Research Projects

The Center for Risk-Based Community Resilience Planning at Colorado State University, in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), leads an ambitious project aimed at improving disaster resilience and recovery in communities through the IN-CORE (Interdependent Networked Community Resilience Modeling Environment) platform. This computational tool integrates a wide range of data, allowing users to model and optimize disaster resilience strategies by analyzing the impacts of natural hazards on both physical infrastructure and socio-economic systems.

The IN-CORE platform is a significant breakthrough in resilience planning because it considers the complex interdependencies between different systems—such as critical infrastructure, economic stability, and community well-being—that are all affected by disasters. The platform not only models the immediate effects of natural disasters, like infrastructure failure, but also assesses long-term recovery, including factors like population displacement, public health, and economic productivity. This holistic approach allows for the creation of comprehensive strategies that target both short-term disaster response and long-term community resilience. One of the project’s unique strengths lies in its interdisciplinary nature. By merging engineering, social sciences, and economics, the team is able to comprehensively model the full scope of disaster impacts and recovery processes. This work goes beyond simply studying infrastructure damage; it examines the entire recovery process and considers the role of lifeline systems, community planning, and economic recovery in building resilient communities. Moreover, the project focuses on cascading failures—how one failure in a critical system can lead to widespread disruption in others—and offers solutions to mitigate these risks.

As part of this project, I am working closely with my advisor as his research assistant, contributing to various aspects of this large-scale research effort. My role involves helping to model the interdependencies between infrastructure and socio-economic systems and analyzing the broader impacts of natural disasters on community recovery. Through this work, I am gaining invaluable experience in interdisciplinary research, resilience planning, and the application of optimization models to real-world problems. The work being done through IN-CORE provides a data-driven, scientifically grounded approach to enhancing disaster resilience. By allowing policymakers and community planners to optimize resource allocation and investment strategies, the project offers practical tools to improve recovery outcomes and long-term community sustainability. With extensive field studies and ongoing validation, IN-CORE is designed to support a range of stakeholders in making informed decisions that will protect both lives and livelihoods in the face of increasing disaster risks.

I am currently working as a research assistant for my advisor on the NSF-funded project titled "Focused CoPe: Fundamental Research to Inform Holistic Decision-Making for Historically Underrepresented Communities Impacted by Coastal Hazards." This project aims to improve the resilience of marginalized communities along the Northern Gulf Coast, with a special focus on tribal populations. These communities face significant risks from coastal hazards such as hurricanes, storm surges, flooding, and sea level rise. The project seeks to address these challenges by developing innovative, data-driven strategies that integrate risk assessment, infrastructure resilience, and cultural heritage preservation.

The interdisciplinary nature of this project is one of its core strengths. It brings together experts from fields like engineering, geosciences, social sciences, and urban planning to create holistic solutions that not only protect physical infrastructure but also address socio-economic vulnerabilities and cultural concerns. The project involves close engagement with local communities through participatory research methods, including surveys, roundtables, and discussion forums, ensuring that the developed strategies are tailored to the specific needs of these historically underrepresented populations.

As part of this project, I contribute to the development of models and decision-making tools designed to optimize disaster resilience and recovery efforts. These models consider a wide range of factors, from infrastructure damage to social vulnerability, helping policymakers and community leaders prioritize mitigation strategies and make informed, evidence-based decisions. This work aims to build long-term sustainability and protect both the cultural and economic fabric of these vulnerable coastal communities.