George Deodatis and Feniosky Peña-Mora Named ASCE Distinguished Members
The American Society of Civil Engineers recognizes two prominent researchers for their outstanding contributions to the field of civil engineering.
George Deodatis (L) and Feniosky Pena-Mora (R). Credit: Columbia Engineering
Civil Engineering Professors George Deodatis and Feniosky Peña-Mora have been named Distinguished Members of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the highest honor awarded to ASCE members who have made substantial contributions to the profession through their research, publications, and service to the industry.
George Deodatis
Deodatis, the Santiago and Robertina Calatrava Family Professor of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics and professor of earth and environmental engineering, was recognized for his “contributions in uncertainty quantification and probabilistic methods in civil engineering and engineering mechanics, with emphasis on developing analytical and simulation methods for problems related to structural safety and reliability, and infrastructure resilience and sustainability.”
His research interests include the development of probabilistic methods for studying structures and infrastructure systems subjected to natural and technological hazards. He uses the results to determine the safety and reliability of structures and to perform risk assessment and management of infrastructure systems. He also studies the effects of climate change and extreme weather on the civil infrastructure with the goal of establishing adaptation and mitigation strategies. Much of his research is based on introducing novel techniques for simulation of stochastic processes, fields, and waves, and modeling random excitations on structures and uncertain structural/material properties, for applications in earthquake engineering, structural dynamics, offshore engineering, wind engineering, environmental engineering, geomechanics, and other fields. His work has led to important advancements in the field of risk and uncertainty analysis, helping to improve the safety and reliability of structures, and the resilience and sustainability of infrastructure systems.
Feniosky Peña-Mora
Feniosky Peña-Mora, the Edwin Howard Armstrong Professor of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, and professor of earth and environmental engineering and of computer science, was recognized for his “leadership and innovation in education, research, and process integration during the design and development of large-scale civil engineering.” He also is a leader in change management, conflict resolution, sustainable construction, and information technology support for collaboration during the design and development of large-scale civil engineering systems. He currently serves as the executive director of the Center for Buildings, Infrastructure, and Public Space, which identifies how best to design, construct, and manage buildings, infrastructure, and civic space, emphasizing functionality, sustainability, and resilience. The Center’s mission is to catalyze economic success and urban creativity to help the future of cities. Peña-Mora was the New York City commissioner of the Department of Design and Construction from 2014 to 2017.