UBC Civil In The Media – 7.4 magnitude earthquake hits Taiwan
Several faculty members from UBC Civil Engineering spoke to the media to offer their expertise on earthquake response and resilient infrastructure.
Revolutionizing Affordable Housing: Dr. Tony Yang’s Research on Reinforcing Concrete Construction with Welded Wire Mesh
Rapid population growth in major cities worldwide has created immense challenges when seeking affordable housing. However, excess construction costs can be reduced by employing concrete elements such as slabs, panels, and beams that are reinforced with welded wire mesh (WWM). This material consists of electrically welded rods to form a uniformly continuous mesh which has […]
UBC Civil in the Media – What B.C. could learn from Turkiye earthquake
UBC engineering experts were among a group of researchers that visited Turkey to study the aftermath of its earthquake
UBC Seismic Took Home Communications Award from the EERI Seismic Design Competition
Although their tower collapsed, their exceptional performance still earned them the second highest overall score
Civil Engineering Researcher Recognized for Exemplary Editorial Leadership
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has bestowed upon Dr. Ehsan Noroozinejad, a distinguished Senior Researcher at UBC Smart Structures, the esteemed ASCE Associate Editor Award of the year. This recognition is an exceptional honor, given the competitive nature of the award, with nearly 1,000 Associate Editors hailing from eminent universities across more than […]
Seismic Upgrades at MOA: How Base Isolation Technology can Preserve Cultural Heritage
The Great Hall of the Museum of Anthropology at UBC (MOA) is a cultural and architectural masterpiece that requires modern seismic safety measures to protect against future risk
Turning disasters into knowledge, Professor Trevor Carey travelled to Taiwan to advance earthquake resilience
Professor Trevor Carey was part of a team funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation that travelled to Hualien County in Southeastern Taiwan to study the impact of the September 2022 Taitung earthquakes.
UBC engineers want to save whales from drowning…in noise
Originally published in: UBC News Chronic ship noise can lead to stress, hearing loss and feeding problems for marine mammals like whales, dolphins and porpoises. UBC researchers are diving in to help address the issue. According to project lead Dr. Rajeev Jaiman, an associate professor in the department of mechanical engineering, propeller noise accounts for much […]
UBC Civil In The Media – Des données du monde entier permettent d’estimer les risques sismiques en C.-B. (French)
Originally published in: CBC Radio Canada Pendant que la Colombie-Britannique poursuit son programme d’atténuation sismique et continue à rénover ses écoles, des experts expliquent que ces décisions politiques ont été prises sur la base de données issues du monde entier, faute de tremblement de terre majeur survenu dans la province. Les prévisions séismologiques se fondent notamment sur […]
UBC Civil In The Media – Séismes: près de 300 écoles de la Colombie-Britannique toujours à risque (French)
Originally published in: CBC Radio Canada Le programme d’atténuation sismique de la Colombie-Britannique, destiné à mettre 496 écoles de la province aux normes sismiques, arrive à mi-chemin. En date de mai 2022, 202 écoles ont été rénovées ou reconstruites, 25 sont en construction, cinq sont à construire, 14 sont en cours d’analyse de rentabilisation et 250 sont classées parmi les « priorités […]
PhD researcher receives Public Scholar Initiative fellowship and investigates impact of Georgia sedimentary basin
Preetish Kakoty (PhD, ’22) has been awarded the 2020-2021 UBC Public Scholar Initiative fellowship. He is one of two UBC Faculty of Applied Science students to receive the honour this year. The metro Vancouver region faces major seismic risk due to its close proximity to the Cascadia Subduction Zone. This risk is further elevated because of […]
Professors Loretta Li and Tony Yang receive province’s top awards for engineers
We are excited to announce that two faculty members in our Department received the 2020 President’s Awards from Engineers and Geoscientists BC. The awards are the province’s top awards for professional engineers and geoscientists and recognize those with outstanding achievement in professional, technical, and community contributions. Professor Loretta Li received the R.A. McLachlan Memorial Award, while […]
Dr. Carlos Molina Hutt Awarded The Shah Prize by the EERI
Congratulations to Dr. Carlos Molina Hutt, who has been awared the 2019 EERI Shah Family Innovation Prize by the Earthquake Engineering Research Insititute! The Shah Prize is awarded annually to young professionals and academics for creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit in the field of earthquake risk mitigation and management. In the press release by the EERI, they stated […]
Seismic risk study & resilience plan with UBC Professor Carlos Ventura
UBC takes great pride to ensure that all students, staff and faculty are safe and well-prepared in the event of an earthquake in British Columbia. One of the largest earthquakes to strike the coast of BC was on June 23, 1946 with a magnitude estimated at 7.3. More recently on October 27, 2012, a 7.7 […]
Receive missile text alert on your phone? Not yet in B.C.
