Special Sessions

Driven by recent technological advances in the area of sensors and microcontrollers, new data acquisition systems have emerged for static and dynamic monitoring of Civil Structures and Infrastructures. In addition of generally presenting a more attractive cost compared to traditional solutions, they can be more flexible and easily customized for specific applications. Moreover, they can simplify the process of installation by minimizing the use of cables spread across the structures, and the maintenance and replacement operations are facilitated.

In this context, this special session is aimed at presenting contributions from researchers and professionals working in areas such as, but not limited to: Development of innovative sensors and data acquisition systems; Distributed sensor networks; Algorithms for local data processing; Energy harvesting systems; Data transmission and management; and real-world applications.   

In the meantime, we state that structural health and inspection automation for civil structures and infrastructure systems significantly lags compared to the latest advances in other sectors, specifically driverless cars. To this end, there is no definition of automation level in Civil Engineering. Among many research challenges, we believe that the major ones can be identified at the nexus of 3-dimensional sensing and modeling of civil structures at level-of-details, autonomous navigation amid robotic operation (e.g., sensor deployment), integration of monitoring and inspecting abruptly and slowly evolving events, exploitation of building information modeling (BIM) or digital-twin modeling (DTM), and human-machine-structure interfacing.

To further identify and overcome the research challenges toward Structural Monitoring and Inspection Automation, we call for a special session focusing on theoretical formulation, algorithm development, implementation, and lab or field experiment and validation in the direction of applying unmanned vehicles, robotics, 3D vision, AI, and spatial-computing technologies for structural monitoring and inspection. Sample but not exclusive topics are solicited as follows:

1.      - Robotic 3D navigation, machine vision, detection, and mapping: theoretical, numerical, and experimental methods.

2.    - Structural monitoring, vision-based vibration monitoring, vehicles and structures integrated sensing, sensor deployment, and topology optimization enabled or enhanced by unmanned vehicles or robotics.

3.      - Human-in-the-loop and machine-interfacing for robotics/unmanned vehicles control, visual analytics, and decision-making.

4.    - Innovative application of AI methods (e.g., generative adversarial networks, reinforcement learning, knowledge distilling methods, large language models (LLMs), and other generative AI methods for machine vision, control, and decision-making applications.

5.    - Innovative imaging and vision methods. Imaging methods may include LiDAR imaging, stereo imaging, structural light imaging, thermal imaging, multispectral or hyperspectral imaging, and fusion or multi-mode imaging.

6.   - Innovative spatial-temporal model creation and integration, including building information modeling (BIM), digital-twin modeling (DTM), and their integration with imaging and vision methods.

7.      - Open data and model development, testing, and practice, including development of synthetic 3D environments as testbeds for autonomous inspection systems, and application of game engines, agents-based modeling, and other tools for static or dynamic generation of 3D structures, civil infrastructure systems, and smart cities.

8.      - Monitoring and inspection with lab/field testing for civil structures such as buildings, roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, etc. with an emphasis on using unmanned vehicles, robotics, or spatial computing devices.

Effective decision-making in civil engineering infrastructure management requires a comprehensive understanding of structural health conditions, dynamic loading effects, and environmental influences. Traditional approaches to data collection, such as visual inspections and periodic testing, present limitations in terms of accessibility, continuity, and cost-effectiveness. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) techniques have emerged as a promising solution, offering continuous data streams that enable proactive maintenance, risk mitigation, and emergency response strategies.

However, the integration of SHM data into decision-making processes poses challenges, including the need to quantify the Value of Information (VoI) derived from monitoring data. The VoI framework, grounded in Bayesian decision theory, provides a systematic approach to evaluate the economic and societal benefits of SHM investments and guide optimal data-collection strategies over the lifecycle of structures.

The goal of this Special Session is to present and discuss recent advances, applications, and future trends in vibration-based data-driven infrastructure management and VoI analysis. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

·       Quantification of the Value of Information in SHM

·       Integration of SHM data into decision support systems

·       Optimization of sensor placement and data collection strategies

·       VoI-driven approaches to infrastructure management and maintenance

·       Real-world case studies demonstrating the impact of SHM on decision-making processes

·       Innovations in SHM technologies and methodologies

·       Emergency management through SHM-driven insights

Through presentations, discussions, and knowledge sharing, this session seeks to foster collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and industry experts in advancing the field of vibration-based monitoring and enhancing the management of civil engineering infrastructure.

This special session aims to address the pressing challenges and recent advancements in vibration-based system and damage identification of civil structures subjected to both operational and extreme loads. With a focus on diverse natural excitations due to wind and earthquake induced ground motions, as well as various infrastructure systems such as bridges, buildings, ports, wind turbines, and industrial facilities, the session will encompass a comprehensive exploration of methodologies, techniques, and case studies relevant to the field. Key topics to be covered include but are not limited to:

1. Model updating techniques for enhancing accuracy and reliability in structural dynamics analysis.

2. Bayesian inference methods for structural health monitoring (SHM) and damage assessment of civil infrastructure systems, including updating of complex nonlinear mechanics-based finite element (FE) models, aggregation of epistemic and aleatoric uncertainties, and digital twins.

3. System identification methods for extracting modal parameters and structural characteristics.

4. SHM strategies utilizing vibration data for real-time condition assessment and damage detection.

5. Damage identification algorithms and approaches for assessing the severity and location of structural damage.

6. Damage prognosis.

7. Application of vibration-based techniques in various civil engineering domains such as earthquake engineering, wind engineering, bridge and building integrity assessment.

