WEBINAR: TG 2.4 on Structural optimization on modern bridges

 Date: 31 May 2024. Time: 14-15 hrs CET.  Register (free): Click Here

Summary: In recent years, bridge construction has been developing in extremely challenging areas such as deep ocean, high seismic intensity, or difficult mountain areas. Super-long span highway/rail Bridges, new systems and ultra-light footbridges are emerging. In the pursuit of performance, economy, green environmental protection, a lot of structural optimization work has been done on these new structures, and some achievements have also been achieved. This Webinar will focus on the work done on structural optimization of these new or long span Bridges. It is expected to gain some good experience and lay a certain foundation for further structural optimization in the field of bridge. It also provides some help for the application of structure optimization in other fields.

Speaker: Xiaoyu Luo. Ph D; Associate professor, Chang'an University, China. He has participated in the design work of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Link, the Atlantic Bridge, and the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, etc.

WEBINAR: Smartphone-based Structural Health Monitoring (a revolution in bridge asset management)

Date: 6 June 2024. Time: 14-15 hrs CET. Register (free): Click Here

Summary: Managing aging infrastructure (including bridges, railways and tunnels) constitutes a substantial portion of global public and private budgets, with an annual estimated expenditure of EUR 200 billion. The costs are contingent on the industry, age of assets, and regulatory frameworks, significantly impacting the financial health of public entities and the profitability of businesses. Making informed decisions regarding effective bridge maintenance relies on having accurate asset condition data.

However, traditional monitoring systems present challenges with their production of inconsistent data and labor-intensive processes. The task of gathering information necessitates employing accurate, cost-effective, and easily interpretable methods such as structural health monitoring (SHM) and inspection techniques that do not disrupt traffic flows.

This webinar introduces powerful, non-contact and scalable computer vision technology (called Digital Image Correlation-DIC) and practical examples from railways and bridges where DIC allowed for multimillion savings. The webinar will also feature an affordable smartphone app that has been widely embraced by engineers and asset managers overseeing both simple and complex infrastructure systems. The integration of computer vision with the mobile app holds the potential to revolutionize the field of structural monitoring, providing a significant enhancement to decision-making processes and asset management strategies.

Speaker 1: Dr. Jan Winkler is AtkinsRealis Professional Head of Structural Health Monitoring and a co-founder and co-CEO of DES startup. He received international awards for his pioneering work on computer vision and it application in AECO industry including IABSE Award and IASS Award. Jan has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers and serve as the chair at the International Federation for Structural Concrete (fib Com 5.10). He currently heads talented teams at DES and AtkinsRéalis, driving innovative technologies and setting industry benchmarks through their projects.

Speaker 2: Finn Bormlund is a Project Manager at Sund & Bælt co-leading and participating in some of the structural monitoring and digital asset management related projects. Finn has +15 years of experience in O&M field and his recent activity involves smartphone-based monitoring on the Great Belt Bridge.

Moderator: Chris Hendy is AtkinsRealis Transportation technical director and head of bridge engineering. He has more than 30 year’s experience in industry, making a significant contribution for which he received the ICE Gold Medal and Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers, as well as writing three books on bridge design to Eurocodes, more than ten other industry bridge design guides and numerous UK and European codes of practice.