A screenshot from the WCTV video about hurricane research at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. (Riley Winch, WCTV)
Faculty-Led Initiative Studies Storm Impacts to Improve Infrastructure Design
Assistant Professor Pedro Fernandez-Caban is leading a research team at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering that deploys instrumentation during landfalling hurricanes to capture extreme wind conditions and study their effects on civil infrastructure.
The research focuses on understanding how hurricane wind fields vary between different storm systems and geographic locations. “We go out and deploy instrumentation during landfalling hurricanes and we’re trying to capture the most extreme winds,” explains Professor Fernandez-Caban. “We’re trying to relate how these extreme winds affect civil infrastructure.”
Addressing Data Collection Challenges
The team has identified significant gaps in hurricane wind data collection, particularly in rural areas compared to urban regions with more extensive monitoring infrastructure. To address these limitations, researchers are implementing artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to predict wind field characteristics in locations where direct measurements are not available.
“We’re trying to implement some machine learning and AI tools to help us predict what the wind field would be at a location where we don’t have any data,” said Professor Fernandez-Caban.
Research Applications
The project aims to translate field measurements and data analysis into practical applications for building safety and infrastructure design. Professor Fernandez-Caban hopes the team can “transfer this knowledge into building codes and design provisions so that we can sort of enhance the design of buildings and civil infrastructure.”
Local terrain and geography significantly influence wind damage patterns on different structures, making comparative analysis across multiple storm events essential for developing a comprehensive understanding of hurricane impacts.
Ongoing Research Initiative
The research continues during each hurricane season, with each storm providing unique data collection opportunities. The team’s systematic approach to comparing wind fields between different hurricanes contributes to a growing database of hurricane behavior patterns that can inform future infrastructure protection strategies.
This research initiative demonstrates the college’s commitment to addressing real-world challenges through scientific investigation, contributing valuable insights that may enhance community preparedness and infrastructure resilience in hurricane-prone regions.
Read the original WCTV story online here
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