Kent Johansen, a research associate with the earthquake engineering research facility, spoke to CBC about earthquake warning systems. He said traditional SMS text messaging wouldn’t reach everyone fast enough, and that we need dedicated earthquake warning devices. The story also appeared on Yahoo.
Civil researchers take new earthquake-resistant material outside the lab for a real world trial at Vancouver elementary school
A new earthquake resistant, fibre-reinforced composite material developed by Civil researchers has been taken out of the lab and into the real world for a trial application at a Vancouver elementary school. Older buildings in cities like Victoria, Vancouver, and Portland, especially unreinforced masonry buildings, are at risk for structural damage or collapse in a major earthquake event. […]
Civil undergraduate receives S-FRAME Prize
Civil undergraduate student Zhuo Nan Chen has been selected to receive the 2017 S-FRAME Software Inc. Prize in Structural Engineering, a $1,000 award offered to the student with the highest academic standing in CIVL 228 Introduction to Structural Engineering. The donor, S-FRAME Software Inc., is a company headquartered in Richmond, BC, that produces a suite […]
Professor Perry Adebar named Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering
Tuesday, June 13, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Perry Adebar has been named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. Election to the CAE, one of the highest professional honours accorded an engineer, is based on a nominee’s “distinguished achievements and career-long service to the engineering profession.” Fellows are nominated and elected by […]
EERF earthquake simulation highlights need for upgrades to older buildings
Wednesday, May 24, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin The Vancouver Sun covered a recent simulation in the EERF, that was designed to show how a retrofitted school building would perform in a 9.0 subduction earthquake. The simulation highlighted the need for the retrofitting and upgrading of older buildings. Read the full story here.
Victoria buildings at risk of earthquake destruction: Study
Monday, February 20, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin MSN published a Vancouver Sun story quoting Carlos Ventura, civil engineering professor and the director of UBC’s earthquake engineering research facility, after a study in Victoria found that almost 4,000 buildings in that city are at risk of complete damage from a major earthquake. Prof. Ventura said all communities in […]
Tankers could pose risk to Ironworkers’ bridge
Friday, November 18, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Metro News mentioned Ricardo Foschi, Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering, in a story about the possible dangers of more oil tankers in the Burrard Inlet. Foschi and other academics believe increasing the traffic through the Second Narrows could also increase the chances of an accident.
Seismic rift divides BC governments
Wednesday, November 2, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Carlos Ventura, Director of the EERF, was included in an earthquake preparedness article in The Province. In a video, he explained the benefits of the UBC lab that simulates the impact of earthquakes on buildings. “We want to see what level of damage this structure will […]
BC earthquake threatens Vancouver buildings
Monday, October 31, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin The Province highlighted the earthquake risk of many older Vancouver buildings. Carlos Ventura, the director of UBC’s earthquake engineering reserch facility, was interviewed for the story. The entire community needs to make a commitment to implementing seismic upgrades of at-risk buildings, Ventura said. He added that unreinforced […]
Discussing earthquakes in BC
Monday, October 17, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Perry Adebar, Professor Carlos Ventura, and Kent Johansen from the EERF spoke to CBC Radio’s Fault Lines podcast about the issues surrounding earthquakes in B.C. Prof. Adebar noted that certain structures would be of more concern in a large quake. “Generally speaking the average Vancouver house will do […]
B.C. not using earthquake warning technology
Friday, October 14, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Kent Johansen, an engineer with UBC’s Earthquake Engineering Research Facility, was quoted in a CBC story on earthquake warning technology. UBC researchers have developed a warning system used in B.C. Catholic schools and a few public schools, and Johansen says the system needs to be more widely implemented. “It […]
Prof. Adebar on the use of wood in tall buildings, like Brock Commons
Tuesday, September 27, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor and Head Perry Adebar spoke with the Ubyssey about the use of wood in hybrid, mass timber structures like the new Brock Commons Tall Wood student residence building. “I’d love to see timber used more, but I’d hate to see it done for political reasons — […]
Prof. Adebar speaks with Roundhouse Radio about vulnerability of some new condo buildings in Vancouver
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor and Head of Civil Engineering Perry Adebar spoke to Roundhouse Radio about how new condos may be uninhabitable after a major earthquake. “The most serious threat after a significant earthquake is that a large part of our city won’t be habitable,” said Prof. Adebar, noting that […]
Civil in the news: Prof. Adebar on the risks of irregularly designed condo buildings
Friday, August 12, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Perry Adebar spoke with The Globe and Mail about the risks of irregularly designed condo buildings when it comes to earthquakes: “The more exciting and interesting your building is, the more likely you won’t be able to use it after a significant earthquake.”