8. Integration of advanced sensing technologies, data analytics, and machine learning algorithms for enhanced structural monitoring and damage identification.

9. Case studies and practical applications demonstrating the effectiveness and applicability of vibration-based approaches in real-world scenarios.

10. Challenges for real-world implementation of SHM of civil infrastructure systems.

By bringing together researchers, practitioners, and industry experts, the special session seeks to foster interdisciplinary discussions, exchange of ideas, and collaborations towards advancing the state-of-the-art in vibration-based system and damage identification of civil structures, ultimately contributing to the resilience and safety of infrastructure systems under operational and extreme loading conditions.

Advanced Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) strategies for civil structures and infrastructures increasingly employ model-based approaches to assess and predict structural integrity and performance over time. These strategies involve the development and utilization of experimentally-validated numerical models – often performed through vibration-based model updating – to represent the expected structural behavior under various conditions. Including numerical models in the SHM process can support the interpretation of monitoring data coming from heterogeneous sensor network, enabling an effective data fusion and digital twin.

Consequently, model-based SHM techniques offer advantages such as (a) enhanced accuracy in damage identification, including localization and quantification, (b) improved understanding of structural behavior in nearly real-time, and (c) the ability to simulate various scenarios with the aim of optimizing maintenance and intervention strategies. Additionally, these approaches can facilitate proactive maintenance and decision-making, ultimately contributing to the safety, longevity, and cost-effectiveness of civil structures and infrastructures.

This special session encourages the submission of papers that contribute to the advancement of model-based SHM strategies in civil engineering, providing participants with valuable insights into the latest developments and best practices in this rapidly evolving field.

The special session will be dedicated to exploring the latest advancements in fiber optic sensing for structural health monitoring (SHM) of buildings and infrastructures. Optical fibers can serve as distributed sensors, relying on robust technology that can be exploited for diverse environmental sensing applications, from earthquake detection to continuous measurement of strain, temperature, and vibrations. When embedded into structures, like buildings, railways or bridges, the optical fiber measurements provide valuable data on the structural health in real-time that can be analyzed and interpreted with AI techniques. This integrated approach presents a powerful solution for intelligent structural health monitoring, detecting potential damage in real-time and enabling preventative maintenance strategies. Different fiber sensing technologies have been proposed for the detection of structural vibrations in recent years, like OTDR, DAS, Fiber Bragg Gratings, and interferometry.
The session will collect presentations on these different approaches to SHM, on the integration of AI methods, and on the latest in-field demonstrations showcasing the potential of fiber sensors in the field of civil engineering. The following topics are welcome:

- Fiber optic technologies for structural health monitoring

- AI-powered methods for classification of structural events detected with fiber sensing

- Predictive algorithms for prompt structural health monitoring

- In-field demonstrations based on distributed optical fiber sensing

The main objective of this mini-symposium is to explore novel computational techniques and methodologies for the efficient assessment of large systems including civil engineering (e.g., bridges, dams), and renewable energy (wind turbine farms) structures, with particular interest in addressing the following well-known challenges:

•       Handling the effect of Environmental and Operational Conditions (EOCs):

◦     Analyzing the effect of EOCs in the structural responses

◦     Designing novel techniques to separate these effects from damage-induced changes

•       Handling and quantifying uncertainty in the diagnostics to ensure robustness

◦     Designing statistics-based approaches and Bayesian methods to model uncertainty in the estimated outcomes (inverse problem solution, e.g.: damage severity)

•       Covering the gap of experimental damage data using simulations

◦     Calibrating the Finite Element model including EOCs and modal features identified by OMA

◦     Generating databases of damage scenarios from calibrated FE models with EOCs variability

◦     Adapting synthetic and experimental domains

Machine Learning and Deep Learning have great potential to benefit Structural Dynamics. Examples of their applications include analysis of seismic and vibration time series; video processing; structural health monitoring and prognosis; maintenance scheduling; design of experiments; and many others. Advances in other disciplines provide “low-hanging fruits” to be leveraged by Civil Engineers.

Structural health monitoring (SHM) has been cast in the context of a statistical pattern recognition paradigm, where machine learning plays an important role. Meanwhile, recent technologies have unveiled alternative sensing opportunities and new perspectives to manage and observe the response of bridges, but it is still widely recognized that vibration-based SHM still struggles to produce reliable global information on the presence of damage, mainly because of the effects of operational and environmental variations, like traffic and temperature. Meanwhile, climate change has been posed as one of the biggest concerns for the health of bridges. Although the uncertainty associated with the magnitude of the change is large, the fact that our climate is changing is unequivocal. Therefore, it is expected that climate change can be another source of operational and environmental variability, with changes in temperature, relative humidity, wind, river flow, etc. For instance, what happens if the mean temperature changes over time? Will it significantly affect the dynamics of bridges? Will the reference data set used for the training of algorithms become outdated? Are machine learning algorithms robust enough to deal with those changes? Therefore, the main goal of this special session is to promote more coordinated and interdisciplinary research in the vibration-based SHM of bridges, by proposing key developments in machine learning for damage identification under operational and environmental effects, especially (but not restricted to) the ones based on video-based SHM, transfer learning, and supervised learning approaches, using data sets from numerical models and/or monitoring systems.

