Principal Investigators
Laurie G. Baise, Co-Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor, Tufts University
- Year 1:
- Conducting research and supervising students performing research on the project
- Year 2:
- Conducting research and supervising students performing research on the project.
Don J. DeGroot, Principal Investigator
Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Year 1:
- Overall Project Leader. Research Team Leader. Conducting research and supervising students performing research on the project
- Year 2:
- Overall Project Leader. Research Team Leader. Conducting research and supervising students performing research on the project
Jason T. DeJong, Co-Principal Investigator
Associate Professor, University of California Davis
- Year 1:
- Conducting research and supervising students performing research on the project
- Year 2:
- Conducting research and supervising students performing research on the project.
Brian G. McAdoo, Co-Principal Investigator
Associate Professor, Vassar College
- Year 1:
- Conducting research and supervising students performing research on the project
- Year 2:
- Lead Geoscientist on Project. Conducting research and supervising students performing research on the project.
Thomas C. Sheahan, Co-Principal Investigator
Professor, Northeastern University, Boston
- Year 1:
- Education Team Leader. Web site manager. Conducting research and supervising students performing research on the project
- Year 2:
- Education Team Leader. Web site manager. Conducting research and supervising students performing research on the project.
Peter G. Walker, Senior Personnel
Professor and Director, Alan Shawn Feinstein International Famine Center, Tufts University
- Year 1:
- Conducted research and supervision of students performing research on the project
- Year 2:
- Associate Professor and Director, Alan Shawn Feinstein International Famine Center (Tufts University). Conduct of research and supervision of students performing research on the project
Principal Partner Organization Contributors
Knut Anderson, Researcher, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute
- Year 1:
- Facilities; Collaborative Research; Personnel Exchanges
Mark Cassidy, Director COFS, University of Western Australia
- Year 1:
- Facilities; Collaborative Research; Personnel Exchanges
Rune Dyvik, Researcher, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute
- Year 1:
- Facilities; Collaborative Research; Personnel Exchanges
Anders Elverhoi, Dept. of Geosciences and Dean of Research; Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Univesity of Oslo
- Year 1:
- Facilities; Personnel Exchanges
Carl Harbitz, Researcher, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute
- Year 1:
- Facilities; Collaborative Research; Personnel Exchanges
Oddvar Longva, Researcher, Norwegian Geological Survey
- Year 1:
- Collaborative Research; Personnel Exchanges
Tom Lunne, Researcher, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute
- Year 1:
- Facilities; Collaborative Research; Personnel Exchanges
Farrokh Nadim, Director ICG, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute
- Year 1:
- Facilities; Collaborative Research; Personnel Exchanges
Mark Randolph, Researcher, University of Western Australia
- Year 1:
- Facilities; Collaborative Research; Personnel Exchanges
Anders Solheim, Deputy Director ICG, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute
- Year 1:
- Facilities; Collaborative Research; Personnel Exchanges
Other Partner Organizations
Norwegian Geotechnical Institute
University of Western Australia
University of Oslo
Norwegian Geological Survey
NEES Consortium, Inc.
USGS-Subusurface Exploration Unit, CA
Statoil ASA - Norway
Sri Lankan Geological Survey & Mines Bureau (SL GSMB)
Solomon Islands Department of Mines and Energy (SI DME)
Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC)
US National Park Service (Guam)
Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)
Oxfam America
United Nations ISDR
United Nations Educ Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
International Union for the Conservation
NORSAR
Pacific Earthquake Engineering Program
Collaborators
Christope Dano, Researcher, Ecole Centrale de Nantes
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Development and use of bender elements in laboratory characterization of soft clays
Bruce Kutter, Researcher, UC Davis
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Collaborated with NSF NEESR REU students and provided centrifuge expertise
Hamzah Latief, Researcher, "Institute of Technology, Bandung"
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Survey of July 2006 West Java tsunami; Vegetation as tsunami buffer
Katrin Monecke, Researcher, Kent State University
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Post-doc working on Paleotsunami in Sumatra
- Year 2:
- Co-supervised by Co-PI Brian McAdoo (Vassar College). Working on study of paleotsunami sedimentation, Aceh Province, Indonesia. Katrin completed field work in Aceh during Spring 2007.
