INTEC uses AI to anticipate damage and optimize earthquake response
SANTO DOMINGO. - The Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) leads an innovative research project that uses Artificial Intelligence and Hybrid Digital Twins to improve the characterization of the vulnerability y seismic exposure in the country, which seeks to strengthen the evaluation and Seismic risk management in the Dominican Republic.
The research led by Claudia Germoso, PhD in Seismic Engineering and research professor in the Engineering Department of INTEC, has a Financing of 16 million pesos, partly contributed by the National Fund for Innovation and Scientific and Technological Development (FONDOCYT) 2024 and will last for two years starting in March 2025.
Under the name “Capacity Building for the Implementation and Management of Hybrid Digital Twins for Seismic Risk Mitigation of Critical Urban Infrastructures in the Dominican Republic, within the Framework of a Smart City (SeiSmart-RD)”The project develops an advanced methodology that integrates geospatial technologies, machine learning, remote sensing and numerical modeling for the assessment of seismic risk in the main cities of the country.
The implementation of these systems will allow the creation of virtual models of urban infrastructure, facilitating the simulation of risk scenarios and optimizing prevention and response strategies in the event of seismic events. In a country highly vulnerable to earthquakes and with a proliferation of informal constructions, the adoption of advanced technologies is essential to improve urban planning and reduce structural risks.
By combining remote sensing and machine learning, the project will enable detailed mapping of the exposure and vulnerability of buildings, providing authorities with key information for decision-making.
“Cities that have a comprehensive seismic risk assessment can more effectively plan urban development and adopt preventive measures to mitigate the impacts of a possible earthquake. In a country like the Dominican Republic, where the proliferation of informal constructions increases structural vulnerability, it is imperative to implement technologies that allow for a faster and more accurate analysis of risk,” said Germoso.
International cooperation for scientific development
The project is being developed in collaboration with prestigious international institutions such as the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), the Arts et Métiers Institute of Technology in Paris (ENSAM) and the National Office for Seismic Assessment and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (ONESVIE).
This cooperation will facilitate the development of advanced artificial intelligence algorithms for the simulation of risk scenarios and the optimization of vulnerability and seismic exposure analysis. In addition to its impact on scientific research, the project has a strong component of technology transfer and training of local technicians, in order to strengthen the country's capacity in seismic risk management. As part of its actions, digital tools for risk visualization will be developed and outreach strategies aimed at the population and authorities will be implemented.
With this research, INTEC reaffirms its commitment to scientific innovation and resilience to natural disasters, positioning itself as a leader in the application of advanced technologies for the evaluation and mitigation of seismic risk in the Dominican Republic.