IRIS researchers head out before the storm to capture key data


In the field of resilience research, flexibility is key. This especially includes the ability to apply research in the real world quickly and effectively. Affiliate Matt Bilskie, who oversees the College of Engineering’s Coastal Ocean Analysis and Simulation Team (COAST) exemplified this flexibility by taking advantage of approaching Hurricane’s Idalia to deploy sensors, which will measure the storm’s landfall and storm surge. This real-life data is crucial in allowing researchers to validate the models they use to run flooding and storm surge simulations.

Photos by Matt Bilskie, featuring kayaker Dan Coleman as he places a sensor, and a sensor awaiting the storm.