Spring Break
Visiting prof studies damage from Katrina
Stephanie Butts
Issue date: 1/29/08 Section: NEWS
Liangmei Hu said NT is the farthest she's ever traveled from home in Hefei, China.
She joined Bill Buckles and Xiaohui Yuan, of the computer science faculty, from the Hefei University of Technology in China to research terrain models for emergency assessment, using a technology similar to radar called LIDAR, or light detection and ranging. A sensor attached to the bottom of an airplane emits laser pulses and "measures their return rate to return to determine surface elevations," according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Coastal Service Center Web site.
Buckles said his team uses models of Hefei and New Orleans to study how surface structures are affected by flooding. Hu said she had been working with a research team in China that was collaborating with Buckles on his research when he asked her to come to America.
"Her being here has been a great help," Buckles said.
Hu said she left behind her mother, sister and brother, who all support her decision to travel abroad. She said her mother believes this experience will be useful for her future development. Hu said living in America will be a big challenge to experience something new.
"Everything seems to be interesting and fresher to me," she said.
Hu said the biggest change she noticed is the style of living in America.
"Private cars are not so popular in China," she said.
Hu arrived two months ago and said she won't leave until next November. She said her favorite American food so far is barbeque and plans to attend some of NT's musical performances.
"I plan to appreciate that," she said.
The research is being paid for by a $124,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, but the China Scholarship Council is supporting Hu, Buckles said. The research is expected to last for two years, he said, and the final project will be awarded to the Digital Government Initiative to help assess damages for urban areas.
"We're building products to give," Buckles said.
She joined Bill Buckles and Xiaohui Yuan, of the computer science faculty, from the Hefei University of Technology in China to research terrain models for emergency assessment, using a technology similar to radar called LIDAR, or light detection and ranging. A sensor attached to the bottom of an airplane emits laser pulses and "measures their return rate to return to determine surface elevations," according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Coastal Service Center Web site.
Buckles said his team uses models of Hefei and New Orleans to study how surface structures are affected by flooding. Hu said she had been working with a research team in China that was collaborating with Buckles on his research when he asked her to come to America.
"Her being here has been a great help," Buckles said.
Hu said she left behind her mother, sister and brother, who all support her decision to travel abroad. She said her mother believes this experience will be useful for her future development. Hu said living in America will be a big challenge to experience something new.
"Everything seems to be interesting and fresher to me," she said.
Hu said the biggest change she noticed is the style of living in America.
"Private cars are not so popular in China," she said.
Hu arrived two months ago and said she won't leave until next November. She said her favorite American food so far is barbeque and plans to attend some of NT's musical performances.
"I plan to appreciate that," she said.
The research is being paid for by a $124,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, but the China Scholarship Council is supporting Hu, Buckles said. The research is expected to last for two years, he said, and the final project will be awarded to the Digital Government Initiative to help assess damages for urban areas.
"We're building products to give," Buckles said.
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