Andrew Moore, Researcher, Kent State University
Contributions
- Year 1:
- "Paleotsunami studies in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, Survey of July 2006 West Java tsunami, modeling of tsunami deposit processes"
Leonardo Seeber, Researcher, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Islam and post-earthquake aid distribution in Pakistan
Graduate Students
Sally Abbott, PhD Student, Tufts University
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Conducting research on post-disaster aid distribution in Sri Lanka. Travelled to Sri Lanka in June 2006 to assess post-tsunami aid distribution and to conduct a Paleotsunami deposits survey.
- Year 2:
- Working with Co-PIs Peter Walker (Tufts University) and Brian McAdoo (Vassar College) on food security status, resilience, coping strategies and mechanisms of households affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia and in Sri Lanka. The specific aims of this research will examine different cohorts within the population based on their food security status before and post tsunami. Traveled to Sri Lanka in June 2006 to assess post-tsunami aid distribution and to conduct a Paleotsunami deposits survey. However, follow-up field work in Sri Lanka has been compromised by the increasing intensity of the civil war there. Sally has also been working with Oxfam America on editing tsunami related research projects completed by local research teams in India and Sri Lanka. Topics included; HIV/AIDs vulnerability following the tsunami, Gender Mainstreaming following the disaster, the Coir sector in Sri Lanka, and improving aid delivery in societies affected by tension.
- Year 3:
- PhD Student (Tufts University). Working with Co-PIs Peter Walker and Brian McAdoo on food security status, resilience, coping strategies of households affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia. Sally conducted a field visit to Aceh, Indonesia in September 2007, and formally defended her research proposal. This study will provide a systematic analysis of the changes to food security in Indonesia during the time period surrounding the 2004 tsunami. The analysis will employ both a quantitative and qualitative component to address aspects of household food security and coping strategies. Sally is currently conducting the quantitative portion of the analysis, consisting of secondary data analysis of existing data, primarily the 2004 to 2006 Indonesian Household socio-economic survey, SUSENAS. Changes to food security status in both tsunami and non-tsunami affected districts are being compared using this data and allow for identification of predictors of food security and a measure of how they changed across time. Sally also continues to support Oxfam America's Tsunami research projects in Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia.
Jennifer Baumwoll, MS Student, Webster University, Austria
Contributions
- Year 2:
- Being co-supervised by NSF PIRE Co-PI Brian McAdoo (Vassar College). Conducting research on role of local and indigenous knowledge and education in disaster and risk reduction. Using data from 2004 Indian Ocean and 2007 Solomon Islands tsunamis. Will intern with UN International Strategy on Disaster Reduction in Bangkok, Thailand starting in September 2007.
- Year 3:
- M.S. student (International Relations, Webster University, Vienna). Co-PI Brian McAdoo was her primary advisor. Completed a master's thesis on the use of indigenous knowledge as it relates to tsunami risk reduction while interning with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in Bangkok, Thailand. Her thesis provides a framework for determining the degree of useful indigenous knowledge in a community (as it relates to coastal hazards) and provides focus areas for future educational projects. Her work won the award for best International Relations Thesis at Webster University.
Adriane Boscardin, MS Student, Umass Amherst
Contributions
- Year 1:
- "Developing laboratory method using miniature full-flow penetrometers for measurement of the remolded undrained shear strength of soft clays. Will spend 7 months in Year 2 of project at the International Centre for Geohazards/Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (Oslo, Norway)."
