Publications

Journal Papers

1. Pita. G. (2023). Expert-opinion depth-damage functions: what’s the variability introduced by the survey setup? Int’l Journal of Disaster Risk reduction. Vol. 98, 104077.
2. Pita, G. (2022). Foundation and Development of Natural Catastrophe Risk Modeling. Natural Hazards Review. Vol. 23, No. 4.
3. Pita, G., Albornoz, B., Zaracho, J. (2021). Derivation of Flood Depth-Damage and Fragility Functions with Structured Expert Judgment. J. of Hydrology, 603, B, 126982.
4. Silva, A., Pereira, E., Pita, G., Siqueira, G., Vieira, L. (2021). Damage assessment of RC Buildings subjected to Induced Seismicity in Brazil. Engineering Structures. 234, 111904
5. Silva, A., Pita, G., J. Inaudi, L. Vieira (2020). Probabilistic Loss Assessment of Induced Seismicity in Manaus, Brazil. Earthquake Spectra, 37, 1, 180-203.
6. Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P., Gurley, K., Weekes, J., Cocke, S. (2016). Hurricane Vulnerability Model for Mid/High-Rise Residential Buildings. Wind & Structures, vol. 23, No. 5, 449-464.
7. Pita, G. & M.L.A. de Schwarzkopf (2016). Urban Downburst Vulnerability and Damage Assessment from a Case Study in Argentina. Natural Hazards. 83(1), 445-463.
8. Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P., K. Gurley, J. Mitrani-Reiser (2015). State of the Art of Hurricane Vulnerability Estimation Methods: A Review. Natural Hazards Review 16(2), 04014022.
9. Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P., K. Gurley (2013). Hurricane Vulnerability Modeling: Development and Future Trends. J. Wind Eng. & Ind. Aerod, (114), 96-105.
10. Pita, G. Pinelli, J.-P., S. Cocke, K. Gurley, J. Mitrani-Reiser, J. Weekes (2011). Assessment of Hurricane Induced Internal Damage to Low-rise buildings in the Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model. J. Wind Eng. & Ind. Aerod (104-106) 76-87.
11. Pinelli, J.-P., Pita, G., K. Gurley, B. Torkian, C. Subramanian (2010). Damage Characterization: Application to Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model. Natural Hazards Review 12(4), 190-195.
12. Pinelli, J.-P., K.R. Gurley, C.S. Subramanian, S.S. Hamid, Pita, G. (2008). Validation of a probabilistic model for hurricane insurance loss projections in Florida. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 93(13), 1896-1905.

In the News

• Making Waves With Better Flood Damage Forecasting; PreventionWeb; Futurity.org. Nov/2023.
• NBC News – Wildfires, hurricanes and heat: The US is getting hit by extremes from all sides. 08/22/2023.
• The Verge – Climate change is redrawing the disaster map. 2023, Aug 22.
• The Verge – Should California expect more tropical storms like Hurricane Hilary? 2023, Aug 21.
• Washington Post – Florida university to design ‘Category 6’ hurricane wind and surge simulator. 2022, March 2.
• WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore – Marylanders need to prepare for active hurricane season, potential flooding. 2022, June 1.

Working Papers

1. Development of a storm catalog and gust return periods for Anguilla simulating the wind fields of historical storms with incomplete information.