Monitoring the integrity and health of civil structures is very important to prevent catastrophic damage and structural failure. Hence, development and advances in civil structural health monitoring techniques based on structural vibration as a nondestructive methods, and design of smart materials integrated with sensors/actuators play a significant role in accurately detecting damage, predicting remaining life, and preventing the failure of civil structures. Over the past two decades, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based methodologies have demonstrated to be a game-changing approach especially in dealing with large volume of data from diverse sources of sensing and for dealing with highly nonlinear and/or noisy environment and can change the paradigm of fault assessment in a wide range of civil structures systems. The aim of modern vibration-based civil structural health monitoring using smart materials and aided AI algorithms is to remotely detect any damage or defects and estimate the remaining life of civil structures before failure. This Special session will be dedicated to new approaches in civil structural health monitoring by development of smart materials and vibration-based techniques. This Special session Contributions on the following topics:

·       Wave propagation methods for damage assessment;

·       Vibration techniques for damage detection;

·       Wavelet transformation analysis for time-varying signals in civil structural health monitoring;

·       Use of sensors and smart materials;

·       The seismic responses of civil structures;

·       Seismic isolation of civil structures;

·       Predicting the remaining life of structures;

·       Piezoelectric materials for diagnostics;

·       Signal processing techniques for monitoring;

·       Application of artificial intelligence in in civil structural health monitoring techniques based on structural vibration.

Vibration serviceability governs design of contemporary civil engineering structures, such as footbridges, floors, staircases and sport stadia. This is because newly built structures tend to be increasingly slender and lighter, thus often responding vigorously to various dynamic excitation. Active people, such as pedestrians, joggers and jumpers, are the most commonly reported source of structural vibrations. To date, the relevant design guidelines have all failed to provide reliable instructions on human-induced vibrations of civil structures. This special session aims to present the latest scientific developments related to human-induced dynamic loading, human-structure interaction, human-perception to vibrations and vibration control.

Bridges are critical transportation infrastructure that connects people and goods. It is vital to ensure their safety, longevity, and functionality. However, traditional inspection methods have limitations in detecting subtle changes in performance, which can compromise the bridge's integrity. Innovative data-driven solutions leverage artificial intelligence (AI), real-time analytics, and adaptive sensor technologies to offer advanced approaches for proactive maintenance strategies. By using predictive models, these solutions can anticipate potential risks and identify areas requiring atention, enabling engineers to take corrective measures before significant damage occurs. This helps mitigate risks and ensures optimal bridge health, reducing the need for costly repairs and minimizing disruption to traffic. Overall, using AI-powered solutions in bridge maintenance is transforming how we manage our critical infrastructure, making it safer, more efficient, and sustainable for future generations. This mini-symposium aims to explore the forefront of data-driven bridge health monitoring, with a focus on cuting-edge AI-driven insights, real-time analytics, and adaptive sensor technologies. We will delve into a range of techniques, including feature extraction and derivation of health monitoring indicators, to enhance monitoring accuracy, efficiency, and effectiveness. Our goal is to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among experts and academics to advance the field of bridge health monitoring and ensure the safety and longevity of our transportation infrastructure for years to come.

Some of the key topics of interest in this symposium include:

• Data-driven and AI-enhanced methodologies for bridge health monitoring and risk assessment;

• Integration of AI and machine learning algorithms for real-time insights;

• Strategies for addressing data imbalances and ensuring model robustness;

• Utilization of adaptive sensor technologies for monitoring dynamic conditions;

• Techniques for feature extraction aimed at identifying health monitoring indicators for early detection of structural issues;

• Understanding the operational and environmental influences on the effectiveness of monitoring techniques.

We welcome contributions that present practical implementations, case studies, and experimental findings as we collectively strive to push the boundaries of data-driven bridge health monitoring.

Tailored for academic researchers and civil engineering experts, the Bridge Dynamics Special Session provides a platform for presenting theoretical and experimental approaches to analysing the dynamic elements of bridge structures.

The Special Session will address a range of issues, including but not limited to:

1.    Experimental and theoretical investigation of dynamic characteristics of bridges and footbridges;

2.    Seismic performance of bridges and footbridges;

3.    Dynamic analysis of railway bridges under high-speed trains;

4.    Human-induced vibrations of footbridges;

5.    Aerodynamic stability of bridge structures;

6.    Structural health monitoring (SHM) systems;

7.    Integration and management of SHM data for bridges and footbridges.

To achieve the global climate targets and to create sustainable and resource-efficient infrastructure systems, the European Union is working intensively on building a comprehensive high-speed network by 2050 and tripling the existing high-speed network by 2030. Railway bridges are a key component of the rail-bound transport infrastructure, which are exposed to increased dynamic loads due to the intensification of traffic volumes, increasing train speeds and the simultaneous increase in axle loads of the rolling stock. The challenges to be overcome in creating a resilient transport infrastructure are highly topical within the worldwide research community.

This Special Session aims to present the latest developments in research, innovations and new approaches related to the dynamic assessment of railway bridges, bringing together experts from academia, industry, and railway operators, and promoting collaborations. The Special Session invites contributions on the following topics: dynamic behavior of railway bridges and their subsystems (bridges, viaducts, transition zones, ballasted track and fixed track, noise barriers), interaction between various components (vehicle-bridge interaction, track-bridge interaction, soil-structure interaction), structural health monitoring including data-driven approaches, drive-by monitoring, condition-based monitoring, AI-based condition assessment, predictive maintenance, resilience of the structure, train running safety, assessment of railway infrastructure under wind or earthquake actions. The Special Session welcomes papers with experimental investigations, theoretical-based applications as well as papers with reference to practical applications.