- Year 2:
- Received MS Degree in May 2007 and will stay on project as PhD Student (UMass Amherst). Developed new laboratory methods using miniature full-flow penetrometers for measurement of the remolded undrained shear strength of soft clays. Spent 9 months in 2007 at the International Centre for Geohazards/Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (Oslo, Norway).
- Year 3:
- Received MS Degree in May 2007 and continued on project as PhD Student (UMass Amherst). Developed new laboratory methods using miniature full-flow penetrometers for measurement of the remolded undrained shear strength of soft clays. Spent 9 months in 2007 at ICG/NGI. Presently conducting research on development of box core sampling and testing equipment. Conducted field research in 2008 on collection and testing of box core samples, offshore Egypt, in collaboration with ICG/NGI.
Mark Capone, MS Student, University of New Hampshire
Contributions
- Year 2:
- Conducted field work with NSF PIRE Co-PI Brian McAdoo (Vassar College) in Indonesia collecting baseline data from the coral reef offshore Sumatra in the Sunda Arc subduction zone south of the 2004 and 2005 earthquakes.
Bureu Guldur, MS Student, Northeastern University
Contributions
- Year 3:
- MS (Northeastern University). Implementing a new automated triaxial apparatus that will be used for a comprehensive study of shear wave/shear modulus evolution during set-up, consolidation and shear testing of seabed sediments.
Jackson Hewlett, MS Student, Tufts University
Contributions
- Year 2:
- Developing statistical models for slope stability occurrence with a focus on understanding importance of data type and quality.
Robert Jaeger, MS Student, University of California Davis
Contributions
- Year 2:
- Conducting research on the redesign of the piezo-full flow penetrometer, the development of a data acquisition system for full flow probes and for the new cone penetrometer, and modeling techniques to examine the role of penetration resistance of full flow probes and cone penetrometers. Will spend three months at the Centre for Offshore Foundations Systems/University of Western Australia during Year 2/3 of the project.
- Year 3:
- M.S. Student (UC Davis). Continuing and extending the work of Nicholas Yafrate. Spent September to November 2007 at COFS/UWA working with Prof. Mark Randolph and his graduate students. Together they performed a centrifuge test examining the effect of variable rate cone penetration testing on characterizing intermediate soils, which formed the basis of his MS project. Also worked on development of a CPT data acquisition system and has begun to develop a numerical model for examining CPT penetration in intermediate soils. Received the 2008 United States Society on Dams annual scholarship for his potential to develop practical solutions for design and construction problems and other dam-related issues.
Tanay Karademir, MS Student, Northeastern University
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Developed laboratory triaxial equipment in preparation for experimental program
- Year 2:
- MS Student (Northeastern University). Developed laboratory triaxial equipment and conducted experimental program to assess the efficacy of reconsolidation methods on mitigating sample disturbance effects.
Melissa M. Landon, PhD Student, Umass Amherst
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Overall Project Leader. Research Team Leader. Conducting research and supervising students performing research on the project
- Year 2:
- Received PhD in May 2007 and now Post-Doctorate on Project (UMass Amherst): Conducted field and experimental research on development of non-destructive method for evaluating sample quality of soft clays using shear wave velocity. Will spend 8 months (starting in Sept 2007) at the Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems (COFS)/University of Western Australia conducting research using the physical model test equipment (beam and drum centrifuge) and laboratory element test equipment at COFS.
- Year 3:
- Received PhD in May 2007 (UMass Amherst), continued on project as Post-Doctorate from May 2007 to June 2008. In July 2008 appointed Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME. Conducted field and experimental research on development of non-destructive method for evaluating sample quality of soft clays using shear wave velocity. Spent 7 months in 2007/2008 at COFS/UWA conducting research using the physical model test equipment (beam and drum centrifuge) and laboratory element test equipment at COFS/UWA.
Jennifer M. Lenz, MS Student, Tufts University
Contributions
- Year 1:
- "Traveled to the International Centre for Geohazards/Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (Oslo, Norway) to collect spatial data from ICG/NGI projects for geostatistical analysis."
