Below is a comprehensive report of National Group activities in the last few months. For latest updates and forthcoming events, please refer to https://iabse.org/Events/Calendar-of-Events
Korean Republic
On 24–25 July 2021, the Korean Group, chaired by Professor Ho-Kyung Kim, conducted an online technical course on “Korean Highway Bridge Design Code”, which was attended by more than 86 participants. It was a two-day technical programme on the Korean Highway Bridge Design Code (Limit State Design). Each lecture included answers to questions that accumulated during the past six years since the application of the Limit State Design Method came into practice, so that it was an opportunity considerably to resolve the questions of practitioners.
Webinar Organised by the Korean Group
Brazil
About 200 engineers were online between 7 and 11 June 2021 and attended the XII Brazilian Conference on Bridges and Structures (XCPBE), promoted by the ABPE (Brazilian Association of Bridges and Structures—the Brazilian Group of IABSE) and the ABECE (Brazilian Association of Consulting Engineers). In the five days of the Conference, 15 main lectures were given by major Brazilian and foreign specialists in the construction and design of bridges and other structures. Among other interesting presentations, special lectures were given by eminent specialists, for instance from Portugal (Antônio Adão da Fonseca, João Pedro Lopes, José Campos Matos, Luís de Oliveira Santos e Diogo Rodrigo Ribeiro), Germany (Michael Müller), Chile (Matias Andres Valenzuela) and from Italy (Mario de Miranda). In parallel with the main lectures, 131 technical papers were presented, by Brazilian specialists and researchers. The main objective of the event of presenting to Brazilian engineers more recent progress in Civil Engineering technology was attained, as well as presenting the great civil works that are currently being executed in Brazil. The next CBPE is planned for 2022, in São Paulo.
Brazilian Conference (XCBPE)
Argentina
On 15 July 2021, a webinar was organised by the Argentinian Group of IABSE, with speakers: Dr. Ing. Matías Valenzuela (Chile NG, Chair), Ing. Martín Polimeni (Argentina NG, Chair), Arq. Adriana Guisasola (Argentina), and Ing. Daniel Quiroga (Argentina). On 30 September another Webinar was conducted with over 80 attendees. It was supported by the most important companies and institutions related to engineering and construction in Argentina. The Speakers were Laurent Agostini and Dominique Deschamps, who spoke about the Atlantic Bridge, 3rd bridge over the Panamá Channel. Feedback received from participants was very positive.
Argentinian NG's Webinar and Lectures
Latin America
From 28–30 July, 2021, Chairs of several Latin American IABSE Groups along with C. Mendez (IABSE Vice President) jointly organised a virtual congress, which brought together leading structural engineers, as the Speakers, who could share their knowledge with the participants.
Latin American NG's Event
Guatemala
The new Guatemalan National Group, chaired by Prof. Victor Hernandez, held their very first event on 16 September 2021. It was an online event with three keynote lectures, two out of which were international. The event was held in Spanish and was a great start to mark the presence of the new IABSE Group in Guatemala. We wish them good luck for future events!
Guatemalan NG's Event
United Kingdom
The IABSE British Group closed its entries for the Nethercot Prize nominees on 15 October 2021. Early career architects, engineers and designers (expected to be under 35 and based in the UK) are invited to submit a single-author paper that critically examines the process of designing a new structure or the process of adapting an old one. Storytelling is a key skill for successfully conveying ideas during a project. This award aims to encourage the written communication skills of the participants and highlight the excellent project work that is carried out by IABSE early career professionals.
On 30 September 2021, a free online seminar was also hosted, on the topic of ‘New Digital Design Tools for Long-Span Structures' with the University of Sheffield.
Denmark
On 29 September, the Danish Group of IABSE, chaired by Tina Vejrum and her team, organized a successful and well-attended site visit to Storstrømmen Bridge, the new road and rail bridge currently under construction 100km south of the capital, Copenhagen.
Danish NG's Event
There were 60 participants including individual members and collective members from IABSE Denmark, students from the Technical University as well as participants from IABSE Norway. The programme started with three interesting presentations on design of the cable stayed bridge and the viaduct followed by a presentation of the marine operations and logistics. After the presentations the bridge owner, the Danish Road Directorate, guided the participants on a tour of the construction site including prefabrication facilities, concrete batching plant and to the top of the pylon foundation which is currently being finalized and is expected to be floated out to its final position in the near future.
After the site visit the participants enjoyed snacks and drinks and a long-awaited opportunity to meet again after the covid-19 lockdown. The event and networking opportunity was appreciated by all participants and a big ‘Thank you’ to the Danish Road Directorate for accepting visitors again and hosting the very successful event.
Finland
On 1 October 2021, the Finnish Group of IABSE, chaired by Dr. Risto Kiviluoma organised a free webinar in collaboration with IABSE Secretariat on ‘Second Generation Eurocodes', which had close to 200 participants. Speakers were Prof. Steve Denton, UK, who is a long-standing Chairman of CEN/TC250, and a visiting Professor of the Univ. of Bath and works as Head of Civil, Bridge and Ground Engineering in WSP in the UK. Second speaker was Dr. Mariapia Angelino, an Associate in the WSP Bridges department in UK. The Eurocodes are European standards specifying how structural design should be conducted within the European Union (EU). Their development was started in 1990 by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) upon the request of the European Commission. Eurocodes were taken officially in use from 2006–2010 in each EU country. The second generation of the Eurocodes is currently under development by CEN/TC250 and is planned to be in use 2026–2028.
Finnish NG's Event