Strengthening resilience to protect lives, communities, property, and critical infrastructure

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Disaster Resilience Research

Researchers in this area are dedicated to strengthening communities and critical infrastructure against hazards ranging from earthquakes to hurricanes to malicious acts. By partnering with government agencies, private industry, international organizations, and local stakeholders, faculty provide scientifically robust and practical tools that improve disaster preparedness, reduce losses, and ensure faster recovery.

Our experts apply advanced techniques in engineering, hydrology, fire dynamics, risk management, and data analytics to protect lives and safeguard infrastructure. The work in disaster resilience helps guide responsible investment, promote economic stability, and enhance the reliability of essential systems.

Active research areas include:

  • Applications of machine learning and data analytics to risk analysis of critical infrastructure
  • Developing robust systems that maintain functionality under recurrent, extreme, and compounding stressors
  • Evaluating practical, cost-effective strategies for the allocation of resources to ensure infrastructure resilience and reliability
  • Risk assessment and management under natural, accidental, and malicious hazards
  • Strategic planning for improving protection, mitigation, and insurance against natural hazards
  • Strengthening resilience at nuclear energy and other critical facilities

Centers

The Center for Disaster Resilience assists individuals, communities, and governments in understanding and reducing the catastrophic effects of natural hazards. Specializing in interdisciplinary methods, the center can help communities integrate the complex science and engineering of risk analysis with policies, codes, and environmental protection efforts.

Explore the center. 

The Center for Risk and Reliability (CRR) is the umbrella organization for many of the risk and reliability research and development activities at the UMD Clark School of Engineering.

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The Maryland Water Resources Research Center develops new technology and more efficient methods for resolving local, state, and national water resources problems. A member of the National Institutes for Water Resouces, the center trains water scientists and engineers, works with local communities, and funds research.

Explore the center. 

Bilal M. Ayyub

Professor
301-405-1956 | ba@umd.edu
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Michelle (Shelby) Bensi

The Deborah J. Goodings Professor in Engineering for Global Sustainability
301-405-4248 | mbensi@umd.edu
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Jongwan Eun

Assistant Professor
| jeun1@umd.edu
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Deb Niemeier

Clark Distinguished Chair Professor
301-405-6266 | niemeier@umd.edu
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Nii O. Attoh-Okine

Chair, Civil and Environmental Engineering
301-405-1979 | niiokine@umd.edu
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Allison Reilly

Pedro E. Wasmer Professor in Engineering
301-405-8846 | areilly2@umd.edu
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Mirosław J. Skibniewski

Professor
301-405-9364 | mirek@umd.edu
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Xianfeng (Terry) Yang

Associate Professor
301-405-2881 | xtyang@umd.edu
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Yunfeng Zhang

Professor
301-405-1955 | zyf@umd.edu
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