Renaissance Computing Institute

Focus Areas Main

Biosciences & Medicine

Disaster & Environmental Research

Exploratory Technologies
–Flood Sensor Network
–Mobile Micro Rain Radar
–Lightning Detection

HydroMet

LEAD

NCEMA Collaborative Workspace

High Performance Computing

Humanities, Arts & Social Science

Visualization & Collaborative Environments

Completed Projects

Exploratory Technologies

Overview
Responding to disasters in a timely and effective manner can reduce the number of deaths and injuries and the amount of economic loss caused by a disaster. During disasters, North Carolina emergency responders often face uncertainties in making critical decisions. They could benefit by using new technologies to gain a thorough understanding of natural disasters, such as floods and ice storms, to make informed decisions in real time.

RENCI focuses on disasters that the state has identified as most important to observe in real time: floods, ice storms and lightning. RENCI is testing sensors, which will be used to observe these phenomena and transmit information back to emergency responders. The tests will establish which sensors and communication methods will be the most useful in providing real-time data. Once the research team determines what system works best, they will make recommendations to the state about what sensor technologies to use to track natural disasters and how to deploy them across the state.