Since the reform and opening up, China's cities have experienced an unprecedented urbanization process. Modern cities are characterized by high population density, concentrated wealth, large-scale infrastructure, and complexity with high interconnections. Cities face various risks such as climate change, extreme natural disasters, accidents, and disasters, with the uncertainty of extreme events becoming more significant, seriously threatening urban security and development. The resilience of urban buildings (clusters) and infrastructure such as transportation, medical services, water supply, power supply, and communication in the face of disasters is the core and key to ensuring urban safety. The safety and resilience of urban infrastructure have become a major demand for sustainable development worldwide and the latest frontier internationally.

The research center focuses on the interdisciplinary integration of disaster science, civil engineering, management disciplines, economics, etc., and uses advanced technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and remote sensing to solve key scientific and technical problems related to the safety and resilience of urban buildings (clusters) and infrastructure under extreme conditions such as earthquakes, floods, heavy rains, climate change, and deliberate attacks. The center emphasizes original basic theories and practical engineering applications, always bearing in mind its responsibility and mission, cultivating a first-class innovative team in urban disaster prevention and reduction and a research center on urban resilience, and fostering outstanding innovative talents with patriotism, firm beliefs, excellent morals, rich knowledge, strong capabilities, and the ability to lead the future.

The research center team currently consists of 13 teachers and more than 70 graduate students, including one academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, one national distinguished young scholar, one person under the National Ten Thousand Talents Plan, and three national young talents. Under the leadership of Academician Xie Lili, the research center has achieved important results in strong earthquake characteristics and seismic fortification, seismic design theory and methods based on performance-based seismic design, seismic safety of building structures and nuclear power plant structures, and urban infrastructure resilience. It has undertaken more than 50 national and provincial key projects, including national key research and development projects, key projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and major consulting projects of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. The center has also edited China's first guideline for seismic resilience evaluation of urban engineering systems (RISN-TG041-2022) and has developed proprietary software for the seismic resilience and enhancement of urban infrastructure and systems. It has organized the first dual-clearing forum in the field of civil engineering of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Key Frontier Basic Scientific Issues in Seismic Resilient Urban Construction, authored multiple national scientific and technological development reports on resilient cities, and won 10 national and provincial awards, including the first prize for scientific and technological progress at the national level.