On January 29th, 2021, from 2-3 pm EST CAIT will host UTC partners from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico for a seminar on their latest research studying damages from Hurricane Maria to improve future infrastructure resilience. Register here.

Collapsed steel truss cantilever guide sign anchored to a concrete pedestal

Collapsed steel truss cantilever guide sign anchored to a concrete pedestal. Photo ©PUPR.

Hurricane Maria left devastating effects on Puerto Rico, its people, and its economy when the storm struck in 2017. The damage has been totaled at $90 billion by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office for Coastal Management, much of which impacted the island’s transportation systems. Following the storm, CAIT-affiliated researchers at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR) have been studying the damage, examining vital transportation infrastructure that failed during the storm, and developing resources to make local transportation infrastructure more resilient and better prepared for future natural disasters and extreme weather events.

In this free webinar, CAIT-affiliated researcher Dr. Gustavo Pacheco will provide an overview of the damage done to the island by Hurricane Maria as well as its long-term impacts to date. He will also discuss latest research from PUPR quantifying this damage and case studies of traffic signs, vehicular bridges, and other important pieces of infrastructure that were studied. These insights have the potential help engineers to better incorporate resilience into construction projects and asset management practices considering natural disasters and storm events. Dr. Pacheco will also discuss study results, developed materials and guidelines, as well next steps in the research.
Webinar Outcomes:
  • Better understand Hurricane Maria and its impact on infrastructure.
  • Analyze key case studies and the latest research findings related to infrastructure resilience.
  • Discuss next steps in the research and new opportunities.