By Joyce Kryszak
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Buffalo, NY – A UB structural engineer is on his way to Chili Friday to gather information from the earthquake that could help mitigate damage from future earthquakes.
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The engineer who developed how to test the interior damage from earthquakes will put his work into action. UB engineering professor Gilbert Mosqueda makes his way to Chile Friday as part of a national team of engineers. They will spend a week gathering information about the damaged contents of hospitals. Mosqueda said it is not enough that a building is still standing. He said damaged water pipes, fallen ceiling tiles are among some of the consitions that can render a building unuseable.
He said to get accurate information they need to get there quickly before the damage is cleaned up. What they learn will be used to help improve building codes in the United States, as well as Chile.
Mosqueda said both countries have a similar level of earthquake preparedness. So, he said the information about damage in Chile can be used to mitigate the impact of future earthquakes.