Eugene M. Morgan, MS Student, Tufts University
Contributions
- Year 1:
- "Conducted research on using geostatistical methods to characterize the spatial scale and distribution of landslide features along different margins using two studies. Traveled to the International Centre for Geohazards/Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (Oslo, Norway) and the Norwegian Geological Survey (Trondheim, Norway) to collaborate with researchers there."
- Year 2:
- Characterized the spatial scale and distribution of landslide features along different margins using geostatistical methods. Presented findings in a talk at the Offshore Technology Conference. In summer 2007, assisted with offshore sediment coring operations and data collection aboard the Research Vessel Roger Revelle in South East Asia (RR0705/KNOX05RR research cruise). In 206, traveled to the International Centre for Geohazards/Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (Oslo, Norway) and the Norwegian Geological Survey (Trondheim, Norway) to collaborate with researchers there.
- Year 3:
- Received MS Degree in August 2008 and is continuing on as PhD Student (Tufts University). Developing method of in situ gas-generated pore pressure estimation using submarine seismic data. This is collaborative work with researchers at ICG/NGI (where student spent 6 months in 2008), NORSAR, and NGU. Took seismic interpretation course at University of Oslo (Spring semester, 2008), and attended two-week landslide LARAM course in Italy (Sept 2008). Defended MS thesis on using geostatistical methods to quantify submarine geomorphological features associated with subduction zone seismicity. In summer 2007, assisted with offshore sediment coring operations and data collection aboard the Research Vessel Roger Revelle in South East Asia (RR0705/KNOX05RR research cruise). In 2006, traveled to the International Centre for Geohazards/Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (Oslo, Norway) and the Norwegian Geological Survey (Trondheim, Norway) to collaborate with researchers there.
Hoang M. Nguyen, PhD Student, UMass Amherst
Contributions
- Year 2:
- Conducting experimental and analytical research on undrained stress-strain-strength behavior of offshore sediments with application to analysis of submarine landslides. Selected to attend the 'LAndslide Risk Assessment and Mitigation' (LARAM) school to be held in September 2007 at the Universitî di Salerno, Italy.
- Year 3:
- PhD Student (UMass Amherst). Conducting experimental and analytical research on undrained stress-strain-strength behavior of offshore sediments with application to analysis of submarine landslides. Developing ring shear apparatus for conduct of constant volume large strain shear testing of offshore sediments. Attended the 'LAndslide Risk Assessment and Mitigation' (LARAM) school to be held in September 2007 at the University di Salerno, Italy, in September 2007. Conducted invited presentations on Recommended Practices for Soft Ground Site Characterization at Vietnam Ministry of Construction, Hanoi, Vietnam. Attendees included practicing civil engineers, students, and university professors.
Nalaka M. Ranasinghe, Graduate Student, Kent State University
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Conducted Paleotsunami field work in Sri Lanka with Co-PI Brian McAdoo. Research thesis work is being co-supervised by Brian McAdoo
- Year 2:
- Ph.D. student (Kent State University) and is also with the Sri Lankan Geological Survey and Mines Bureau. Being co-supervised by NSF PIRE Co-PI Brian McAdoo (Vassar College). Conducting study of paleotsunami deposits in Sri Lanka. Will return to Sri Landa during Year 3 to collect follow-on detailed samples for sedimentological analysis and C-14 dating.
- Year 3:
- Ph.D. student (Kent State University) and is also with the Sri Lankan Geological Survey and Mines Bureau. Being co-supervised by NSF PIRE Co-PI Brian McAdoo (Vassar College). Conducting study of paleotsunami deposits in Sri Lanka including sedimentological analysis and C-14 dating of samples.
Nick M. Yafrate, PhD Student, UC Davis
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Developing database on case histories for full-flow penetrometers. Conducting field experimental work on full-flow penetrometers.