The aim of this special session is to summarize the progress in theoretical, computational and experimental research in the field of Railways. Topics of interest include damage identification, SHM, Wayside Monitoring, Drive-by monitoring, Machine Learning, Big Data, IoT and Computer Vision. The goal is to bring together researchers, students, and professionals in this field and related areas.

Prediction and control of ground-borne noise and vibrations are one of the largest environmental challenges for railway exploration in urban areas. These phenomena affect the comfort and life quality of the inhabitants in the railway surroundings. Buildings in residential areas can also be affected by vibrations produced by nearby construction work (some examples: pile driving, compaction work, blasting, etc). This Special Session aims to collect experimental studies dealing with the generation and propagation of ground-borne noise and vibrations and its interference with nearby structures.

Both the employment of mechanized excavation for the construction of tunnels and the exploitation of these latters for mobility of people and transport of goods generate ground-borne vibrations with energy that can be distributed over a wide range of frequencies even more 100 Hz. The vibrations emitted from these sources according to their surrounding environment (i.e. excavation methods and procedures, type of engines employed, geometry and materials in the surrounding structures, different traffic sources, natural context) reach the existing building foundations and the free surface. Then more particularly, these vibrations do not depend only on the source itself but also on the propagation environment (nature and mechanical properties of soils, stratigraphy, geometry of natural or/and anthropogenic heterogeneities such as shallow and deep foundations). Nowadays, it is fundamental to consider experimental in-situ and laboratory data as well as theoretical approaches and analogical and numerical modelling to largely investigate on the role of the different contributions to the vibrational impact assessment: the physics of the sources, the role of soils in the defining of the transmission functions, and the contribution of the Soil-Structure Interaction for structures built on deep or shallow foundations.

The main objective of the special section is then to bring together and promote exchanges among communities of researchers working in both construction and exploitation of railway and road infrastructures.

As the proximity between railway tracks and residential or office areas continues to decrease for convenient commuting, a conflict arises with the increasing demand for a quiet and comfortable living and working environment for citizens. Train-induced vibrations are a significant source of concern, resulting from the dynamic interaction between trains and track structures. The propagation of vibrational energy occurs through waves in the soil, which then reaches building foundations and transmits into the structures due to soil-foundation-building dynamic interactions. 

Research efforts in understanding train-induced vibrations can be categorized into three main areas: the vibration generation mechanism at railway tracks, the propagation mechanism of ground-borne vibrations, and the transmission mechanism from the ground into buildings. The development of parallel computing techniques and meta structures has sparked advancements in comprehending and mitigating train-induced vibrations. 

This special session aims to bring together researchers, engineers, and industry professionals to share their insights, research findings, and innovative approaches in the field of train-induced vibrations. Contributions are welcome in various aspects, including but not limited to: 

Wind-induced vibrations of slender structures of various types result in dynamic loads that can lead to intolerable amplitudes and/or aeroelastic phenomena. Slender structures of interest include (but are not limited to) wind turbines, chimneys, towers and (iced) overhead conductors, bridge structures including girders, pillars, pylons and cables, as well as spatially curved structures, such as arches. Investigation techniques encompass field measurements and wind tunnel experiments, eventually assisted by simulations (e.g. CFD) and analytical models.

Cable and tendon elements are key structural elements for civil engineering structures, such as cable-stayed bridges, external post-tensioned bridges, cable roofs or transmission lines. Thus, their mechanical characterization and damage identification are crucial for structure stability and safety analysis. Indeed, due to the latest failures and collapses of cable-stayed structures, this is currently an interesting and urgent topic to be dealt with by the research community.

Special attention has to be paid to grouted external tendons and cables that have been popularly used in bridges. The failure of some of these structures due to stress corrosion, which leads to their brittle fracture, has pointed out the importance of assessing their damage to prevent and predict these situations. Hence, non-destructive testing techniques are essential for detecting cable deterioration and ensuring structural integrity throughout the service life. Vibration-based structural health monitoring is particularly significant among the NDT techniques since it allows continuous assessment and tension force estimation.

This special session aims to share experiences and present studies concerning cable damage identification and structural health monitoring. This Special Session will foster discussions on topics that include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

•      Vibration-based structural health monitoring;

•      Long-term in-service monitoring of cables and tendons;

•      Environmental effects (temperature, wind, live loads, etc.): analysis and their removal

•      Modal testing in structure with cables and tendons ;

•      Cable force monitoring and estimation techniques;

•      Monitoring of tensioning during cable replacement process;

•      Cable damage identification;

•      Acoustic sensors for tendon wire breaks;

•      Lab tests including dynamic and fatigue tests;

•      Fatigue-resistant analysis and performance;

•      Experimental validation;

•      Finite element models for cables and tendons;

•      Effects of bending stiffness and sag on cable mechanical behaviour;

•      Transverse wave propagation for damage assessment;

•      Friction losses of post-tensioned tendons;

•      Vibration control of cables and tendons;

•      Roofs with cables;

•      Vertical cables and lick suspenders;

•      Assessment of tow cables for lifting and handling.

With the increasing environmental concerns, the pursuit for sustainable energy solutions has been gaining attention from both academic research endeavors and industrial initiatives, leading to the development of some of the most challenging structures for engineers, specially designed for optimal performance in both onshore and offshore environments.  The large dimensions of these structures, and in particular the large size of the blades and supporting structures, make wind turbines very flexible and, thus, sensitive to the dynamic loads induced by wind and waves, making dynamic testing and continuous monitoring of their components and of the complete structure crucial for design validation, condition assessment during operation, and fatigue analyses for lifetime estimation. If these concerns are relevant for any modern wind turbine, they have gained special relevance with the evolution of offshore installations towards deeper waters, using larger bottom-fixed foundations or floating platforms, where the lower natural frequencies are reaching the typical values associated to the waves loading, further increasing the importance of good dynamic performance and precise monitoring strategies.

