Develop Techical Engineering Solutions to address Structural Deficiencies in Significant Traditionally-Built Structures

Project ID: P15AC01585

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Partner Institution: University of Vermont and State Agriculture College

Fiscal Year: 2015

Initial Funding: $30,000

Total Funding: $30,000

Project Type: Technical Assistance

Project Disciplines: Cultural

Principal Investigator: Dewoolkar, Mandar

Agreement Technical Representative: Meyer, Lauren

Abstract: Project Description: The Vanishing Treasures Program (VT) and Mesa Verde National Park (MEVE) require engineering recommendations concerning cultural resources in Vanishing Treasures parks. The School of Engineering at the University of Vermont (UVM) will collaborate with staff from the National Park Service (NPS) to research and evaluate treatment options. To preserve cultural resources, enhance interpretive opportunities, and improve visitor safety, the UVM will collaborate with MEVE and VT in conducting condition assessment, proposing treatment strategies, and evaluating repairoptions for sites of interest in the VT regions of the National Park system. UVM will assemble a specialized team to review (remotely) summary materials provided by MEVE and VT, and propose courses of action for addressing specific engineering problems that arise in the parks. It is expected that in the course of this collaboration it will occasionally be necessary for UVM faculty to travel to the sites.
Objectives: VT, MEVE and UVM will work collaboratively to identify engineering deficiencies that are common throughout the VT geographic area; determine and develop case studies on select resources; assess resource conditions; develop recommendations
for identifying, monitoring and correcting structural problems that are considerate of resource integrity and significance and adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Preservation of Historic Properties; and convey recommendations to stakeholders.