SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT
Events for June 27, 2012
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CREATE Seminar Series
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 @ 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Nathaniel Heatwole, Post-doctoral Research Associate at Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE)
Talk Title: CREATE Research Metrics and Evaluation: Preliminary Value/Quality Model with One-Way Sensitivity Analysis
Series: CREATE Monthly Seminar Series
Abstract: CREATE regularly solicits and receives research project proposals from numerous investigators, and needs a way of assessing the relative value/quality of each. Currently, it relies heavily on its Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to help in choosing its research project portfolio. But the SAC's evaluations are subjective (albeit from experts), its processes are time- and resource-intensive, and there is often insufficient information available on which to make reliable value judgments. The goal of this project is to explore the viability of using more quantitative/objective bases for the selection of CREATE's research portfolio, and to devise models/tools to help complement (and potentially eventually replace) some of the current SAC functions. In this presentation, we put forth and demonstrate a preliminary Matlab-based research project value model (with one-way sensitivity analysis).
The model has six modules: 1) readability of white paper; 2) relevance of work to CREATE and to DHS; 3) publication record of PI; 4) scientific quality; 5) feasibility; and 6) appropriateness of budget. Readability is assessed using three common readability formulas from the literature, and relevance using keyword analyses - with keywords extracted from CREATE's Strategic Plan, and from the DHS S&T Directorate's Mission, Goals, & Objectives. The four other modules are not automated, in that they rely on user-supplied data. Each module contains various parameters, each with an associated utility weight, and another model component - the "switchboard" - contains the utility weights associated with each module. The user sets the initial values of all utility weights using sliders. The model output is twofold: 1) a plot of assessed value of the various projects; and 2) a 'global' measure of the sensitivity of these value ratings to changes in the value of a particular utility weight, across its entire range of possible variation.
Biography: Dr. Nathaniel (Nat) Heatwole joined the Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE) in March 2011 as a post-doctoral research associate. He received his doctorate in Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. EPP is an interdisciplinary department within the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon where research focuses on the intersections of science/technology, government and public policy, and society.
His dissertation examined the cost-effectiveness of various mitigation measures to protect buildings and their occupants from vehicle bomb attacks, including: vehicle barriers and setback distance; blast walls; and numerous window-related options such as stronger glazing, smaller pane sizes, and security film. It also examined how the various U.S. government blast standards (codes) for buildings (formulated by groups in DHS, GSA, DoD, and the State Department) might be made more risk- and performance-based, in a way that would be manageable and beneficial.
Dr. Heatwole has a bachelor's degree in physics and political science (double major) from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC.
To ensure that I order your lunch, please RSVP to calicchi@usc.edu. Please advise if you require a vegetarian option.
Hope to see you there!
Best Regards,
Erin Calicchio
Administrative Assistant
University of Southern California
U.S. Department of Homeland Security - National Center for
Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE)
3710 McClintock Ave, RTH 313
Los Angeles, CA 90089-2902
213-740-3863
calicchi@usc.edu
www.usc.edu/create
Host: Homeland Security Center @ USC (CREATE)
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Erin Calicchio
