Press Clips Archive
These disaster machine could help humanity prepare for cataclysms
Science Magazine | July 14, 2016
For the past year, Tara Hutchinson has been trying to figure out what will happen to a tall building made from thin steel beams when "the big one" hits. To do that, she has erected a six-story tower that rises like a lime-green finger from atop a shrub-covered hill on the outskirts of San Diego, California. Hundreds of strain gauges and accelerometers fill the building, so sensitive they can detect wind gusts pressing against the walls. Now, Hutchinson just needs an earthquake. Full Story
ICYMI: Pedestrian tracking bot and earthquake simulation
Engadget | July 9, 2016
Today on In Case You Missed It: Stanford engineers are using a robot to understand the way humans move through a crowded space. University of California, San Diego researchers are using the world's largest outdoor shake table to simulate earthquakes and fire to a six story building. If you can get into topics unrelated to Dallas and police shootings this weekend, German churches are using wifi to try to lure new attendees. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd. Full Story
Could this building protect you from the 'Big One'? Six-story steel frame stays perfectly intact after 6.7 magnitude earthquake tests
Daily Mail UK | June 16, 2016
Researchers at UC San Diego rocked and rattled a six-story steel frame building on a giant shake table to see how the structure would withstand major earthquakes. The shaking simulated an earthquake of the 6.7 magnitude that occurred in 1994 in Los Angeles, causing significant damage. During the test, the building shuddered and let out a hollow, grinding sound but remained standing. The water heaters and at least some of the flat-screen TVs seemed to remain in place, though researchers still need to review drone footage to see exactly how the building fared inside and out. Full Story
UCSD Researchers Use Drones to Test Building During Earthquake
NBC San Diego | June 15, 2016
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake jolted San Diego last week serving as a reminder of the dangers earthquakes present. On Wednesday, researchers from UC San Diego (UCSD) tested the use of drones to help better prepare San Diego during an earthquake. UCSD researchers flew two drones in and around a building at the shake table in Scripps Ranch. The building was six-story structure, similar to a residential apartment complex complete with utilities inside. Along with other cameras, the drones essentially gave the building an X-ray or MRI while it was jolted with magnitude 6.7 quake. Full Story
How to watch a major earthquake test shake a six-story building
CNET | June 15, 2016
Just days after a moderate 5.2 magnitude earthquake rattled the desert inland from Los Angeles and San Diego, the engineering department at UC San Diego plans to conduct what it calls the largest simulated earthquake test Wednesday afternoon. A six-story building has been constructed on an outdoor shake table at UCSD with support from federal and state government agencies as well as a number of building industry sponsors. The main sponsor is SWS Panel and Truss, builders of the engineered Mid-Rise Cold-Formed Steel Building Wall Systems used to create the test building. Full Story