Improving the Earthquake Resiliency of Electric Power Grids

Dr. George C. Lee, University at Buffalo, EEC-9701471

Earthquakes cause buildings and bridges to collapse and highways to crack, but much of their most severe damage does not meet the eye. University of Southern California researchers at the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER) (headquartered at The University at Buffalo) have been seeking ways to make public utility systems more resilient in the face of earthquakes.

Locations of Seismic Faults and 52 Receiving Stations in the San Fernando Valley of California

The researchers, including geotechnical, structural, risk and electrical engineers and economists from multiple institutions and municipalities, are identifying elements that are at risk, evaluating the geotechnical causes of damage, and estimating potential losses due to continuing service outages. The system allows municipalities to anticipate areas of greatest damage, strengthen those vulnerable areas and make preemptive repairs, develop better emergency plans, and respond faster to needs in the event of an earthquake.