Field Mission 2006 to New Zealand
September 11, 2006
Mid-America Earthquake Center students Luis Gonzalez, Susan La Fore, Dean Mitchell, and Ellen Taylor spent nine days in August in New Zealand learning about the earthquake engineering work and research occurring there. The 2006 Tri-Center field mission included students from the three NSF Earthquake Centers - PEER and MCEER, and MAE - and took place August 13-23. The field mission was organized by Sofia Tangalos and Dr. Sabanayagam Thevanayagam of MCEER. While in New Zealand, students met with researchers at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited (GNS) in Wellington, and the University of Auckland.
During the first night in New Zealand, students from the three centers had dinner and an introduction to the events of the trip in Christchurch. The following morning the group visited the University of Canterbury, where each of the visiting students gave a presentation about their research to students and professors at the university. Students from the University of Canterbury presented about their research as well. Some topics presented included semi-active control of rocking wall structures, rocking hybrid structures, and aleatoric and epistemic uncertainties in earthquake engineering. After the presentations, the group toured the lab facilities at the university. That evening the students enjoyed a gondola ride up to the Gondola Restaurant on top of the one of the hills surrounding Christchurch.
On Thursday, August 17, the group went on a sightseeing tour in the mountains of Arthur's Pass National Park. Professor John Mander of the University of Canterbury led the tour and described the features and construction of the Otira Viaduct, an impressive bridge that passes through the national park. That evening, the group left Christchurch for Wellington.
The next morning the students visited GNS in Wellington and learned about the company's contribution to the earthquake engineering community. GNS is a national expert on geological hazards and risk and the impacts of these hazards. RMS specializes in the study of the causes and risks of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides. They have developed the GeoNet network, which monitors earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and landslides. RMS also specializes in disaster risk management in New Zealand communities.
On Friday afternoon the group visited Rankin Brown Library, a building on the campus of the University of Victoria in Wellington that was retrofitted. The main column bases were removed and replaced with rubber-steel plate laminate bearings while the building remained in full operation. The students then toured the new Wellington Hospital construction site, which employed base isolation using lead-rubber bearings and steel-jacketed columns in its construction. Last, the group visited Te Papa Museum where they learned about the culture and history of the Maori people in New Zealand.
On Saturday, the group traveled by bus from Wellington to Rotorua. That evening they participated in a maori hangi (a Maori tribal feast) and concert at Mitai in Rotorua.
The next morning the students visited Te Puia, a Maori culture and geothermal visitor center. Then the group learned about sheep in New Zealand at the Agrodome farm show in Rotorua. Before driving to Auckland, the group took a guided tour of Waitomo Caves where they learned about cave formations and saw glowworms in their natural habitat.
On Monday, August 21, the students took a ferry to Rangitoto Island, where part of the group took a guided tour of the island, and the other part hiked to the top of the hill on the island to enjoy spectacular views of Auckland.
Professor Michael J Pender and Professor Sri Sritharan of the University of Auckland hosted the students on Tuesday, August 22. Six of the visiting students and several students from the University of Auckland presented their research to the group. The research at the University of Auckland included the mechanics of rocking structures subjected to ground motions, seismic performance of beam column joints, and retrofit solutions for New Zealand's at-risk multi-story buildings. Lastly, the group toured the facilities in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Auckland.
On the last day of the tour, the field mission participants enjoyed lunch at Orbit, the rotating restaurant in the Auckland Sky Tower before departing Auckland for the US. All field mission participants left with an appreciation for the earthquake engineering work, research, and culture of New Zealand.
Announcement (PDF)
Schedule (PDF)
During the first night in New Zealand, students from the three centers had dinner and an introduction to the events of the trip in Christchurch. The following morning the group visited the University of Canterbury, where each of the visiting students gave a presentation about their research to students and professors at the university. Students from the University of Canterbury presented about their research as well. Some topics presented included semi-active control of rocking wall structures, rocking hybrid structures, and aleatoric and epistemic uncertainties in earthquake engineering. After the presentations, the group toured the lab facilities at the university. That evening the students enjoyed a gondola ride up to the Gondola Restaurant on top of the one of the hills surrounding Christchurch.
On Thursday, August 17, the group went on a sightseeing tour in the mountains of Arthur's Pass National Park. Professor John Mander of the University of Canterbury led the tour and described the features and construction of the Otira Viaduct, an impressive bridge that passes through the national park. That evening, the group left Christchurch for Wellington.
The next morning the students visited GNS in Wellington and learned about the company's contribution to the earthquake engineering community. GNS is a national expert on geological hazards and risk and the impacts of these hazards. RMS specializes in the study of the causes and risks of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides. They have developed the GeoNet network, which monitors earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and landslides. RMS also specializes in disaster risk management in New Zealand communities.
On Friday afternoon the group visited Rankin Brown Library, a building on the campus of the University of Victoria in Wellington that was retrofitted. The main column bases were removed and replaced with rubber-steel plate laminate bearings while the building remained in full operation. The students then toured the new Wellington Hospital construction site, which employed base isolation using lead-rubber bearings and steel-jacketed columns in its construction. Last, the group visited Te Papa Museum where they learned about the culture and history of the Maori people in New Zealand.
On Saturday, the group traveled by bus from Wellington to Rotorua. That evening they participated in a maori hangi (a Maori tribal feast) and concert at Mitai in Rotorua.
The next morning the students visited Te Puia, a Maori culture and geothermal visitor center. Then the group learned about sheep in New Zealand at the Agrodome farm show in Rotorua. Before driving to Auckland, the group took a guided tour of Waitomo Caves where they learned about cave formations and saw glowworms in their natural habitat.
On Monday, August 21, the students took a ferry to Rangitoto Island, where part of the group took a guided tour of the island, and the other part hiked to the top of the hill on the island to enjoy spectacular views of Auckland.
Professor Michael J Pender and Professor Sri Sritharan of the University of Auckland hosted the students on Tuesday, August 22. Six of the visiting students and several students from the University of Auckland presented their research to the group. The research at the University of Auckland included the mechanics of rocking structures subjected to ground motions, seismic performance of beam column joints, and retrofit solutions for New Zealand's at-risk multi-story buildings. Lastly, the group toured the facilities in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Auckland.
On the last day of the tour, the field mission participants enjoyed lunch at Orbit, the rotating restaurant in the Auckland Sky Tower before departing Auckland for the US. All field mission participants left with an appreciation for the earthquake engineering work, research, and culture of New Zealand.
Announcement (PDF)
Schedule (PDF)