- Year 2:
- Continuing research on full-flow penetrometers and will graduate in 2008. Specific aspects of the full-flow penetrometers researched this year include continued development of a piezo-full flow penetrometer, examination of the effect of area ratio of penetrometer performance, estimation of undrained remolded strength and sensitivity with cycling, and the influence of the penetrometer push rods on the full-flow mechanism. Mentored an undergraduate researcher and contributed to the evaluation of new education technology (Table PC and Personal Response Systems) in undergraduate education.
- Year 3:
- Ph.D. Student (UC Davis). Continuing research on full-flow penetrometers and will graduate in December 2008. Studying the effect of area ratio on penetrometer performance, estimation of undrained remolded strength and sensitivity with cycling, and the influence of the penetrometer push rods on the full-flow mechanism. An full field testing program was performed at the Novato, CA soft sediment site (Young Bay Mud). He also worked on three journal publications (two have been submitted and one is in the final stages of revision). Mr. Yafrate also interviewed for faculty positions, mentored an undergraduate researcher, and contributed to the evaluation of new education technology (Table PC and Personal Response Systems) in undergraduate education (journal publication currently being prepared).
Undergraduate Students
Alan Abad, Undergraduate Student, UC Davis
Contributions
- Year 1:
- funded as NSF NEESR REU student working on laboratory instrumentation.
- Year 2:
- Funded as NSF NEESR REU student working on laboratory instrumentation.
- Year 3:
- Undergraduate (UC Davis). 2006/2007. Funded as NSF NEESR REU student working on laboratory instrumentation.
Bryan Aldeghi, Junior, Vassar College
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Started undergraduate research project on survey of coastal conservation and development projects in Sri Lanka.
Kane C. Bennett, Undergraduate Student, UMass Amherst
Contributions
- Year 2:
- REU student during Summer 2007. Worked on development of needle resistivity probe for detection of fine layering in box-core seabed sediment samples.
- Year 3:
- Undergraduate Student (UMass Amherst). REU student during Summer 2007. Worked on development of needle resistivity probe for detection of fine layering in box-core seabed sediment samples. Continuing research in 2007/2008 as an Undergraduate Honor's Thesis.
Nicholas C. Bennett, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Contributions
- Year 3:
- "BS Student (Northeastern University). Spending his co-op employment period, from July-December, 2008, first working on completing the project website Wiki reference tool and coordinating the procurement of new webinars posted on the site. Currently spending three months at COFS/UWA during Year 3/4 of the project.
Kayla C. Burke, Undergraduate Student, Tufts University
Contributions
- Year 3:
- Undergraduate (Tufts University). Worked on visualizations using the Tufts high resolution vizwall during June 2008.
Jason C. Clegg, Undergraduate Student, Univ. of Rhode Island
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Developed laboratory equipment and conducted background research for project website as undergraduate summer research student at Northeastern University.
Davene C. Daley, Undergraduate Student, Vassar College
Contributions
- Year 3:
- B.A. Student (Vassar College). Performing experiments on using multiple small holes drilled through seafloor crusts to reduce the hazard resulting from offshore structures potentially punching-through the crust. Spent the period June 2008-August 2008 at COFS/UWA. Davene performed a series of centrifuge tests using this 'Swiss cheese' technique on consolidated sediments. She found that 'Swiss cheesing' the sediment crust reduces the bearing capacity sufficiently to allow the footing to punch through the crust and find suitable substrate that will not compromise the stability of the structure.
Amy C. Dowley, Junior, Vassar College
Contributions
- Year 1:
- "Conducted undergraduate research project on land use and inland wave propagation using ASTER and SRTM digital elevation model, Thailand. Traveled to Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (Oslo, Norway) to learn of International Centre for Geohazards research activities."
