2025

Site Visit and Seminar

  

Seminar and Site Visit by the Uruguayan Group of IABSE (click on photo thumbnails to expand)

A report by the Chair of Uruguayan Group, Luciana Marziotte

On 9 May 2025, IABSE Uruguay, in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering (UDELAR) held its First Structural and Bridge Engineering Seminar bringing together national and international voices from the field of civil engineering. The event took place in the “Eladio Dieste” auditorium at the Faculty of Engineering drawing around 170 attendees including professionals, academics, and students. The seminar featured a dynamic morning program composed of seven lectures, four of which were presented by esteemed international experts: Álvaro Serrano (Spain),  Fernando Sima (Germany/Uruguay), Eduardo Castelli (Argentina), Carlos Gerbaudo (Argentina).

These lectures provided insights into current international practices and innovations, addressing challenges and opportunities in bridge and structural design from a global perspective. Complementing these presentations, three national speakers showcased practical case studies from prominent Uruguayan engineering firms: RDA Ingeniería, Saceem, and CYD Ingenieros. Their presentations highlighted the strength and creativity present in local engineering projects, creating a valuable dialogue between theory and practice.

Throughout the morning, attendees also had the opportunity to visit stands set up in the hall by our sponsors, which included Berkes, Ciemsa, Equi Bridges, Penetron, Verton, Cementos del Plata, Saceem, Hormigones Artigas, Sika, Stiler, and Halidar. IABSE Uruguay also hosted an information stand, engaging with visitors and promoting the benefits of becoming part of the global IABSE community.

The Seminar was promoted by Asociación Uruguaya de Caminos, Asociación de Ingenieros del Uruguay, and Ministerio de Transporte y Obras Públicas. A mid-morning coffee break provided the perfect setting for networking, informal discussion, and the exchange of ideas—highlighting one of the main objectives of the seminar: to foster connection between civil engineers, construction professionals and students, and to link them with global trends, projects, and developments.

In the afternoon, a group of IABSE members participated in a technical visit to the bridge over the Santa Lucía River on National Route No. 1. This impressive composite bridge with multiple spans was presented by Álvaro Serrano, director of MC2 in Madrid, the firm responsible for both the basic and construction design. The visit covered a unique opportunity to gain direct insight into an important infrastructure project and to discuss design and construction details on site.

This Seminar represents the beginning of a broader e9ort by IABSE Uruguay to create ongoing platforms for professional exchange, collaboration, and continuous learning—firmly connecting Uruguay’s engineering community to the global stage. The Uruguayan National Group is organising a half-day Seminar on the 9th May in Montevideo in collaboration with the University. 

   

2024

Report of the Formation of the Uruguayan National Group of IABSE

On 26 August 2024, the Uruguayan National Group (NG) of IABSE was officially established, following the initiative of Dr. Matías Valenzuela, Vice President of IABSE, PUCV. The founding meeting was held in Montevideo as well as online. There were a total of 18 attendees, including 10 members of IABSE Uruguay and 8 interested in being part of the Uruguayan NG. This instance was hand in hand with the webinar entitled "The new StorstrØm Bridge" dictated by Fernando Sima [IABSE member], which served as a pre-meeting activity and where other engineers from Uruguay were invited to join IABSE.

  

In the beginning, Matias Valenzuela, who has participated as a facilitator of the Uruguayan NG, gave an introduction and contextualized the creation of the NG. He also told about the history, objectives and purposes of IABSE as well as the work and events that are carried out. Then, during the inaugural meeting, the National Group’s By-laws were presented and unanimously approved. The founding Executive Committee of the Uruguayan NG was also elected during this session.

Finally, the group outlined the objectives for future work and set the next meeting for October 2024. During this upcoming meeting, the focus will be on discussing these goals and to providing an opportunity for participants to familiarize with the current working groups of IABSE.

The next step is for the elected Executive Committee to prepare a workplan for the next two years, with a focus on strengthening and increasing the presence of IABSE in Uruguay and in the region. In the same way as other newly formed National Groups in the Latin America, the plan is to fully support the activities organized together with the other National Groups of IABSE in the region.