In this context, this Special Session focus on works dealing with the testing and monitoring of wind turbine components such as blades and drivetrains, as well as their supporting structures, such as towers, onshore or offshore foundations, floating platforms and their connections.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to:

• Data processing strategies;
• Optimization of sensor distribution;
• Vibration-based updating of numerical models; 
• Design, implementation and management of dynamic monitoring systems;
• Vibration-based system and/or damage identification;
• Fatigue damage evaluation.

Offshore Wind Energy is experiencing unprecedented growth in recent times, and is central to the energy transition away from fossil-based fuels. Indeed many governments are relying on the success of this industry to facilitate rapid de-carbonisation. The earliest installed offshore wind farms are now approaching the end of their original design lives, meaning decisions must be made about how to enhance their performance or effectively decommission them. For this, information about their performance is paramount, and relies on accurate measurements and interpretation of lifetime behavior. Questions over how best to monitor offshore structures, what needs to be monitored, how to use the information gained, and what it means for life-span assessment are becoming critical.

This special session welcomes contributions on vibration-based monitoring technologies for offshore structures, including (but not limited to): new and improved algorithms, direct and indirect monitoring schemes, damage identification and quantification, damage localization, fatigue assessment, service-life extension, decision-making algorithms, value of information, life-span assessment, uncertainty quantification, detecting nonlinear behavior, optimal sensor placement, novel sensing techniques, probabilistic approaches in damage assessment, novel experimental testing, and system behavior degradation.

The global demand for renewable energy has intensified in recent years, in view of the ambitious targets set towards the decarbonization of the energy sector. Wind energy is experiencing remarkable growth as a prominent renewable resource, which is accompanied by technical developments and challenges in various fronts. These structures are associated with various interesting dynamic problems, ranging from vibration analysis under either operational conditions, or extreme-loading scenarios (e.g. earthquakes, storms) to noise and vibrations induced in the surrounding environment (i.e. soil, seawater). To reduce the cost of wind energy and optimize the design of these systems, experimental studies of both lab- and field-scale are indispensable, in conjunction with computational methods to better characterize and comprehend their dynamic response. This special session welcomes contributions focusing on the dynamics of wind energy infrastructure, including (but not limited to):

• Structure-borne sound emission and environmental vibrations;

• Modal identification;

• Experimental vibro-acoustics;

• Nonlinear vibrations and waves;

• Non-destructive testing;

• Fatigue and life-span assessment;

• Periodicity and localisation effects in vibro-acoustics;

• Acoustic Black Holes.

Dynamic monitoring of civil engineering structures is more and more frequently adopted but developments and applications in the preservation of Architectural Heritage are still not common. The Special Session is intended to focus on methodological aspects, recent developments and applications of data driven assessment and SHM of historic structures (e.g. churches, monuments, towers, historic bridges and infrastructures). The session will concentrate on several aspects, including but not limited to: (a) Design, implementation and management of dynamic monitoring systems; (b) OMA-based strategies of preventive conservation and SHM; (c) Artificial Intelligence for damage detection and localization; (d) Vibration-based post-earthquake and seismic assessment.

During the last two decades, due to a need and a growing interest by both researchers and professionals, seismic structural health monitoring (SHM) has evolved. Numerous monitoring systems installed in structures in various seismic-prone countries utilize real-time or near-real-time responses recorded during strong earthquakes to make informed decisions related to the health of their structures. These data have a strategic importance both for the advancement of knowledge on the behavior and performance of structures under strong seismic actions and for the calibration of realistic and reliable numerical models that are aimed to reproduce the structural behavior and to formulate a diagnosis about possible damages. Furthermore, the possibility of assessing the seismic vulnerability based on data recorded on the monitored structure opens new avenues in maintenance policies, shifting from a traditional ‘scheduled maintenance’ to a ‘condition-based maintenance’, carried out ‘on demand' or ‘automatically’, basing on the current structural condition. This Special Session aims to report recent advances in this field and successful applications for civil structures and infrastructures: buildings, bridges, historical structures, dams, wind turbines, and pipelines. The session deals with theoretical and computational issues and applications and welcomes contributions that cover, but are not limited to, seismic SHM algorithms for identification and damage detection, requisite strong motion arrays and real-time monitoring systems and projects, instrumentation and measurements methods and tools, optimal sensors location, experimental tests, integration of seismic SHM in procedures for risk assessment and emergency management.

Such a session will provide a venue for the exchange of information on ongoing developments and assess the successes and limited successes of SHM.

Large dams are infrastructures that contribute decisively to the proper management of water resources, including water storage and supply, hydropower generation, irrigation, etc. Generally involving high potential risk, large dams are designed to operate for many decades, which means that their structural condition can be affected over time by progressive deterioration phenomena. Additionally, many dams are located in seismic zones, and strong earthquakes may cause damages that lead to a loss of service condition or even compromise structural integrity. Therefore, it is essential conduct a continuous and reliable evaluation of dam behaviour, based on vibrations monitoring data and digital modelling results, for structural health monitoring over time and for real-time response assessment during and after earthquake events. In this way it is possible to improve situational awareness and support informed decision-making, aiming to effectively control structural safety and ensure the best operating conditions for large dams.