Katherine C. Feeley, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Contributions
- Year 2:
- Spent co-op employment period, from January to June 2007 on the project, working first on a literature search and state-of_knowledge report on offshore landslide triggering mechanisms. From April to June 2007, she was at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Oslo, Norway learning how to perform specialized geotechnical tests and conduct statistical analyses of site characterization data.
Mark C. Jones, Undergraduate Student, UC Davis
Contributions
- Year 1:
- funded as NSF NEESR REU student working on laboratory instrumentation.
Ethan C. Larochelle, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Contributions
- Year 2:
- Development of software to send and receive bender element signals for measurement of the small-strain modulus of offshore soils, which in turn is used to assess the degree of sample disturbance.
- Year 3:
- BS Student (Northeastern University). 2007/2008. Developed software to send and receive bender element signals for measurement of the small-strain modulus of offshore soils, which in turn is used to assess the degree of sample disturbance. Also worked on redesign and coding of new automated control software for the triaxial apparatus to be used for soil testing.
Sarah C. Ledford, Undergraduate Student, Vassar College
Contributions
- Year 2:
- Worked on developing a database of NGOs working on coastal conservation projects in Sri Lanka for the Sri Lankan Geological Survey and Mines Bureau. Spent June to July 2007 at the International Centre for Geohazards, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, on study of strength and deformation properties of soils from high quality block samples.
Brett C. McKiernan, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Contributions
- Year 3:
- BS Student (Northeastern University). Spending his co-op employment period, from July-December, 2008, first researching and writing a comprehensive reference on the use of geotechnical centrifuges to study offshore landslides. Currently spending three months at COFS/UWA during Year 3/4 of the project.
Stacy C. Metzger, Sophomore, Umass Amherst
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Conducted experimental research on correlation between Russian and Western methods of measuring the liquid limit of soft clays.
Stephen C. Michna, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Contributions
- Year 3:
- BS Student (Northeastern University). Spent his co-op employment period, from January to June, 2008, working first in the Northeastern Geotechnical Laboratory, conducting bender element tests during triaxial test set-up and at various stages of the test for sample disturbance assessment. Spent three months at COFS/UWA during Year 3 of the project.
Hamiya C. Mir, Senior, Vassar College
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Conducted summer research work for Senior Thesis in Pakistan on Islamists and aid distribution following the 8 October 2005 Kashmir earthquake.
Michael C. Payne, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Conducting background research for project website with particular emphasis on development of information for non-scientists
- Year 2:
- Undergraduate (Northeastern University). Conducting literature research for project website content.
Nadine C. Reitman, Undergraduate Student,
Contributions
- Year 3:
- Conducting research on effects of the Solomon Islands earthquake and tsunami on nearshore geology using sonar mapping and GIS tools.
Damian C. Schmalz, Undergraduate Student, Northeastern University
Contributions
- Year 2:
- Spending his co-op employment period, from July to December 2007, working first on a literature search and hardware set-up for testing a new, digitally-based bender element testing system to measure the small-strain modulus of offshore soils. Will spend three months at the Centre for Offshore Foundations Systems/University of Western Australia during Year 2/3 of the project.
- Year 3:
- Undergraduate (Northeastern University). Spent co-op employment period, from July to December 2007, working first on a literature search and hardware set-up for testing a new, digitally-based bender element testing system to measure the small-strain modulus of offshore soils. Spent three months at COFS/UWA during Year 2/3 of the project. After returning to Northeastern in January 2008, assisted with the implementation and use of the bender element system for sample disturbance assessment.
David C. Tailamee, Undergraduate Student, Umass Amherst
Contributions
- Year 1:
- Spent 4 month internship at UMass Amherst conducting experimental research on thixotropic behavior of remolded soft clays.
Shana C. Volesky, Undergraduate Student, Vassar College
Contributions
- Year 2:
- Spent June to July 2007 at the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU) in Trondheim, Norway, which is an International Centre for Geohazards (ICG) partner. Conducted work on the ICG research project on the stability of the Nidelvdelta in Trondheim, Norway.
