Important Dates
Topic 1: NDT of Structures and Buildings in Cultural Heritage
Organizer: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil., Grosse, Christian U.
Affiliation: Technical University of Munich, Chair of Non-Destructive Testing, Germany
Email: grosse@tum.de
Non-destructive testing techniques can be applied in a variety of applications concerning structures of our cultural heritage. In regard to archeology NDT is a valuable tool to support archeological prospections. NDT techniques are closely related to geophysical techniques depending on the scale of the object. NDT can contribute to a more comprehensive and sustainable archaeological research reducing the amount of destructive work. NDT is also able to collect data from the interior of structures (cracks, delaminations) determining ongoing deteriorations what is beneficial for the preservation and restoration of structures. Continuous monitoring of impacts and deteriorations are important topics for restorers. Other topics are related to illuminate the construction history and methods of objects which are sometimes unknown.
Keywords: Archeology, Restoration, PreservationTopic 2: NDT/SHM contributing to a Digital Twin in Civil Engineering
Organizer: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil., Grosse, Christian U.
Affiliation: Technical University of Munich, Chair of Non-Destructive Testing, Germany
Email: grosse@tum.de
Co-Organizer: Prof. Dr.-Ing., Keßler, Sylvia
Affiliation: Helmut-Schmidt-University / University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Chair of Engineering Materials and Building Preservation
Email: sylvia.kessler@hsu-hh.de
Non-destructive testing and structural health monitoring techniques play a significant role in establishing digital twins in civil engineering. These technologies are essential not only for ensuring the quality and integrity of structures during the creation phase but also for their ongoing monitoring throughout their operational life. When integrated with building information models (BIM), NDT and SHM data provide a dynamic, real-time representation of a structure's condition. This approach significantly enhances the safety of critical infrastructure such as bridges, tunnels, and other key elements of our infrastructure. By enabling real-time monitoring and predictive analysis, digital twins, supported by NDT and SHM data, can extend the lifespan of these structures. Thus, NDT can be a game-changer.
Keywords: Digital Twin, Building Information Model, Sustainability of Structures, Non-Destructive Testing, Structural Health Monitoring, Predictive Maintenance, Remaining Useful LifeTopic 3: Examination of Civil Structures Using Imaging and Image Fusion
Organizer: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schumacher
Affiliation: Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
Email: thomas.schumacher@pdx.edu
Imaging offers an opportunity to examine a structure’s interior using a range of input measurements, including ultrasound, radar, impact echo, electrical resistivity, X-ray, etc. Generated are the image using techniques such as the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) or travel time tomography. Image fusion, a subset of data fusion, uses two or more input images recreated from a single measurement technique, which could be in the form of 2D slices or 3D volumes, and merges them into a single composite image that contains all pertinent information from the input images.
The session objective is to share information on imaging and image fusion related to:
- Fundamental research and advancements in algorithms and sensing technologies
- Studies involving simulation and/or laboratory work
- Real-world applications and case studies demonstrating the applications and limitations
- Emerging topics such as AI/ML, digital twins, diagnostics, etc.
Topic 4: Passive and Active Ultrasonic Stress Wave Monitoring of Concrete Structures
Organizer: PD Dr. Ernst Niederleithinger
Affiliation: BAM, Germany
Email: ernst.niederleithinger@bam.de
Co-Organizer:Prof. Dr. Thomas Schumacher
Affiliation: Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
Email: thomas.schumacher@pdx.edu
Passive ultrasonic stress wave (or acoustic emission) and active ultrasonic stress wave monitoring have spurred significant interest in structural health monitoring of concrete structures over the last few decades. While the former enables detecting fracture processes in real-time, the latter has been shown to have the ability to capture minute and slowly varying changes due to aging and degradation in the concrete, particularly when used in conjunction with coda wave analyses. Of particular interest to this session are studies documenting the integration of passive and active ultrasonic stress wave monitoring. The session will also include results from the Research Unit “CODA” of the German Science Foundation.
The session objective is to share information about this topic related to:
- Fundamental research and advancements in algorithms and instrumentation
- Studies involving simulation and/or laboratory work
- Real-world applications and case studies demonstrating the applications and limitations
- Emerging topics such as AI/ML, prognostics, asset management, etc.
Topic 5: Digital Transformation and Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Organizer: Martin Schickert, Dipl.-Ing.
Affiliation: Materialforschungs- und -prüfanstalt an der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (MFPA Weimar), Germany
Email: martin.schickert@mfpa.de
This session comprises contributions that utilize the results of Non-Destructive Testing in Civil Engineering in the course of the digital transformation – such as making the results accessible in digital building models, in the BIM (Building Information Modeling) process, adding positional and semantic information, employing the data for further simulations, or using the information to build and maintain digital twins.
Keywords: Digital Transformation, digital building model, as-built-model, Building Information Modeling, BIM, long term data storage, quality assurance, Geographic Information System, GIS, digital twinTopic 6: Autonomous noncontact defect detection of transportation infrastructure
Organizer: Dr. Sattar Dorafshan
Affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, University of North Dakota, USA
Email: sattar.dorafshan@und.edu
Transportation infrastructure, bridges, tunnels, roads, buildings of public use, pipelines, railroad, etc., are backbone to economic prosperity in every country. To streamline their periodical inspection, noncontact sensing paradigms are constantly being developed across globe, including but not limited to visual and thermal imagery and multispectral sensing, to localize the defects in an autonomous manner. The goal of this session is to collect novel and original research on noncontact sensing techniques developed to detect surface and subsurface structural defects and signs of deterioration in the context of inspection and condition assessment of transportation infrastructure system.
