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Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech is the leading science and technology institution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The university links basic research in the natural and social sciences and engineering to applications in the service of public safety and social protection.

Virginia Tech has broad, multidisciplinary capability and experience in natural and technological disaster management. In the geological sciences the University supports the Virginia Tech Seismological Observatory and the Center for Water Resources Research. In engineering the university supports the Center for Environmental and Hazardous Materials Studies, and Virginia Tech is the lead institution for the Wind Hazard Mitigation Consortium, an organization of 10 U.S. research universities active in wind engineering research. Issues of critical infrastructure protection are addressed in the work of the Virginia Tech Center for Transportation Research, the Center for Power Engineering and the Center for Wireless Telecommunications. Associated with the University is the Waste Policy Institute which assists the De-partment of Energy in the management of hazar-dous waste materials. Scientific and technical re-search findings are translated into meaningful po-licy consideration through the work of the Center for Public Administration and Policy and the Center for Housing Research. Research applications, training and outreach related to international development are supported and coordinated at the University by the Office of International Research and Deve-lopment. The Virginia Cooperative Extension Service has also played an active role in disaster damage assessment and public information for disaster mitigation, preparedness and response in Virginia.

Virginia Tech Seismological Observatory
The Virginia Tech Seismological Observatory maintains a seismic instrumentation array in Virginia and is a primary center for the study of the seismicity of the southeastern United States. The Observatory has prepared seismic risk maps for the Common-wealth and the region as well as detailed studies of historical seismicity.

The Center for Water Resources
The Center for Water Resources has evaluated the flood hazard throughout the Commonwealth and has been instrumental in the evaluation of mitigation techniques and risk reduction measures associated with flood insurance.

The Center for Environmental and Hazardous Materials Studies
The Center for Environmental and Hazadardous Ma-terials Studies has taken a leading role in environmental hazard assessment and environmental remediation. The Center has also contributed to environ-mental hazard awareness and risk communication.

Center for Energy and the Global Environment (CEAGE)
CEAGE combines the resources of faculty members and students from six departments at Virginia Tech to address global problems of energy and sustainable developement. Research activities are currently focused on global warming resulting from the use of fossil fuels for power generation and transportation. Consequences of climate change and changing patterns of risk are also considered by the center.

As a land grant university Virginia Tech has extensive experience in technology transfer related to local and regional economic and social development.

The Virginia Tech Center for Transportation Research
The Virginia Tech Center for Transportation Research is leading cutting edge research in highway transportation safety related to the "Smart Road" re-search facility. The Center has pioneered the development of post-disaster traffic management and control techniques.

International Institute for Critical National Infrastructures
The International Institute for Critical National Infrastructures is a multi-national, multi-university consortium to bring about integrated development of the three critical infrastructures: electric power networks, communications networks and computer networks which are essential for the functioning of modern societies. The institute has initiated research on assessment, control and restoration of the electric power grid following catastrophic disturbances and on innovative technologies for defense against catastrophic failures of complex interactive power networks. The founding members of the Institute are Virginia Tech, Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble, Hong Kong University, Hong Kong Polytechnic and EnerSearch, Sweden.

The Center for Wireless Telecommunications
The Center for Wireless Telecommunications combines the development of new telecommunications technology with the analysis of regulatory and
business consequences. The Center is currently managing the development of LMDS based systems in Southwestern Virginia and the development of Disaster Management Information Systems for disaster response and mitigation.

The Center for Public Administration and Policy
Faculty members of the Center for Public Admini-stration and Policy have led key policy review for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and carried out research on the structure of organi-zations tasked with emergency response responsibilities.

The Waste Policy Institute
The Waste Policy Institute is associated with the University in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center. The Institute plays a major role in environmental remediation and public safety related to the nuclear energy and weapons industries.
Financial Risk Management Center (FRMC)
FRMC is a center of the Department of Finance of the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech. The center provides a source of timely scholarly research and education on major issues related to the global market for derivatives, including futures, forwards, swaps and options. In both research and education the center's activities bring together leaders from academe, government and business to address key issues and problems associated with financial risk. Securetization of risk is a topic of critical importance to disaster risk management.


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