Forensic Engineering Firm Mentors Future Engineers During Hands-On Competition at FIU
MIAMI — DDA Forensics was a proud sponsor of the annual Florida International University (FIU) Wall of Wind (WOW) Mitigation Challenge held on March 20 at the NSF-NHERI Wall of Wind at FIU’s Engineering & Computing Center in Miami. The challenge is hosted by the FIU International Hurricane Research Center (IHRC) and FIU Extreme Events Institute (EEI) with grant support from the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
The WOW facility enables researchers to better understand wind effects on civil infrastructure systems and to prevent wind hazards from becoming community disasters. It is the largest and most powerful university-based research facility of its kind and is capable of simulating a Category 5 hurricane with winds over 157 mph. It’s funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is part of the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) network.
The annual competition brings together high school students throughout Miami-Dade and Broward counties to compete at the facility. The objective of the 2025 challenge was for student teams to design a way to reduce the impact of wind scour on a building’s flat roof. Each team’s task is to develop a mitigation solution that will improve the flat roof’s aerodynamic performance to prevent pea gravel on the roof from being blown away by up-to hurricane-force winds.
Solutions were tested by the NSF-NHERI Wall of Wind in a controlled wind field to evaluate their effectiveness. Student teams were required to submit a written technical paper, deliver an oral presentation and a physical wind test of their building model.
Dr. Ziad Azzi, director of engineering at DDA Forensics, has served as a judge for the competition for three years and provides mentorship and feedback to the students. Azzi is a graduate of the Wind Engineering Ph.D. program at the Wall of Wind and he served as a research scientist at the WOW. He has published numerous articles and conference papers in esteemed journals and delivered lectures and presentations on wind flow and wind effects on structures. He is also an adjunct professor at FIU in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, teaching undergraduate and graduate-level design courses.
“We were so impressed by the talented high school students this year! They were tasked with developing innovative mitigation concepts to reduce wind scour on flat roofs. No easy feat! I am passionate about teaching, especially in my field of expertise which encompasses wind engineering and wind effects on buildings and building appurtenances,” said Azzi.
The challenge gives students an opportunity to tackle real-world problems and encourages the next generation of civil, wind, and structural engineers to think creatively and apply STEM concepts in a practical setting. DDA Forensics presented at the awards ceremony about the vital role engineers play in damage assessment and congratulated the students for their hard work.
“This challenge is crucial to the community as it allows high school students to use concepts in math, physics, wind science, construction and innovation to solve a real-world engineering problem,” said Azzi. “It’s incredibly rewarding to use my expertise to mentor future engineers while continuing to serve our clients at DDA Forensics. I always enjoy this event!”
Azzi also discussed mitigation strategies, resilient design, and the importance of mentorship during a segment with Dave Warren, meteorologist at CBS News Miami, who also served as a judge for the event.
“It was a really great experience for all the kids here,” said Warren.
DDA Forensics supports initiatives that foster innovation and hands-on learning in engineering, construction, and disaster mitigation. By sponsoring the WOW Challenge, the company continues its commitment to education, community engagement, and excellence in the forensic engineering field.
About DDA Forensics
DDA Forensics provides forensic engineering, building consulting and expert witness services for attorneys and insurance carriers throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. We specialize in evaluating and determining the cause of property damage and failures for residential and commercial structures. With over 20 years of experience, the most advanced education, certifications and technologies, we provide objective and accurate forensic investigations that yield clear, concise, conclusive results. Learn more at www.DDAForensics.com.
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