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Persistent Surveillance of Built Environment Through Passive Geophysical Methods

October 7, 2020 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EDT

IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society Speaker Series Presents Mihan House McKenna Taylor, PhD, CPG, RPG, Army ST Near Surface Phenomenology

Wednesday, October 7, 12:00 EDT Virtual meeting

https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/241068

Meeting link:  Join meeting

Abstract:  Geophysical techniques have the potential to comprehensively assess the human built environment, both above and below ground, by utilizing the persistent nature of passive monitoring system to assess functional condition, rather than relying on discrete assessments in time from visual inspections. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) has developed methods to persistently and remotely monitor critical infrastructure using infrasound, sub-audible acoustics below 20 Hz. Infrasound can propagate tens of kilometers or more depending on source characteristics and meteorological conditions, even through complicated urban terrain. Large bridges, dams, and other industrial sources are considered critical infrastructure and emit infrasound, since they exhibit characteristics of modal motion in the infrasound passband. While the motion of these structures may not be perceptible to humans, instrumentation can detect the small air-coupled movements, providing real-time information about critical infrastructure. The geophysical arrays are omni-directional, capable of assessing multiple structures simultaneously, and are continually recording in order to provide real-time information, building up a pattern-of-life for the built environment through assessing structural behavior.

 

Bio:  Dr. Mihan H. McKenna Taylor is the Army ST for Near Surface Phenomenology for the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), a group of 7 R&D laboratories for the US Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the US Army.

Recipient of the 2013 USACE Researcher of the Year award for innovative remote monitoring of structures, Dr. McKenna-Taylor has built, led, and mentored large teams to national and international recognition in cutting-edge geophysical research. Internally to ERDC, Dr. McKenna-Taylor supports multiple research and development areas to include Basic Research, Military Engineering, Engineered Resilient Systems, and Geospatial Research Engineering for persistent surveillance, remote reconnaissance, and acquisition science, and directly supports the core competencies of military and civil engineering, battle space terrain mapping and characterization, and cold regions science and engineering. She conceives, develops, and fosters the science of near-surface phenomenology through high-performance computing simulations, analytical analysis, and laboratory and field experimentation for both civil and military partners, including multiple Department of Defense laboratories, Department of Energy, Defense Intelligence Agency, international defense partners, and academic institutions.

Dr. McKenna Taylor is the author of numerous journal articles, technical reports, and other publications on a wide variety of geophysical and geotechnical topics. Dr. McKenna Taylor holds a B.S. in Physics with a Chemistry Minor from Georgetown University (1999) and a Ph.D. in Geophysics from Southern Methodist University (2005). She is Certified Professional Geologist (#11410) from The American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) and a Registered Professional Geologist in the state of Alaska (#661). Dr. McKenna is actively involved in the Military Sensing Symposiums (Battlefield Acoustics, Magnetic, and Seismic/Electromagnetics), as well as the American Geophysical Union and the Acoustical Society of America.

Prior to joining ERDC in 2005, and while pursuing her PhD, Dr. McKenna Taylor taught Geophysics and Geology at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas (1999-2005), and conducted research in support of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. She is currently an adjunct professor in the Huffington Department of Geological Sciences at SMU, and an adjunct graduate faculty member of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of Mississippi State University, and teaches courses for graduate students in both departments.

Details

Date:
October 7, 2020
Time:
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EDT