The goal of this special session is to provide a venue for presenting recent studies on Structural Health Monitoring Over Time and Seismic Safety Assessment of Large Dams, discussing lessons learned from real-world case studies, current innovations and future challenges, with a view to contributing for the dam engineering scientific community and all professional involved in dam behaviour analysis and safety control.

As such, we welcome contributions that cover, but are not limited to, the development and installation of dynamic monitoring systems on large dams worldwide, methodologies for operational modal identification and damage detection, development and calibration of digital models and their application in behaviour prediction studies, digital-twinning, seismic response analysis and safety assessment.

Although the adoption of structural health monitoring (SHM) approaches is on the rise, despite significant research activities, SHM technologies have not yet been widely accepted by working-level officials especially those in infrastructure inspection and management; this is caused by few satisfactory results in real-world applications. However, recent fast-growing technologies in information technologies and artificial intelligence have immense potential to be incorporated into the successful real-world application of SHM for infrastructure inspection and maintenance. The scope of this special session is to bring together experts, academics, and practicing engineers concerned with the various aspects of SHM incorporated with recently developed technologies.

Bridge structures, pavements, and railway tracks play a crucial role in the global transportation system. However, over time, this infrastructure can experience damage and deterioration, posing significant risks to human safety. Traditional methods of infrastructural health monitoring involve visual inspections or installing various sensors, but these approaches can be costly and inefficient. In recent years, there has been a noticeable rise in the use of indirect structural health monitoring (iSHM), which involves assessing the condition of transport infrastructure through the responses of passing vehicles. These indirect approaches require only a few sensors, making them cost-effective and easy to implement in engineering applications. The objective of this special session is to gather the latest advancements in iSHM from academic scientists and industry leaders. We welcome research in areas such as modeling vehicle-bridge interaction systems, numerical validations, laboratory experiments, and field tests. This session primarily focuses on, but is not limited to, the following topics:

• Road/railway bridge modal parameter identification from responses of vehicles;

• Vehicle-assisted damage detection, localization, and quantification for bridges;

• Road pavement inspection using instrumented vehicles;

• Railway track condition assessment via train responses;

• Investigations of vehicle-bridge interaction theories;

• Modal-based indirect monitoring for bridge structures;

• Machine learning / AI applications for indirect monitoring.

Recent advancements in Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) have elevated monitoring systems to indispensable tools for infrastructure management. The deployment of these systems across extensive infrastructure networks facilitates the assessment of residual reliability levels of managed bridges, thereby aiding in the prioritization and planning of maintenance interventions.

However, the implementation of a comprehensive monitoring system on a large scale invariably entails costs that often exceed available resources, necessitating the optimization of monitoring system utilization. The response seems to have been investigated by offering diverse monitoring services, tailored to the characteristics and monitoring needs of each structure.

This Special Session explores various monitoring approaches, categorized by analysis method (Finite Element Model Based, Data Driven, or hybrid) and sensors layout (Local vs Global monitoring)  and their impact on the LoA (Level of Approximation) in the knowledge of the monitored structure, especially when applied at a network level.

Algorithms and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) vary accordingly, with the scope of analysis ranging from anomaly detection to damage assessment (F.E. Model Based vs Data Driven approach); selection of the approach depends on factors such as the structure's health status, strategic importance, and robustness, as well as potential consequences of its collapse or limitation in use.

Structural Health Monitoring is gaining a key role in ensuring the integrity, safety, and longevity of civil infrastructures worldwide. However, deploying permanent monitoring systems and extracting useful information present significant challenges, mainly related to big data acquisition and management, as well as sensor installation and maintenance.

This special session focuses on long-term monitoring projects to address these issues. The objective is to gather researchers and practitioners to discuss the latest advancements, methodologies, and case studies in the SHM field applied to civil infrastructures. Therefore, we invite contributions that involve the deployment of in-situ monitoring systems and the collection of at least one year of data.

While acknowledging the importance of field SHM applications, we encourage submissions exploring alternative techniques to broaden the scope of SHM applications.

Suitable topics for the special session include, but are not limited to:

●        Novel approaches to permanent monitoring systems deployment or alternatives to permanent monitoring systems;

●        Effective data acquisition and management strategies;

●        Advanced signal processing tools and machine learning techniques for damage information extraction;

●        Case studies demonstrating the practical implementation and impact of SHM in real-world scenarios;

●        Treatment of environmental and operational data;

●        Challenges, opportunities, and added value of long-term monitoring.

We extend a warm invitation to researchers, engineers, and practitioners from academia, industry, research institutes, and government agencies to contribute to this special session. Your diverse perspectives and expertise will foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, advancing the field of Structural Health Monitoring applied to civil infrastructures.

As the frequency and severity of natural disasters and operational disruptions grow, it is increasingly vital to enhance the resilience and functional recovery of structural and infrastructure systems to foster sustainable growth and resilience within communities. Moreover, recognizing the crucial interconnection between systems is essential for managing dependencies and shared resources. This necessitates advancements in real-time infrastructure vibration response and performance measurement science with the aim of conducting damage diagnosis and prognosis at different levels - from structural and non-structural components to infrastructure network systems. These systems encompass buildings, long-span bridges, heritage landmarks, retaining structures, dams, wind turbine towers, and pipelines, as well as transportation networks such as roads, railways, and airports, and utility networks including water, sewage, and electrical systems. The ultimate objective is to enhance resilience and minimize risks and recovery time for interdependent systems, where a change in one inevitably affects the others. Despite being designed and analyzed using intricate engineering principles, each system and its interdependency remain vulnerable to severe external hazards and internal degradation mechanisms, emphasizing the urgent need for rigorous and continuous multi-scale structural health and resilience monitoring.

