Measurement Science R&D Roadmap for Windstorm and Coastal Inundation Impact Reduction

Published

January 30, 2014

Author(s)

William Coulbourne, Jon Galsworthy, Horia Hangan, Christopher Jones, Chris Letchford, Thomas Smith

Abstract

Windstorms, storm surge, and other coastal inundation events caused 4,045 fatalities and property losses of $250 billion (in 2012 dollars) in the United States during the period of 1996-2012. More people are moving toward the nation's coastlines and thus more of the built environment is at risk from hurricanes and nor'easters and/or coastal inundation due to storm surge and tsunamis. In addition, a large part of the central United States is at risk from tornadoes, and all areas of the country can experience damage from other types of windstorms, such as thunderstorms, derechos, and straight line winds. Sometimes effects to a community are so great from the windstorm and coastal inundation events, the community never recovers, as the tax base moves away and businesses and schools stay permanently closed. The current state of practice for engineering design of the built environment to withstand extreme wind and coastal flood events must be improved in order to improve life safety, reduce property damage, and improve the resiliency and sustainability of communities. This report describes results from a measurement science research and development (R&D) roadmap development process to identify and describe a much-needed problem-focused program to reduce the impacts of windstorms and coastal inundation hazards. This report is also intended to aid and provide focus for the broader wind, coastal, and structural engineering R&D community. The effort was conducted to assist the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in planning its research and development program related to these hazards over an approximately eight-year time frame.

Citation

Grant/Contract Reports (NISTGCR) - 14-973-13

Report Number

14-973-13

NIST Pub Series

Grant/Contract Reports (NISTGCR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

NWIRP, ATC, Research Plan, Hurricane, Tornado, Wind Engineering

Citation

Coulbourne, W. , Galsworthy, J. , Hangan, H. , Jones, C. , Letchford, C. and Smith, T. (2014), Measurement Science R&D Roadmap for Windstorm and Coastal Inundation Impact Reduction, Grant/Contract Reports (NISTGCR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=915541 (Accessed April 19, 2024)