About

Dr. Smith is a senior research fellow with the Cyclone Testing Station at James Cook University. His research experience covers a wide range of wind engineering disciplines including: insurance claims analysis for severe wind events, field-deployed anemometry for cyclones, vulnerability and fragility modelling, wind-borne debris trajectory modelling, post-event damage assessment, wind resistance of roofing systems, structural retrofitting for wind and water ingress, wind tunnel testing, behavioural aspects of community cyclone preparedness, etc. Dr. Smith is also Director of ResilientResidence™, a mobile application tool that allows homeowners to self-asses the vulnerability of their home to wind and wind-driven rain damages. The tool aims to put wind engineering research directly into the hands of homeowners in vulnerable regions. 

Interests
Research
  • Risk assessment for low-rise structures in severe wind events
  • Surface-level tropical cyclone winds and wind-driven rain
  • Wind and wind-driven rain effects on low-rise structures
  • Human perception of hazard risk
  • Behavioral aspects of mitigation investment by homeowners
  • Effects of insurance price signals on natural hazard mitigation
Experience
  • 2014 to 2017 - Research Fellow, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
  • 2009 to 2010 - Bill and Bryon Bushnell Graduate Fellow, University of Florida (Gainesville, Florida)
  • 2005 to 2010 - Florida Medallion Academic Merit Scholar, University of Florida (Gainesville, Florida)
  • 2007 to 2009 - Assistant Project Engineer, Wojcieszak and Associates (Stuart, Florida)
  • 2008 - Assistant Project Engineer, Carmo and Associates (Lantana, Florida)
Honours
Fellowships
  • 2016 to 2019 - A Smartphone-based Decision Support Tool to Stimulate Cyclone Mitigation
Memberships
  • 2014 to 2016 - Australasian Wind Engineering Society (committee member)
  • 2011 to 2016 - American Society of Civil Engineers
  • 2011 to 2016 - American Association of Wind Engineering
  • 2012 to 2015 - Roofing Consultants Institute
  • 2011 to 2014 - Florida Structural Engineers Association
Other
  • 2016 - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Controller License (#1004910)
  • 2016 - Aeronautical Radio Operator License
Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles
Conference Papers
Other research outputs
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 24+ research outputs authored by Dr Daniel Smith from 2012 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC - Research Grant

Improving the resilience of existing housing to severe wind events

Indicative Funding
$770,000 over 4 years
Summary
This research is to develop cost-effective strategies for mitigating damage to housing from severe windstorms across Australia. These evidence-based strategies will be (a) tailored to aid policy formulation and decision making in government and industry, and (b) provide guidelines detailing various options and benefits to homeowners and the building community for retrofitting typical at-risk houses in Australian communities.
Investigators
John Ginger, David Henderson, Daniel Smith and Simon Ingham in collaboration with Mark Edwards, Martin Werner, John Holmes and Geoffrey Broughton (College of Science & Engineering, Geoscience Australia, JDH Consulting and TimberED Services Pty Ltd)
Keywords
Housing; retrofit; Vulnerability; Resilience; Wind Loads; Hazard

The World Bank - Contract Research

Development of digital apps to facilitate insurance eligibility verification and post-event claim filing for Fijian homeowners - TASK 1 Design software framework and logic flow

Indicative Funding
$71,527
Summary
This project follows on from CTS developing a structural engineering basis for vulnerability models for different housing types in Fiji, for the World Bank and Tower Insurance. The scope covers stage 1 of a 6 stage program to develop digital applications for use by Fijian homeowners to: (a) seek eligibility for cyclone (wind damage) insurance; and (b) initiate claims post event.
Investigators
Daniel Smith and Geoffrey Boughton in collaboration with Debbie falck and Bruce Belson (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Cyclone; Wind engineering; Vulnerability; Resilience; Insurance; Smartphone apps

QLD Department of Environment and Science - Advance Queensland Research Fellowship

A smartphone-based decision tool to stimulate cyclone mitigation.

Indicative Funding
$180,000 over 3 years
Summary
Issues surrounding losses to the community from cyclone damage and associated premium affordability in Queensland have been highlighted with the advent of the Northern Australia Insurance Premiums Taskforce, a Productivity Commission review and a number of Australian Government Actuary reports. Their findings based on consultation with communities, governments and industry show benefits to be achieved from mitigation (e.g., to improve structural aspects of buildings to reduce damage from future severe wind events). The goal of this project is to develop and actionable, research-based approach to mitigation in Queensland and other wind-prone regions of Australia. However, engineering solutions to vulnerability are only effective if widely implemented, requiring an appreciation of factors that homeowners reflect on when considering mitigation. Therefore, this project will also identify drivers of homeowner engagement. Coupling engineering analysis with effective methods of incentivising homeowner engagement, a vehicle for risk communication will be developed in the form of a mobile application. An alpha version of the decision-support tool will be constructed and tested for effectiveness. The benefits to Queensland include simulation of mitigation action among homeowners, reduction of loss and suffering from severe wind events and insurance premium reductions from enhanced housing resilience.
Investigators
Daniel Smith in collaboration with Anne Swinbourne, David Henderson, Connar McShane and David Prevatt (College of Science & Engineering, College of Healthcare Sciences and University of Florida)
Keywords
Vulnerability; Tropical Cyclone; resilient residence; Risk Communication; Hurricanes; wind engineering

QLD Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy - Contract Research

Mitigation of Losses in Qld from Extreme Wind Events

Indicative Funding
$60,000 over 1 year
Summary
The objective of the project is to investigate and inform on aspects of building doles/standards and implementation to mitigate losses from extreme win events including Cyclones.
Investigators
David Henderson, Daniel Smith and John Ginger (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Building; Risk; Resilience; Cyclone; Affordability; House

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety - Contract Research

Study of wind loads on US and AU roofing tile systems

Indicative Funding
$19,634 over 1 year
Summary
Due to the porous nature of roofing tile systems, pressure equalization effects must be considered in estimating wind-induced loads. However, these effects (and therefore net wind loading) are not well understood for various roof zones and the range of tile configurations in the global housing market. To better characterize these effects, IBHS will conduct full-scale wind tunnel testing on North American and Australian roofing tile systems. The CTS will assist with testing design, data analysis and reporting.
Investigators
Daniel Smith in collaboration with David Henderson, John Ginger and Murray J Morrison (College of Science & Engineering and Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety)
Keywords
Wind Loads; roofing tiles; Housing; codes and standards

QLD Department of Agriculture and Fisheries - Tenders

Supply of Impact Resistance (part 2)

Indicative Funding
$17,255 over 1 year
Summary
Collaborative project with Queensland Government to determine defining properties of variability and risk of wind driven debris impact testing in order to develop uniform code / standard for assessment of materials for cyclone shelters etc.
Investigators
David Henderson, John Ginger and Daniel Smith (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Building; Risk; Resilience; Cyclone; Affordability
Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

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