Civil in the news: Prof. Tannert on the benefits of building towers with wood, like UBC’s new 18-storey Brock Commons
Tuesday, July 5, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Thomas Tannert is quoted in The Province, discussing the benefits of using wood in the construction of towers, like UBC’s new 18-storey Brock Commons student residence building.
Civil in the news: Expansion of earthquake detection systems in schools
Monday, June 27, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin CKNW reported on the upcoming expansion of school earthquake detection systems, and quoted Carlos Ventura, the head of UBC’s Earthquake Engineering Research Facility.
Civil in the news: Prof. Carlos Ventura on the risk of liquefaction at new St. Paul’s Hospital site
Thursday, March 10, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin On The Coast highlighted concerns that the new site for St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver could liquefy during an earthquake. Carlos Ventura, director of UBC’s earthquake engineering research facility, told CBC that while the concern is real, technology and engineering have improved in the past few decades and […]
Civil in the news: EERF experts discussion of recent Metro Vancouver earthquake widely covered
Tuesday, January 5, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Still image above shows data transmitted by the system’s seismometers during the M4.8 earthquake. Watch the entire event unfold. Civil engineering experts provided expert commentary in various media outlets on the magnitude 4.3 earthquake that shook Metro Vancouver late on Dec. 29. Kent Johansen, a researcher working with […]
Earthquake Day
Thursday, October 29, 2015 | By Lindsay Cashin UBC partnered with the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) and the City of Vancouver to bring Earthquake Day to downtown Vancouver on October 15. Held as part of the University’s Centennial celebrations, Earthquake Day was conceived as a free public event to coincide with ShakeOut BC Day, with […]
Q&A with Prof. Ventura: preparing for an earthquake in BC
Thursday, October 15, 2015 | By Lindsay Cashin October 15 is officially ShakeOut BC Day, and more than 750,000 British Columbians are expected to participate in this year’s drill. In this Q&A, UBC earthquake safety expert Carlos Ventura talks about the nature of earthquakes and what’s being done to ensure that the buildings where we […]
Civil in the news: Dr. Robert Sexsmith comments on Dewdney bridge closure
Thursday, September 24, 2015 | By Lindsay Cashin Dr. Robert Sexsmith, Civil professor emeritus, spoke with the Vancouver Sun about the conditions that led to the recent Dewdney Slough Bridge closure. Read the full story.
Civil in the news: Dr. Carlos Ventura discusses the need for crucial seismic upgrades at local high risk schools
Thursday, August 27, 2015 | By Lindsay Cashin Dr. Carlos Ventura, Civil professor and director of UBC’s Earthquake Engineering Research Facility, spoke with CTV News Vancouver about the need for crucial seismic upgrades at B.C. schools. Read the full story.
Civil Instructor Yahya Nazhat’s recent paper recognized as Key Scientific Article contributing to excellence in engineering research
Wednesday, April 22, 2015 | By Lindsay Cashin Dr. Yahya Nazhat’s recent peer-reviewed paper entitled The kinematics of granular soils subjected to rapid impact loading has been recognized by Advances in Engineering as a Key Scientific Article contributing to excellence in engineering, scientific, and industrial research. Advances in Engineering strives to alert the scientific and industrial community to “innovative papers […]
Watch the recent magnitude 4.8 Tofino quake unfold on BC’s Earthquake Early Warning System, developed by Dr. Carlos Ventura and team
Tuesday, March 31, 2015 | By Lindsay Cashin Watch the Earthquake Early Warning System at work! This video, narrated by Civil Engineering Research Associate Dr. Kent Johansen, shows how a recent magnitude 4.8 Tofino earthquake propagated through the area from Powell River to Chilliwack. Developed under the lead of Dr. Carlos Ventura, the Earthquake Early […]
Professor Carlos Ventura’s Innovate 2014 Presentation Video Now Online
Last fall, Civil professor Carlos Ventura delivered a dynamic presentation on earthquake engineering at Innovate 2014, the APSC’s first annual showcase of some of the most advanced research coming out of the Faculty. All the presentations are now available online – click to view!
The EERF welcomes BC’s Minister of Education
Pictured L-R: Civil Professor and Director of the EERF Dr. Carlos Ventura; Ann English, P.Eng., CEO and Registrar, APEGBC; Hon. Peter Fassbender, Minister of Education; Charlene Fassbender. Photo Credit: Wendy D Photography The Department of Civil Engineering was pleased to welcome Education Minister Peter Fassbender to the Earthquake Engineering Research Facility on Friday. During his visit, […]
Civil in the news: Dr. Carlos Ventura “on alert for the Big One”
UBC’s Carlos Ventura (Civil Engineering) is part of a team that is developing a new earthquake early-warning system. Photo: Paul Joseph. Click here for a five minute segment on the earthquake early-warning system from CBC News. Placing earthquake sensors in 50 schools is step one of a UBC engineer’s vision for a life-saving warning network. Ten, […]