An open-source simulation platform to support and foster research collaboration in natural hazards engineering

Adam Zsarnoczay^1*Gregory G Deierlein¹Frank McKenna²Matthew Schoettler²Sang-ri Yi²Barbaros Cetiner²Aakash B Satish²Jinyan Zhao²Justin Bonus²Abiy F Melaku²Sina Naeimi²Pedro Arduino³Rachel Davidson⁴Catherine Gorle¹Sanjay Govindjee²Ahsan Kareem⁵Tracy Lynn Kijewski-Correa⁵Laura Nicole Lowes³Michael Motley³Seymour M.J. Spence⁶Ertugrul Taciroglu⁷Alexandros Taflanidis⁵Matthew DeJong²

• ¹Stanford University, Stanford, United States
• ²University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States
• ³University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
• ⁴University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States
• ⁵University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States
• ⁶University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
• ⁷University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Computational simulation is a critical tool for assessing the impacts of natural hazards and informing risk mitigation and resilience strategies. The NHERI SimCenter has developed an open-source, modular framework that integrates performance-based engineering methodologies with regionalscale assessments to enable multi-hazard, multi-scale simulations. This paper presents the conceptual foundation and current capabilities of the SimCenter platform, covering hazard characterization, structural response analysis, damage and loss estimation, and recovery modeling. By leveraging high-performance computing, standardized data schemas, and open-source tools, the platform facilitates transparent, reproducible research while bridging local and regional analyses. Key contributions include improved inventory generation, damage simulation, and recovery analysis, with applications extending across multiple hazard domains. The paper also discusses challenges in implementing high-resolution, high-fidelity simulations, advancing multi-hazard assessments, and enhancing accessibility for a broad user base. Looking ahead, expanding hazard models, refining regional-to-local modeling techniques, and fostering community collaboration will be essential for advancing computational simulation in natural hazards engineering. Through continued development, the SimCenter aims to provide researchers and practitioners with scalable, adaptable tools to enhance disaster risk assessment and resilience planning.discusses emerging needs and challenges for computational simulation in disaster risk management over the next decade and beyond. The SimCenter's framework and models draw from extensive past research, notably performancebased earthquake engineering (PBEE) methodologies from the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center. It also incorporates contributions from other large research centers, including the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER), the Mid-America Earthquake (MAE) Center, and the Natural Hazards Center. Additionally, the framework integrates methodologies from major government-funded initiatives for disaster mitigation and response, such as Hazus (FEMA, 2024a), FEMA 273 (FEMA, 1997), and FEMA P-58 (FEMA, 2012). Input from practicing engineers, including SEAOC's VISION 2000 (SEAOC, 1995) and SPUR's Resilient City (SPUR, 2009), and successful technology transfer collaborations between academia and industry have further informed the development of the SimCenter's simulation tools.Complementary efforts to identify key research gaps and emerging areas have shaped the SimCenter's vision and developments.