Professor Lord Robert Mair, Head of CSIC, gave the 125th Anniversary Lecture at the City, University of London hosted by the School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering, which is part of a year of events marking City’s anniversary.
The lecture titled 'Smart civil engineering infrastructure and construction'
discussed the challenges facing the infrastructure and construction industry, bringing focus to the latest developments for Smart Infrastructure, including recent advances in sensing and digital technologies.
Lord Mair reflected on the work of CSIC applying innovative fibre optic sensing to new construction and ageing infrastructure, with examples of shafts, tunnels, bridges and buildings. Citing a range of collaborative projects completed with CSIC industry partners, Lord Mair demonstrated the huge potential for innovative monitoring of the performance of infrastructure both during its construction and throughout its design life.
The lecture, delivered in the Oliver Thompson Lecture Theatre, highlighted examples of disastrous infrastructure vulnerability, including: the collapse of the Viadotto Polcevera Bridge in Italy in 2018; the burst water main and extensive flooding in Stoke Newington (London) in 2016; the Singapore Metro Station collapse in 2014; and the Minnesota Bridge collapse in 2007. Lord Mair said: “Sensors, data analytics and smart infrastructure can transform construction, delivering value and greater efficiencies.”
Read more at City, University of London website here.