Conference Papers

1. Pita, G., Pereira, E. Margonari, A., Silva, A., Siqueira, G. Vieira, L., Costa, C. (2022) Study of the effect of recent and future earthquakes on the current building inventory of San Juan, Argentina. ICONHIC 2022.
2. Silva, A., Pita, G., Inaudi, J., Vieira, L. (2019), A risk assessment framework for induced seismicity in Manaus, Brazil. 2nd International Conference on Natural Hazards & Infrastructure, 23 – 26 June 2019, Chania, Greece.
3. Silva, A. Pita, G. Flórez-Lopez, J., Siqueira, G. Santos, T., Coelho, K. Picón, R. Vieira, L. (2018) Study of Reinforced Concrete Structures Subjected to Induced Seismicity using Lumped Damage Mechanics Modeling. CILAMCE 2018
4. Albornoz, B., Pita, G., Natalini, B. (2017) Flood Risk Analysis in an Underserved area of Chaco, Argentina and Identification of Mitigation Strategies. Disaster Risk Reduction Summit, GFP/Hydro-Met sessions. Buenos Aires. NASA-CoNAE.
5. Kappes, M., Joseph, M., Martinez, J., Pita, G. (2015) Information-Based Prioritization of Vulnerability Reduction Investments for Hurricane Shelters in the Commonwealth of Dominica. 9th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management. Bahamas.
6. Pita, G., R. Gunasekera, O. Ishizawa (2015), Windstorm Hazard Model for Disaster Risk Assessment in Central America. Proc. of the 14th International Conference on Wind Engineering. Porto Alegre, Brazil.
7. Ishizawa, O., Gunasekera, R., Pita, G. (2015) Development of Country Disaster Risk Profiles for Central America: Towards a General Methodology to Assess Disaster Risk at the National Level. Proc. of the SECED 2015 Conference. Cambridge University, UK.
8. Pita, G., J. Inaudi, R. Gunasekera, O. Ishizawa (2015), Probabilistic Seismic Vulnerability Development Tool for Common Building Typologies in Central America. Proc. of the SECED 2015 Conference. Cambridge University, UK.
9. R. Gunasekera, O. Ishizawa, C. Aubrecht, Pita, G., A. Pomonis, K. Fane, S. Murray, B. Blankespoor, I. Scott (2014) Developing an Adaptive Exposure Model to Support the Generation of Country Disaster Risk Profiles. Vol. 16, EGU2014-16168. European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2014. Vienna. Austria.
10. Pinelli, J.-P., T. Johnson, A. Chowdhury, T. Baheru, K. Gurley, J. Weekes, Pita, G. (2014) Prediccion del Daño Interior Causado por Lluvia en Edificios de Vivienda durante Huracanes. XXXVI Jornadas Sudamericanas de Ingenieria Estructural. Montevideo, Uruguay.
11. Pita, G., J. Mitrani-Reiser (2013), Modeling Hurricane-Induced Building Downtime. Proc. 12th Americas Conference on Wind Engineering (12ACWE)
12. Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P. (2013), Analytical Model for Low-Rise Buildings’ Vulnerability Curves. Proc. 12th Americas Conference on Wind Engineering (12ACWE).
13. Pinelli, J.-P., K. Gurley, J. Weekes, Pita, G., T. Johnson, S. Cocke, and S. Hamid (2013), Vulnerability Model for Mid/High-Rise Buildings Subjected to Hurricane Winds and Rain. 12th Americas Conference on Wind Engineering (12ACWE).
14. Pinelli, J.-P., K. Gurley, Pita, G., T. Johnson, J. Weekes (2013), “Modeling the vulnerability of mid/high rise commercial residential buildings to wind and rain in tropical cyclones,” Proceedings, 11th International Conference on Structural Safety & Reliability (ICOSSAR13), June 16-20, 2013, Columbia University New York, NY.
15. Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P., J. Mitrani-Reiser, S. Cocke, K. Gurley, (2012). Analysis of Hurricane Andrew Insurance Claim Data for Residential Buildings. ATC-SEI Advances in Hurricane Engineering: Learning from Our Past, Miami, FL. pp. 1047-1055.
16. Pinelli, J.-P., K. Gurley, Pita, G., T. Johnson, (2012). Life-cycle assessment of personal residential roof decking and cover under hurricane threat. ATC-SEI Advances in Hurricane Engineering Conference, Miami, FL.
17. Pita, G., J-.P. Pinelli, K. Gurley, S. Cocke, J. Weekes, S. Hamid, (2012). Probabilistic Hurricane Rain Model for the Evaluation of Mid/High-Rise Buildings Damage due to Water Penetration. ESREL 2012. Finland.
18. Z. Liu, J. Mitrani-Reiser, S. Guikema, R. Francis, G. Pita, Pinelli, J.-P. (2011). Imputation Models for Use in Hurricane Building-Risk Analysis. SRA Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.
19. Pita, G. Pinelli, J.-P., S. Cocke, K. Gurley, J. Weekes, J. Mitrani-Reiser (2011). Assessment of hurricane induced internal damage to low-rise buildings in the Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model. Proc. of the 13th Int’l Conf. on Wind Engineering (13ICWE). Amsterdam, Netherlands.
20. B. Torkian, T. Johnson, Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P., (2011). Criteria for Selection of Wind Vulnerability Matrices for Single-Family Buildings. Proc. of the 13th Int’l Conf. on Wind Engineering (13ICWE). Amsterdam, Netherlands.
21. Pinelli, J.-P., Pita, G., K. Gurley, S. Hamid, (2011). Management of Hurricane Risk in Florida. Proc. ESREL 2011. Troyez, France.
22. Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P., (2011). Analytical Method for Low Rise Building Vulnerability Curves. ESREL 2011, Troyez, France.
23. Pita, G.—R. Francis, Z. Liu, J. Mitrani-Reiser, S. Guikema, Pinelli, J.-P., (2011), Bayesian Belief Networks for Predicting Input Data of Risk Analysis Models, Proc. International Congress on Vulnerability and Risk Analysis Management (ICVRAM’11) 468-476. College Park, MD.
24. Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P., (2011). Wind Vulnerability Curves Assessment in the Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model, Proc. International Congress on Vulnerability and Risk Analysis Management (ICVRAM’11) 618-625. College Park, MD
25. Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P., K. Gurley, J. Weekes, T. Johnson, S. Hamid (2011). Challenges in Developing the Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model for Residential and Commercial-Residential structures, ICASP11.
26. Pinelli, J.-P., Pita, G., B.Torkian, T. Johnson, K.Gurley, S.Hamid (2011). Parameter Identification in a Catastrophe Model: the Case of the Florida Public Model, 2011 Structures Congress.
27. Pinelli, J.-P., K. Gurley, Pita, G., (2010). Hurricane Risk Management in Florida, Australasian Wind Engineering Society, (14’AWES). Canberra, Australia.
28. Pinelli, J.-P., K. Gurley, Pita, G., (2010). Hurricane Vulnerability Assessment: Latest Experience and Development in the Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model, IDRiM’10. Vienna. Austria
29. Pinelli, J.-P., Pita, G., K.Gurley, C. Subramanian, S.Hamid, (2010). Commercial-Residential Buildings’ Vulnerability Component of the Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model, SC-NASCC Conference 2010
30. Pinelli, J.-P. , S. Hamid , K. Gurley , Pita, G., (2009). Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model: Vulnerability Modeling, Loss Prediction, and Certification Process, 2nd Int’l Conference on Asian Catastrophe Insurance, Beijing, China December, 2009
31. Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P., J. Mitrani-Reiser, K.Gurley, S.Hamid, N. Jones (2009). Risk analysis of Buildings with the Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model, Society of Risk Analysis Annual Meeting, Baltimore, December 2009.
32. Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P., K.Gurley, J. Weekes, S.Hamid (2009). Vulnerability of mid-high rise commercial-residential buildings in the Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model, ESREL 2009. Prague. Czech Republic.
33. Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P., K.Gurley, C. Subramanian, S.Hamid (2009). Vulnerability of low-rise commercial-residential buildings in the Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model, 11th American Conference of Wind Engineering, Puerto Rico.
34. J. Weekes, A. Balderrama, K. Gurley, Pinelli, J.-P., Pita, G., S. Hamid (2009). Physical Damage Modeling of Commercial-Residential Structures in Hurricane Winds, 11th American Conference of Wind Engineering, Puerto Rico.
35. Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P., C.S. Subramanian, K. Gurley, S.Hamid, (2008). Hurricane Vulnerability of Multi-Story Residential Buildings in Florida, ESREL 2008, Valencia, Spain.
36. Pinelli, J.-P., S. Hamid, K. R. Gurley, Pita, G., C.S. Subramanian (2008). Impact of the 2004 Hurricane Season on the Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model, 2008 ASCE-IABSE-IStructE Structures Congress, Vancouver, Canada.
37. Pita, G., A. Lainati, and J.R. Saravia, (2004). Design Topics for a Restricted Horizontal Force Arch Bridge, Steelbridge 2004, Int’l Symposium on Steel Bridges, Millau, France.

