Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance Association

UTICA, NY – Hurricane Ida, which made landfall in the Summer of 2021, caused billions of dollars in damages. In the aftermath of the storm, the National Science Foundation (NSF) deployed its Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) team to document the devastation caused by the Category 4 storm. The team, co-led by professors at the University of California-Berkeley and Louisiana State University, included SUNY Polytechnic Institute Assistant Professor of Engineering Dr. Asif Ahmed.

The GEER Association is a volunteer organization of geotechnical engineers, engineering geologists, and earth scientists from academia, industry, government organizations, and non-profit organizations that respond to geotechnical extreme events, conducting detailed reconnaissance and documenting their observations.

After Hurricane Ida hit the shore of Louisiana, which caused subsequent flooding in the northeastern states a few days later, the GEER team was formed to obtain valuable information that can be used to advance research and improve engineering practice. Dr. Ahmed contributed to the New York City portion of the report. It can be viewed in full here.