What
a Hurricane Can Do
Dr. Jean-Paul Pinelli, Florida Tech associate
professor of civil engineering, has earned a $187,900 grant from Florida
International University to participate in the FIU International Hurricane
Center's public hurricane loss projection model project.
The project involves Florida Tech and other universities
in developing and maintaining a computer model to assess hurricane
risk and to project annual expected insured residential losses for
specific Florida locales. Original funding is from the Florida Department
of Insurance.
The
model comprises three components: wind, vulnerability (damage) and
insured loss. Florida Tech will lead the vulnerability, or damage,
team.
The vulnerability component will model the relationship
between damage to different classes of residential structures and contents,
and the maximum sustainable wind speed generated. The completed, integrated
model will be evaluated, modified and reviewed by the Florida Commission
on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology.
Among several intended uses, the completed model should
support the Florida Department of Insurance and the insurance industry
in the rate-making process and provide a state-of-the-art, wind field
model for public use.
Dr. Chelakara Subramanian, associate professor
of aerospace engineering, is the co-investigator. Other institutions
involved in the project are Florida International University, University
of Florida, Florida State University and the National Institute of
Standards and Technology.