Posters and Other publications

1. Albornoz, B., Pita, G., Natalini, B. (2018) Flood Risk Analysis in an Underserved area of Chaco, Argentina and Identification of Mitigation Strategies. Advanced School on Water, Energy, and Food – NEXUS. Poster presentation.
2. O. Ishizawa, J. Rivera, J. Miranda, J. Suarez, L. Jimenez, M. Boyer, Pita, G. (2015) Weathering Storms: Understanding the Impact of Natural Disasters on the Poor in Central America. .Regional Study Workshop Aggregated Shocks, Poverty and ex-ante Risk Management in Latin America and the Caribbean. The World Bank. Washington, DC. Aug. 31, 2015.
3. J. Mitrani-Reiser, Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P., K. Gurley, J. Weekes, (2011). Development of Hurricane Damage Models for Residential Buildings, 2011 NSF Engineering Research and Innovation Conference, Atlanta, GA.
4. Baheru, T., Pita, G., Chowdhury, A., and Pinelli, J.-P. (2012) Hurricane-Induced Interior Damage to Low-Rise Buildings: A Status Report of Ongoing Research at Florida International University. 3rd American Association for Wind Engineering Workshop. Hyannis, MA. August 12 – 14, 2012.
5. Pita, G., Pinelli, J.-P., J. Mitrani-Reiser, K. Gurley, J. Weekes (2010). Latest Improvements in the Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model, AAWE Workshop 2010. Marco Island. FL.

Exhibits

1. Gonzalo Pita, the Sheridan Libraries, and the NIST Museum. 2020. Landmarks in the History of Natural Catastrophe Modeling: An exhibit from Johns Hopkins University and the NIST Museum. Gaithersburg, MD: National Institute of Standards and Technology. https://www.nist.gov/nist-museum/landmarks-history-natural-catastrophe-modeling
2. Gonzalo Pita, the Sheridan Libraries. 2019. Landmarks in the History of Natural Catastrophe Modeling. Eisenhower Library. JHU. https://engineering.jhu.edu/case/2019/10/11/now-showing-landmarks-in-the-history-of-natural-catastrophe-modeling