction ceremony.
Back to top >EERI Resources from the Vault
Access Past EERI Technical Seminars on You Tube
Did you know that previous EERI Technical Seminar Series recordings are now available for viewing on YouTube?
- 2015 EERI Technical Seminar Series: Update on Vulnerable Concrete Buildings: What You Need to Know and Where Should We Go from Here - view now
Presenters: Russell Berkowitz (M.EERI,2011), Wassim M. Ghannoum (M.EERI,2008), Jack Moehle (M.EERI,1981), Bret Lizundia (M.EERI,1992), Craig D. Comartin (M.EERI,1987), David Gonzalez (M.EERI,1997), and Patrick Otellini
- 2014 EERI Technical Seminar Series: Performance Based Design – State of the Practice for Tall Buildings - view now
Presenters: Farzad Naeim (M.EERI,1983), Jack Moehle (M.EERI,1981), Jonathan P. Stewart (M.EERI,1994), Marshall Lew (M.EERI,1978), Gregory Deierlein (M.EERI,1989), Ron Klemenncic, John Hooper (M.EERI,1987), Nabih Youssef (M.EERI,1987), Ronald O. Hamburger, and Steve Pfeiffer.
Visit EERI's You Tube channel to view EERI webinars, seminars, and more. Video downloads of the Technical Seminar Series recordings are available for purchase from the EERI Knowledge Center and Online Store. EERI will continue to publish previous technical seminar recordings to YouTube, check back frequently for new content.
Back to top >In Memoriam
In Memorium - Ali Akbar Moinfar (1928-2018), Pioneer of Earthquake Engineering in Iran
Ali Akbar (A.A.) Moinfar was born in Tehran in 1928, he passed away on January 2, 2018, at age 90. Mehdi Zare (M.EERI, 1992), Prof of Engineering Seismology, IIEES, Tehran, Iran, writes, “Moinfar was a kind and humble man, father of 4 children, 3 sons and one daughter. His kind wife Shamsi passed away in the year 2000, and he lived alone in the last 17 years of his life. His continous advise was earthquake risk reduction as a major duty for national interests. He is a very respected and friendly figure among the Iranian earthquake scientists and engineers, such that even with a long life of 90 years, after his passing away, we miss him a lot. Peace be on Him and Rest in Peace.”
To honor A.A. Moindar’s lifelong dedication to reducing earthquake risk, Dr. Zare provided EERI with a summary of his many achievements:
- A.A. Moinfar received a BSc of Civil Engineering in 1951 from the College of Engineering, University of Tehran. In 1952, he joined the structural bureau of the National Iranian Oil Company. In 1957, when the 2 July 1957 Sangechal Mazandaran Northern Iran Ms7.2 occurred (killing about 1,100), Moinfar was selected by Prof Naito of Wasseda University, Japan, one of the legendary figures of earthquake engineering of his time, to be the 1st Iranian Civil Engineer to receive a scholarship from Japan to study Earthquake Engineering.
- He returned to Iran in 1960 with a degree in Earthquake Engineering and joined the Planning and Budget Organization of Iran after the 1 September 1962 Buin Zahra Ms7.2 earthquake. Moinfar has systematically visited the earthquake prone areas of Iran, meanwhile he collaborated with the UNESCO mission for earthquake prone areas around the world. He wrote the first draft of the Iranian seismic building code in 1964, which was published as part of structural code No.519 in 1969.
- Moinfar initiated the Strong Motion network of Iran with five stations in 1974 and expanded it to about 270 stations up to 1979. The network was improved with modern digital recorders in 1992 after the Manjil Iran 1990 earthquake, and the number of stations has since reached 1,100. Moinfar served as supervisor to this network.
- He was Iran's First Minister of Petroleum, serving briefly from 1979 to 1980. He later served as a Member of the Parliament of Iran from 1980 to 1984, representing Tehran, Rey and Shemiranat.
- In 1995, an iso-acceleration and seismic hazard maps for Iran was prepared by Moinfar and his colleges based on the results of deterministic and probabilistic evaluation of the ground shaking hazard.
- In 1999, Moinfar supervised a study on the earthquake resistance diagnosis in Tehran, that was carried out for some 350 buildings. Buildings were selected based on their age, usage, structure and distribution.
- Moinfar was the head of the committee that improved the first independent Seismic Building Code of Iran (Stamdard No.2800), approved in March 1989. Meanwhile, he was the major supervisor for the 46-member Code No. 2800 revision committee. As of 2015, the 4th edition had been approved and officially implied in the country.
EERI Younger Members News
Meet the Virtual Earthquake Reconnaissance Team Co-Chairs
Today, more than ever, access to information is instantaneous. We can learn about an earthquake on the other side of the world almost immediately, and we can see its impacts on a community just as quickly through social media and news outlets. EERI’s Virtual Earthquake Reconnaissance Team (VERT) is one way that younger members can contribute to post-earthquake reconnaissance without leaving home. Through VERT, these members are exposed to the challenges a community faces after a disaster. After an earthquake, not everyone can go to the location of the disaster. However, everyone does have the ability to do research from home, and can support field efforts by gathering relevant information so that the professionals on the ground and the community as a whole are more informed. VERT is organized and administered by Co-Chairs Manny Hakhamaneshi (M.EERI,2009) and Erica Fischer (M.EERI,2010), whose tireless efforts and dedication make the program successful.
Dr. Manny Hakhamaneshi
Manny Hakhamaneshi obtained his PhD from the University of California, Davis, where his research focused on implementation of innovative techniques for retrofit of existing buildings. A published researcher, and registered Civil Engineer in California (PE), Manny has most recently been working as a Design Engineer for Amec Foster Wheeler in Oakland since 2016. As a graduate student, he joined the UC Davis EERI Student Chapter and served as its co-president for two consecutive years. During that time, Manny became involved with the Student leadership Council (SLC) and helped to organize the undergraduate Seismic Design Competition (SDC). For three consecutive years, he served as the treasurer, Seismic Chair, and Co-President to the SLC, receiving a certificate of appreciation from EERI in 2013. Upon obtaining his PhD, Manny joined the Younger Members Committee (YMC) and served as its Co-Chair with Erica Fischer. During this two year period, the Younger Members were integrated into the panel presentations EERI’s Annual Meeting, the YMC organized structural tours for the attendees at the undergraduate SDC, and a new “Meet the Leaders” session was organized for the younger members, an event that has since been integrated within the EERI Annual Meeting. Manny currently serves with Dr. Fischer as Co-Chair of the Virtual Earthquake Reconnaissance Team (VERT), bringing together graduate students, early career professionals, and young faculty to contribute to post-earthquake reconnaissance through the EERI Learning from Earthquakes (LFE) program.
Dr. Erica Fischer
Erica Fischer, PhD, PE is an Assistant Professor of Civil and Construction Engineering at Oregon State University. Dr. Fischer’s research interests revolve around innovative approaches to improve the resilience and robustness of structural systems affected by natural and man-made hazards. She has participated in post-earthquake reconnaissance team missions in diverse regions including Haiti, Napa, California, Italy, and most recently, Mexico City. Dr. Fischer performs research on a variety of different structural systems including steel, timber (CLT), composites (concrete-CLT and steel-concrete), and thin shells subjected to hazards such as earthquakes and fires. She is one of the founders and co-chairs of the EERI Virtual Earthquake Reconnaissance Team (VERT), and an active member of the EERI Younger Members Committee, the ASCE/SEI Sustainability Committee, Fire Protection Committee, and Composite Construction Committee. Dr. Fischer has experience as a practicing structural engineer and holds a Professional Engineering license in the states of Washington and California.