Researcher Engagement Meetings

Title: Global Sensitivity Analysis Applications to Natural Hazards Engineering
Host: Alexandros Taflanidis, University of Notre Dame
Date: November 11, 2025

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Abstract

Global sensitivity analysis (GSA) plays a prominent role in engineering analysis and design. Its objective is to quantify the importance of the different model inputs with respect to their impact on the model output. This quantification provides valuable insights into the system behavior, and it can be used to guide various tasks, including dimensionality or uncertainty reduction and optimal decision making. Different approaches exist to perform GSA, with the most popular one being variance-based decomposition utilizing Sobol’ indices. Variance-based GSA considers the decomposition of the total variance to the contributions coming from each of the inputs as well as to the interactions between groups of inputs. Despite its utility, performing GSA entails a significant computational burden, something that has limited its widespread adoption. This burden is amplified for problems that include a large number of outputs. 

This panel discusses the implementation of GSA to Natural Hazards Engineering (NHE). It starts with a quick introduction of GSA, including formulation, interpretation of sensitivities, and utility in practical applications. It then discusses the practical GSA estimation, and presents a computationally efficient GSA implementation using the SimCenter quoFEM tool. This implementation covers single and multi-output applications. An educational module for introducing GSA in the classroom is also presented. The discussion then shifts to four specific GSA applications, led by four different experts: (i) GSA for identifying critical risk factors that affect the tsunami evacuation risk of coastal community to guide more effective tsunami evacuation, (ii) GSA  for exploring influence of model parameter selection on seismic loss and recovery estimates, (iii) GSA for real-time storm surge forecasting and adaptive Monte Carlo implementation, (iv) GSA for guiding key considerations in the modeling and design of underground pipeline systems. Finally we open the discussion to all other participants and guests, exploring the opportunities offered through GSA on other NHE applications. 

List of Participants: 
Alexandros Taflanidis, Professor, University of Notre Dame (Lead)
Sang-ri Yi, Assistant Professor, Rice University (Co-Lead)
Gaofeng Jia, Associate Professor, Colorado State University
Pouria Kourehpaz, Postdoctoral Researcher, University College London 
WoongHee Jung, Postdoctoral Researcher, Lehigh University
Gersena Banushi,  Research Specialist, University of California at Berkeley

Title: Simulating Regional Earthquake Impacts on Buildings: Recent and Emerging Applications
Host: Greg Deierlein, Stanford University
Date: November 13, 2025

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Abstract

This meeting will highlight recent advances in computational workflows and data resources for conducting high-resolution, regional-scale simulations of earthquake impacts on the built environment. The session will feature an overview of NHERI SimCenter tools— including BRAILS++, fWHALE/R2D, Pelicun, and other supporting applications—used to develop building inventories, generate earthquake hazard data, model structural response and damage, and estimate resulting losses, consequences, and recovery trajectories. Several ongoing research efforts will be presented to illustrate emerging applications, demonstrate interoperability among software components, and discuss lessons learned from large-scale simulation studies. The meeting aims to foster exchange among researchers and practitioners, inviting participants to share their own experiences, successes, and challenges in implementing regional earthquake simulations and in contributing to the broader development of open, community-driven workflow tools.

Presenters:

Adam Zsarnoczay, SimCenter
Carlos Molina Hutt, University of British Columbia

Title: HydroUQ Updates: New MPM Capabilities, Celeris Boussinesq Workflows, and DesignSafe Remote Jobs
Host: Pedro Arduino, Univ. of Washington
Date: November 18, 2025

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Abstract

This seminar introduces HydroUQ, an open-source tool for tsunami and storm-surge analysis with built-in uncertainty quantification. We will focus on recent functionality in two engines: (1) MPM—new large-deformation workflows for debris–structure–soil interaction (impact, runup, erosion/scour), streamlined pre/post processing, and remote multi-GPU execution on DesignSafe; and (2) Celeris (Boussinesq)—faster coastal wave propagation and runup modeling, improved site setup with custom topo-bathymetry, in-situ probes, and integration with BRAILS building inventories for scenario screening. We’ll walk through end-to-end examples—selecting events, setting inputs and uncertainties, launching DesignSafe runs (MPM), and interpreting results—using brief digital-flume and neighborhood-scale demos.

Presenter

Justin Bonus

Title: Enhanced Capabilities of R2D for Regional Disaster Risk Analysis
Host: Rachel Davidson, University of Delaware
Date: December 4, 2025

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Abstract

his event brings together modelers and social science researchers interested in regional-scale disaster simulation. We aim to share recent advances in the R2D Regional Analysis platform and offer a forum to discuss how the new capabilities can be used to advance regional disaster analysis. In particular, we will discuss the recent inclusion of the ability to generate synthetic (i.e., realistic but not real) households and assign them to residential buildings, offering a powerful way to link engineering analysis of building performance with household disaster experiences.

Moderator: Gregory Deierlein, J.A. Blume Professor, Stanford University. Dr. Deierlein is the co-director of the NHERI SimCenter and chair of the SimCenter working group on regional earthquake simulations. His research focuses on seismic design and behavior of structures, computational simulation of buildings and civil infrastructure, performance-based engineering, and informing practices and policies to promote urban resilience.

Organizers

Rachel Davidson, University of Delaware
Ann-Margaret Esnard, Georgia State University
Adam Zsarnóczay, Stanford University

Panelists

Shangjia Dong, University of Delaware
Sara Hamideh, Stony Brook University
Ali Nejat, Texas Tech University
Elaina Sutley, University of Kansas