The George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation or NEES is created by the National Science Foundation^[1] to give researchers the tools to learn how earthquakes and tsunamis impact buildings, bridges, utility systems and other critical components of civil infrastructure.^[2]

NEES is a network of 15 large-scale, experimental sites that incorporate shake-tables, centrifuges that simulate earthquake effects, unique laboratories, a tsunami wave basin and field-testing equipment. All are linked to a centralized data pool and earthquake simulation software, bridged together by the high-speed Internet. The new NEEShub system, a communications web that uses collaborative tools and tele-presence technologies, allows off-site researchers to interact in real time with any of the networked sites.

With these tools, engineers and students from all parts of the country can collaborate on multi-site experiments using simulators that generate earthquake effects strong enough to bring down full-sized buildings.

From that knowledge will come a new set of rules from which engineers can design structures and materials that will better withstand earthquake forces.