Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Canada has a wide range of weather and landscapes, which means our buildings and roads face all sorts of tough weather conditions, like strong hurricanes, tornadoes, and other big storms. The areas near the coasts and south of Canada are known to be at the highest risk. Between 2017 and 2023, Canada experienced over 660 tornadoes, causing a lot of damage. In 2022 alone, bad weather cost $3.1 billion due to the damage it caused. Hurricane Fiona hit Atlantic Canada and Quebec, resulting in about $800 million in damage. There was also a severe wind event called Derecho, causing $1 billion in damage in Ontario and Quebec the same year. The world is getting warmer, and this is changing how fast hurricanes move and where they can go. This could lead to more frequent and worse hurricanes and tornadoes in Canada. Recent studies suggest that between 2010 and 2100, damage from tornadoes and disasters might increase threefold due to these risks. This shows our buildings and roads are becoming more vulnerable. Unfortunately, Canada's building rules don't have specific guidelines for unique winds like tornadoes or downburst. In northern Canada, it is even more concerning as we have very limited information about the risks, but we do know that strong winds, thunderstorms, and melting ice can be problematic. The challenge up north is its remoteness, making it hard to find economical solutions to address these problems. The low socio-economic situation is making the problem even worse, and we are less aware of the overall risks. To tackle some of these issues, a five-year research program is planned. Initially, we will create computer models to understand how strong winds affect buildings and cities. These models will be tested at a research facility called WindEEE Dome, which can generate these unique wind systems, to ensure they work. Then, these computer models will help us make a digital copy of the real world, which will aid in finding better solutions. The computer models will run on the large computers that Digital Research Alliance of Canada provides for researchers in Canada. Once we gather enough data, we'll use computers to develop smart programs that learn from this data. These smart programs will help us find even better ways to deal with extreme weather. This will make it easier for everyone to use these solutions, even in places with limited resources. It will make our buildings and roads stronger and help us cope with climate change. This research will benefit insurance companies, architects, builders, and others who work with buildings and other civil infrastructure. Many engineers and scientists will be recruited from diverse backgrounds and trained with these new design and retrofit methods that will help Canada in the future. The scientific data we will generate during the study will also help improve the building design rules and standards, making Canada more ready to face the problems of the future extreme climate.