Rocket-Propelled Life Preserver Wins 2010 James Dyson Award

Damage to a building’s fire and life safety systems can occur during an earthquake, making it difficult for people to evacuate the facility and impeding the work of first responders. Researchers from Worcester Polytechnic Institute conducted a series of tests on a building that simulated post-quake fires. They assessed how the damage affected the passive and active fire protection systems to contain fire and smoke.

After a series of storms battered the state, Maryland convened a task to examine lessons learned and offer recommendations for improving the resilience of the state’s power grid. The group’s final report offers 11 recommendations, ranging from policy improvements to disaster drills.