On 21 March 2025, the Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC) hosted an event in honour of Professor Kenichi Soga, Donald H. McLaughlin Chair in Mineral Engineering and a Distinguished Professor at the University of California Berkeley. The event at the West Hub, University of Cambridge was chaired by CSIC Director Dr Brian Sheil and introduced by Professor Giulia Viggiani, Head of Civil Engineering, and brought together CSIC friends and collaborators past and present.
The event included a presentation on ‘CSIC past present and future’, short presentations on cutting edge research in smart infrastructure and construction and a presentation from Professor Soga on the Berkley Center for Smart Infrastructure which was founded in 2021. Professor Soga, Director of the Centre, shared projects and insights on how the Centre applies cutting-edge technology to tackle infrastructure challenges caused by climate change, aging systems and natural hazards.
The event concluded with a compelling panel debate on AI’s role in infrastructure engineering, posing a critical question: While AI can reliably handle routine tasks in infrastructure engineering, could over-reliance on AI lead to a decline in human expertise and problem-solving skills, ultimately increasing systemic risk rather than reducing it? The discussion sparked a lively exchange among the participants, reflecting both the opportunities and challenges AI presents to the sector.
Ahead of the CSIC event, on 19 March, Professor Soga delivered the prestigious 63rd Rankine Lecture, titled “From Geo-monitor to Geo-adapt: Leveraging Distributed Sensing and Data Analytics for Performance-Based Design, Construction, and Maintenance.” His lecture explored the transformative potential of advanced sensing and data analytics in geotechnical engineering, highlighting how these technologies can drive performance-based approaches in design, construction, and maintenance.
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Watch the 63rd Annual BGA Rankine Lecture