| | The NEES network extends across 15 experimental facilities spanning the entire breadth of the United States. Image courtesy of NEESit | Ground-shaking computer-powered collaboration is the order of the day at NEESit, otherwise known as the George E. Brown Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Cyberinfrastructure Center. No wonder it needs an acronym! NEES is the slightly shorter version, standing for the George E. Brown Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation. NEES is a shared national network comprising 15 experimental facilities, collaborative tools, a centralized data repository, and earthquake simulation software, all linked by the ultra-high-speed Internet2 connections used by the NEESgrid. This grid allows earthquake engineers across the United States to share data, collaborate with colleagues, and remotely participate in experiments. NEES research provides engineers with insight into the seismic responses of everything from buildings and bridges to coastal regions and rocks. This new knowledge directly translates in to better protection against earthquake disasters. NEES is funded by the National Science Foundation, U.S. - Cristy Burne, iSGTW |