Keywords: structural defects, noncontact sensing, nondestructive evaluation, artificial intelligenceTopic 7: Smart City and Community Resilience Through Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE)
Organizer: Prof. Dr. Nurdan Apaydın Memişoğlu1 and Prof. Dr. Necati Çatbaş2
Affiliation: 1Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa, Türkiye , 2University of Central Florida, USA
Email: napaydinmemisoglu@gmail.com, catbas@ucf.edu
This session focus on the transformative potential of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) integrated with Digital Twin (DT) technology to elevate community resilience and support the development of smart cities. With advances in real-time, data-rich simulations of physical infrastructure, enabling predictive analytics, proactive risk management, and visualizations, better decision-making processes can be developed for smart urban development and disaster resilience. The sessions will cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:
- Fundamental, theoretical and applied research related to SHM, NDE, DT, smart cities, urban resilience
- The role of SHM and NDE in enhancing the reliability of Digital Twins for urban infrastructure.
- Strategies for integrating technologies into smart city initiatives and community resilience planning.
- How collaborative participation among stakeholders enhances disaster resilience and urban sustainability.
- Case studies, real-world examples and applications
Topic 8: Machine Learning for NDT Data Analysis and Interpretation
Organizer:Prof. Parisa Shokouhi
Affiliation: The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Email: parisa@psu.edu
The application of machine learning has been rapidly changing how NDT data are collected and analyzed. The scope of this session includes applications of machine learning / deep learning methods for various NDT data analysis tasks such as automatic defect detection/characterization and NDT-informed decision making. Other topics of interests include: physics-informed machine learning, explainable machine learning, and challenges of applying machine learning to NDE data.
Keywords: concrete, machine learning, deep learning, AI, automatic defect detection and characterizationTopic 9: Nonlinear Acoustic/Ultrasonic Testing of Cementitious Materials
Organizer:Prof. Parisa Shokouhi
Affiliation: The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Email: parisa@psu.edu
The application of machine learning has been rapidly changing how NDT data are collected and analyzed. Nonlinear acoustic/ultrasonic testing is an emerging area of NDT with great promise in revealing early damage (i.e., microcracking) in cementitious materials. The scope of this session includes: experimental and/or numerical studies of nonlinear ultrasonic testing in concrete, novel methods and applications, new understanding of the test results in relation to the material structures, the influence of environmental effects on nonlinear ultrasonic response as well as nonlinear ultrasonic imaging.
Keywords: nonlinear ultrasonics, concreteTopic 10: NDT in Civil Engineering for Disaster Mitigation
Organizer:Dr. Olga Popovych
Affiliation: Technical University of Munich, Chair of Non-Destructive Testing, Germany
Email: olga.popovych@tum.de
Non-destructive testing (NDT) in civil engineering plays a crucial role in disaster mitigation by ensuring the safety, reliability, and resilience of infrastructure subjected to various stressors, including natural disasters and wartime impacts. As urban environments increasingly face the threats of earthquakes, floods, and other catastrophic events, NDT techniques—such as ultrasonic testing, ground-penetrating radar, and radiographic inspection —become essential tools for assessing the integrity of structures without causing damage. Aside earthquakes and other natural hazards, the influence of war on civil infrastructure cannot be overlooked. Armed conflicts often lead to the degradation of buildings, infrastructure components and transportation networks, necessitating thorough evaluations to identify weaknesses and facilitate timely repairs. In this context, NDT methods provide a non-invasive means to monitor structural health, enabling engineers to develop targeted interventions that enhance disaster preparedness and recovery. Additionally, NDT techniques are vital in the investigation and maintenance of atomic power stations, where ensuring structural integrity is critical for preventing catastrophic failures and ensuring safety in the event of natural or human-induced disasters. This session will emphasize the significance of integrating NDT practices into civil engineering frameworks, emphasizing their potential to mitigate risks associated with both natural catastrophes and human-made disasters. By employing advanced NDT techniques, civil engineers can contribute to the development of more resilient infrastructures capable of withstanding the challenges posed by an unpredictable world.
Keywords: Concrete structure, Civil Engineering, Disaster Mitigation, Structural Integrity, Natural Disasters, Wartime Impact, Ultrasonic Testing, Radiographic Inspection, Ground-Penetrating Radar, Safety AssessmentTopic 11: NDT for Optimum Maintenance and Management of in-Service Industry, Irrigation and Urban Water Infrastructures
Organizer:Prof. Dr. Tetsuya Suzuki1, Prof. Dr. Yohei Asada 2, Prof. Dr. Ninel Alver3
Affiliation:1 Niigata University, Japan, 2 University of Tsukuba, Japan , 3Ege University, Türkiye
Email: suzuki@agr.niigata-u.ac.jp , asada.yohei.ga@u.tsukuba.ac.jp ninel.alver@ege.edu.tr
The session objective is to share information on NDT methods related to:
- Basic research and case studies for detection of deteriorated characteristics in service water infrastructures
- Use of Digital twins and NDT methodology for efficient water use
- Combined with simulation and/or experiment
- NDT and related monitoring methodology for evaluation of water infrastructures