Earthquake Engineering Group

Welcome

The Earthquake Engineering Group (EEG) fulfills statutory requirements for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) to conduct applied research and development (R&D), provide the technical basis for building codes, standards, and practices, and implement improved earthquake-resilient design guidance for new and existing buildings and lifelines. This includes:

• supporting the development of cost-effective performance-based seismic engineering tools for commercial application
• improving post-earthquake recovery timelines (“functional recovery”) for buildings and lifelines
• conducting post-disaster reconnaissance and disaster and failure investigations to support NIST’s responsibilities under the National Construction Safety Team (NCST) Act
• informing effective practices for the reduction of risk from earthquake hazards
• closing the research-to-implementation gap and accelerating use of new earthquake risk mitigation technologies

The group produces measurement science research products that advance the reduction of risk from earthquake impacts on buildings, lifelines, and building occupants and users.

NEHRP

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) was established by Congress in 1977 to reduce risks of life and property from earthquakes. NIST collaborates with federal partners (FEMA, NSF, and USGS), and is also the lead agency of the program.