About NEES

The National Science Foundation created the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) to improve our understanding of earthquakes and their effects.

NEES is a shared national network of 15 experimental facilities, collaborative tools, a centralized data repository, and earthquake simulation software, all linked by the ultra-high-speed Internet2 connections of NEESgrid. Together, these resources provide the means for collaboration and discovery in the form of more advanced research based on experimentation and computational simulations of the ways buildings, bridges, utility systems, coastal regions, and geomaterials perform during seismic events.

NEES will revolutionize earthquake engineering research and education. NEES research will enable engineers to develop better and more cost-effective ways of mitigating earthquake damage through the innovative use of improved designs, materials, construction techniques, and monitoring tools. This research can also help prevent infrastructure damage from other natural disasters and from terrorism. Preparing for and protecting against these threats makes American communities more resilient and enhances their ability to meet the challenges posed by future disasters.

With funding from NSF, NEES will operate for ten years (October 1, 2004 - September 30, 2014). The program is managed by the nonprofit NEES Consortium, Inc. (NEESinc).

Multimedia Presentation:
What's NEES?Learn about the NEES program and our unique facilities with this short audiovisual presentation.
The History of NEES
A short history and overview of NEES (including informational about the MREFC and Operational phases of the NSF NEES program.

Goals of NEES
NEES opens the field of earthquake engineering research to a broader and more diverse community by:
  • Providing access to the world's largest and most advanced experimental facilities for performing earthquake engineering experiments
  • Operating an IT infrastructure capable of integrating lab experiments with computer models
  • Motivating the research community to collaborate with distant colleagues using a shared, web-based environment
  • Fostering the open exchange of data and information among researchers and practicing engineers through shared, web-accessible repositories
  • Creating active programs of education and outreach committed to improving seismic safety
What NEES Includes
The NEES program includes four core components:
  • NEES Equipment Sites - large-scale, shared-use facilities for conducting earthquake engineering research
  • NEES IT Infrastructure - advanced IT providing facilities for remote access to the Sites, shared access to data, and other features designed to support distributed collaboration
  • NEES Consortium, Inc. - community-based consortium representing the interests of the earthquake engineering research, education, and practice communities
  • NEES Research Projects- collaborative research efforts that make use of NEES's unique facilities (projects are selected by the National Science Foundation using a competitive, peer reviewed process)