This special session provides an in-depth exploration of the broad domains of vibration sensing, data fusion, and structural health monitoring (SHM), highlighting its crucial role in enhancing the durability, reliability, and resilience of our civil infrastructure assets. Participants will be introduced to recent advancements in monitoring technologies. Introduction to recent advancements in monitoring technologies:

1. Harnessing emerging sensing technologies for enhancing infrastructure health and resilience monitoring;

2. Geospatial technologies, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI) for infrastructure digital twins;

3. Sensor networks for large-scale distributed system monitoring and management;

4. Proactive and reactive measures to minimize service interruptions and optimize mitigation, response, and recovery strategies;

5. Optimal sensor placement, model-data fusion, model updating, and data-driven monitoring;

6. Advancements in data assimilation for predictive modeling;

7. Advanced sensing, computing, automation in software and hardware;

8. Digital technologies for surveillance and inspection.

Throughout this session, participants will share and gain insights into the latest technological advancements and the trajectory of SHM for multi-scale infrastructure health and resilience monitoring. Attendees will explore the multifaceted challenges, opportunities, and advancements that lie ahead in the realm of infrastructure resilience and health monitoring.

As sustainability and eco-friendly construction practices gain prominence, novel technologies have enabled the use of timber and timber-hybrid solutions for civil structures and lightweight infrastructures.

These novel alternatives to traditional building materials require further research efforts to be properly addressed, especially from the perspective of their dynamic behaviour. That is particularly relevant in the framework of dynamic monitoring and damage assessment.

This Special Session aims at sharing opinions and presenting studies concerning the latest developments in SHM, NDTs, and survey strategies applied to structures and infrastructures in timber and timber-hybrid materials.

Contents of interest include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

•            Presentation of relevant case studies;

•            Experimental results from laboratory test rigs; replicas, scaled-down models, or mockup structures; and on-site case studies;

•            Numerical, analytical, and/or theoretical studies related to inherent applications;

•            Non-destructive tests with applications;

•            Vibration-based damage assessment approaches, especially the ones that fall in the framework of statistical pattern recognition, anomaly/outlier detection, and machine learning techniques;

•            Model calibration and updating strategies;

•            Linear and nonlinear model-based simulations and analyses;

•            Vibration-based inspection techniques, including advances in signal and data processing.

In recent years, mass timber and cross-laminated timber (CLT) have garnered increasing attention within the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry due to their sustainability attributes, amidst a growing global emphasis on climate change mitigation and global warming potential reduction. These materials have earned significant interest from designers owing to their structural integrity, aesthetic appeal, and adaptable nature. Particularly noteworthy is mass-timber and CLT's utilization as a primary structural component in the construction of mass timber structures, such as bridges, roof structures, electrical poles, wind turbine towers, as well as tall timber buildings, owing to its commendable strength[1]to-weight ratio.

Multi-story timber buildings typically feature assemblies of laminated timber elements and CLT panels, interconnected by metallic connectors. However, owing to the inherent characteristics of timber, including susceptibility to environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, coupled with specific demands on connections and their advantageous strength-to-weight ratio, these structures may exhibit heightened sensitivity to vibrations or present unique vibrational characteristics. Consequently, there arises a necessity for thorough experimental, analytical, and numerical investigations through in-situ monitoring and analysis to ensure structural integrity and performance of the timber structures.

This special session seeks to delve into the intricacies surrounding the dynamic analysis and monitoring of timber structures, offering a platform for discourse on both challenges and opportunities within this realm. Participants are invited to contribute research insights, case studies, and best practices, fostering knowledge exchange and advancing the sustainability agenda within the timber construction sector.

The structural integrity assessment of building facades and envelopes and infrastructures is of utmost importance for structural safety and economic purposes, especially under extreme design loads. As such, both the design and monitoring of these vulnerable building components represent interconnected key tasks. The use of brittle / fragile materials, as well as the presence of special mechanical details, makes them susceptible to possible damage and collapse mechanisms, with major consequences.

The effect of earthquakes, impact events, explosions, as well as wind pressures necessitates of specific design and analysis methodologies for design. Furthermore, the functionality of built facades and envelopes should be properly monitored during the life cycle of a given building. Besides, the lack of extensive technical documents, as well as the long-term effect of unfavourable operational conditions, requires appropriate diagnostic methodologies.

The special session aims at sharing research contributions, opinions and technical knowledge on scientific studies and case-study projects related to the structural performance assessment of building facades and envelopes.

There is an increasing demand for vibration control strategies in structural practical application and for mitigating service loads and hazard excitations, including vibration isolation devices in order to ensure structural safety, keeping their lightness in case of lightweight structures. Thus, the attenuation of vibrations in engineering applications using different approaches (in both, in the design stage or as a retrofitting action) using damping control and/or counteract force control (passive, active or semi-active) is an important topic to be considered. Undoubtedly, there is a need for fill de gap between practice and theory in order to wide spreading the integration vibration control strategies.

