Advances in Hurricane Engineering Conference Registration Opens May 1

Beginning May 1, 2012, individuals interested in attending the ATC-SEI Advances in Hurricane Engineering Conference: Learning from Our Past can register for the conference (www.atc-sei.org) and book their hotel accommodations (www.marriott.com/miamj). The Applied Technology Council and the Structural Engineering Institute host the conference at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami in Miami, Florida, October 24-26, 2012.

Hurricane engineering has evolved since Hurricane Andrew wreaked havoc on South Florida and Louisiana nearly 20 years ago. One of the most devastating natural disasters in United States history, Andrew taught us much about how these powerful storms affect our built environment.

The first hurricane conference to focus exclusively on topics of interest to building and design professionals, this unique gathering brings together practitioners, educators, federal and state government officials, students, and business leaders from across the nation and around the world. They will discuss how design practices are evolving to meet the building and infrastructure challenges presented by powerful hurricanes. Much has changed in building codes and standards and in products designed to resist the effects from strong hurricanes, and much more needs to be improved upon.

Plenary session speakers include Leslie Chapman-Henderson, President and CEO, Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), Max Mayfield, WPLG-TV Hurricane Specialist, former National Hurricane Center Director, CNN Journalist John Zarella (invited), and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety executives Julie Rochman and Dr. Timothy A. Reinhold. Technical program topics address infrastructure, risk modeling, wind loading, flooding, large structures, meteorology, and building code, envelope and roof issues.

Thought-provoking, post-conference workshops allow for more in-depth discussions of key topics, while post-conference tours take participants to interesting local sites including the new Miami Dolphins Stadium, the RWDI wind tunnel, the National Hurricane Center and the Wall of Wind at Florida International University. Post-conference events require additional registration. Attendees can earn up to 15 PDH credits.

More information here.