Investigators

• Gary Chock, Principal Investigator and overall project manager, with emphasis on GIS mapping, building damage data and loss function studies

• Jon Peterka, Co-Investigator, responsible for wind-tunnel tests and resource on current analytical/code wind speed-up provisions

Project Objectives

• To improve the capabilities of the Pacific Disaster Center for wind loss estimation in two major considerations pertinent to Hawaii and the Pacific Insular States

• Mapping of amplification of wind speeds over terrain features representative of Pacific island topography

• Adaptation of building damage models applicable to certain building prototypes prevalent in Hawaii and Pacific Insular States

Technical Relevance

• Terrain-related channeling and amplification of wind speeds has been a significant factor in losses from past hurricanes impacting Hawaii and Guam

• Current proprietary windstorm consequence assessment software models do not provide adequate representation of Pacific island topographic conditions and certain endemic building types

• The Pacific Disaster Center needs to generate accurate risk and consequence assessments of  windstorm damage to structures, including the impact of wind amplification caused by topography

Results

• GIS-mapped wind amplification factors have been derived for the complicated terrain features of Oahu, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai, and Guam, providing a means for improving the accuracy of loss estimation models at the Pacific Disaster Center and State Civil Defense

• A new methodology for calculation of estimated wind amplification has been validated

• Building wind loss functions more appropriate for local construction prototypes in Hawaii and Guam have been developed

• A series of workshops for PDC user groups has been conducted to demonstrate the results of the study and discuss potential planning applications

• The mapping products could improve wind hazard mitigation through identification of severe and shielded wind environments.  They are currently furnished to the Pacific Disaster Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.