This Special Session aims at sharing experiences and presenting studies concerning vibration control strategies and structural isolation applications. This Special Session will foster discussions on topics that include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

•      Relevant case studies;

•      Experimental results from laboratory test;

•      Realistic numerical studies including uncertainties;

•      Methodologies and algorithmic techniques for passive, active or semi-active vibration control;

•      Vibration isolation applications;

•      Vibration control for minimizing fatigue;

•      Actuator identification techniques and modelling;

•      Interaction phenomena and their implication on vibration control performance;

•      Surrogate model development in control applications. Hybrid simulation;

•      Vibration isolation applications;

•      Data driven control implementations;

•      Implementation of control systems to improve the life cycle of structure;

•      Implementation of AI algorithms to improve the performance of the control algorithms;

•      The linking between digital twins and control theory;

•      Recent advances in sensing techniques for structural control applications;

•      System identification and calibration for structural control applications.

The scope of this special session concerns the mitigation of ambient vibrations, such as earthquakes, wind, and wave loading, in structural systems. Towards this direction, vibration control advancements focus lately on the development of passive, semi-active, and active control techniques. Among others, these include the incorporation of additional oscillating masses, that introduce damping to the structural system (i.e., Tuned Mass Dampers - TMD), the application of negative stiffness elements (i.e., Negative Stiffness Devices – NS, and Quasi-Zero Stiffness Oscillators - QZS), and TMDs with Inerters (i.e., Tuned Mass Dampers Inerter - TMDI).

This special session encourages the submission of research papers presenting new findings in the field of experimental testing, numerical modeling, and optimization of dynamic vibration absorbers.

Topics relevant to this special session include, but are not limited to:

1. Innovative vibration control systems (negative stiffness elements, inerters, tuned mass dampers);

2. Analytical methods for simplified modeling and analysis;

3. Advanced and simplified numerical modeling of vibration isolation and energy dissipation devices;

4. Design, manufacturing, and testing of novel materials for vibration control of civil engineering structures and infrastructure;

5. Experimental and qualification testing of isolation/dissipation devices.

In recent years, there has been a growing utilization of structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques, encompassing practical methods such as operational modal analysis and analytical approaches like the finite element method, to safeguard the integrity and dependability of constructed infrastructure, including railway infrastructure and its constituent elements. In this regard, this specialized session focuses on the identification of various damages in concrete sleepers, in particular, which is exposed by various constructional, functional, and environmental factors, where play a key role in supporting of rail and railway track performance. Pertinent subjects within the session include the examination of the impacts of environmental and operational conditions on the modal characteristics of damaged concrete sleepers, with an emphasis on the vibration-based refinement of numerical models and the application of statistical pattern recognition frameworks derived from structural vibration monitoring systems and numerical models to extract meaningful insights. This emerging technology leverages machine learning techniques to enhance the reliability of predictions using data. Given the extensive global use of over 500 million concrete sleepers, which are expected to deliver a minimum of 50 years of service life and significantly contribute to the performance and longevity of railway tracks, these methodologies provide a roadmap for the identification and categorization of damage, as well as a framework for pioneering strategies to pinpoint specific areas for maintenance interventions that aim to enhance service performance and operational safety within the context of evaluating and conserving railway transport networks.

The Special Session is designed to spotlight and debate the latest advancements in the area of impulse resistance of engineering structures. We particularly encourage submissions of both experimental and applied articles, as well as those of a theoretical nature. The range of this Special Session is not limited to, but includes papers that focus on deterministic and/or probabilistic methods that explain the behavior of engineering structures when exposed to impulse loading of various types, such as blast, impact/projectile, fragmentation, and so on. Experimental research should also verify theoretical results or primary research on different scales. We especially welcome articles that report on recent and ongoing research, as well as those that adopt a multidisciplinary approach.

The manuscript may cover the following or similar areas:

·     High-speed impulse load scenarios in the analysis of the behavior of materials and structures;

·     Coupling loadings in engineering applications;

·     Optimization of material systems/structures for impact loads;

·     Safety of the durability of the structure for impulse loads;

·     Innovative methods for identifying material systems or structures for exceptional loads, experimental modal analysis  (e.g. explosion, vehicle impact, modal load case);

·     Experimental validation;

·     Material characterization and testing under dynamic and/or strongly dynamic conditions.

Many bridges are currently being reconstructed in Europe. The conformity of the reconstruction with the design project can be checked experimentally (static and dynamic tests) by carrying out measurements before and after the bridge reconstruction. As an example of such an endeavour, a bridge in Croatia is presented as the main case study of this special session. As a part of the reconstruction, the original bridge with three spans as a balanced cantilever bridge of the gerber type was reconstructed into a continuous static system.

The aim of this session is to bring researchers together to apply any type of the bridge model updating technique to estimate the dynamic properties for a reconstructed bridge. Data on experimentally determined dynamic properties (natural frequencies and mode shapes), and geometric and material properties of the bridge reconstruction will be available for the initial numerical modelling and model updating. Based on the updated numerical model of the bridge before reconstruction, and available information about the reconstruction works, it is expected to determine the dynamic properties of the reconstructed bridge. As a result of the research, it will be necessary to describe the methodology and approach used to perform the model updating and determination the modal properties of the reconstructed bridge. Finally, the actual experimentally determined dynamic parameters of the reconstructed bridge will be presented at the conference by the co-organisers of the session and the results will be discussed among the participants.

The overall objective of this special session is to collect and evaluate various contributions from researchers, engineers and practitioners. These contributions will collectively contribute to the formulation of a comprehensive, joint journal article that will promote further discourse, analysis and progress in the field of bridge engineering.