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GULFPORT -- From its Visualization Lab at the
Southern Miss John C. Stennis Space Center to its Department
of Geography and Geology’s Geospatial Information Systems Application,
the University of Southern Mississippi has the resources needed
to revolutionize disaster awareness, preparedness and introduce
smart growth strategies, said Joe Swaykos, M.A., director of
the Center for Higher Learning (CHL) at the Southern Miss Stennis
Space Center.
These projects are underway:
* Examining the ways in which new construction could survive
another Katrina or a storm of even greater magnitude is a significant
element, with respect to the recovery process, in the ongoing
research into Katrina and its aftermath
* Using Lidar, an airborne laser device which measures elevation
of the land along the coast, scientists can obtain a very detailed
topographical relief map of the Gulf Coast.
“This information will allow decision makers (in the redevelopment
process) to see what effects extreme weather would have on the
land as it is now, which is certainly different than it was
10 weeks ago,” Swaykos said. “We want to help architects and
others involved in the redevelopment process make smarter decisions
and optimize the funding they have for redevelopment, and we
have the technology and resources to do that,” he said.
* A collaborative effort between the Center for Higher Learning
Visualization Laboratory and other Southern Miss scientists
will include a storm surge model where different storm scenarios
are examined, as well as what impact another flood or floods
would have on the “new” post-Katrina coastline.
“We will take the data collections from the Department of Geography
and overlay it on satellite images of the coast to recreate
a sequence of events relating to the flooding from Katrina,”
said Swaykos. The data provided would examine different levels
of storm surge and its effects on the Gulf Coast.
“Our data on storm surge and flooding will be extremely valuable
in building a post-Katrina database here at Southern Miss that
can be used by everyone working on Katrina recovery and redevelopment,”
said Dr. Clifton Dixon, chair of the Southern Miss Department
of Geography and Geology. “Already, insurance underwriters are
accessing the data, as well as contractors removing debris,
and economic planning commissions. Ideally the data should be
a part of the information foundation used within the governor’s
commission.”
Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, faculty from the Department
of Geography and Geology began working on the Mississippi Gulf
Coast and spent the next two months focused upon collecting
perishable data. New data from the research being conducted
on the coast will be gathered, archived, shared, visualized
and used for simulation of natural and man-made disasters and
recovery. This is accomplished using local knowledge and expertise
resident among collaborating agencies – National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency,
Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Homeland Security,
Army Corps of Engineers and other universities.
Tish Williams, Hancock County chamber of commerce director,
is one of many coast leaders looking to Southern Miss for assistance
in the area’s redevelopment. “Southern Miss and the CHL at the
Southern Miss Stennis Space Center have excellent faculty experts
and resources that state and local officials should utilize
in their recovery and rebuilding efforts along the Mississippi
Gulf Coast.”
“We want to bring the strengths of Southern Miss to bear on
the reduction of economic risk resulting from the natural and
man-made disasters in coastal areas,” Swaykos said.
About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is
a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling
its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering
individuals to transform lives and communities. In a tradition
of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating
a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural
enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world. Southern
Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss, with an additional campus
and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast;
further information is found at www.usm.edu.
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Last updated:
12/23/05 |
