Call for papers/Topics

Topics of interest for submission include any topics related to:

 1. Advanced & Sustainable Materials

This area focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of construction and engineering materials while enhancing their performance.

• Low-Carbon Cement and Concrete:

  • Geopolymer Cement: Utilizing industrial by-products (like fly ash and blast furnace slag) to produce cement with a significantly lower $\text{CO}_2$ footprint than traditional Portland cement.

  • Carbon Capture and Mineralization: Technologies to absorb $\text{CO}_2$ into the concrete curing process.

• Smart and Functional Materials:

  • Self-Healing Concrete: Materials that incorporate bacteria or chemical capsules to automatically seal micro-cracks, extending the lifespan of structures and reducing maintenance.

  • Phase-Change Materials (PCMs): Used in building envelopes for enhanced thermal management and energy efficiency.

• Recycled and Bio-Based Materials:

  • Recycled Aggregates: Using construction and demolition waste (RCA/RFA) and recycled plastics (e.g., plastic roads) in structural and non-structural applications.

  • Mass Timber/Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT): Developing sustainable, engineered wood products for high-rise construction to sequester carbon.

  • Hempcrete and Bio-composites: Utilizing agricultural waste for insulation and structural fill.

• High-Performance Composites:

  • Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC): Offering superior strength, durability, and reduced material use.

  • Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRP): Used for strengthening and retrofitting existing concrete and masonry structures.

2. Digital Transformation & Automation

Innovations in digital technology are changing how infrastructure is designed, built, and maintained.

• Smart Infrastructure & IoT:

  • Structural Health Monitoring (SHM): Integrating Internet of Things (IoT) sensors into bridges, dams, and buildings for real-time data analytics on stress, vibration, and deterioration.

  • Digital Twins: Creating virtual replicas of physical infrastructure to simulate performance, predict maintenance needs, and assess resilience under different scenarios.

• Advanced Construction Methods:

  • 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing: Using large-scale robotic printing for materials (like concrete or polymer composites) to reduce construction waste and create complex, optimized geometries.

  • Modular and Prefabricated Construction: Shifting fabrication off-site to reduce waste, improve quality control, and speed up project timelines.

• Modeling and Management:

  • Building Information Modeling (BIM) 4D/5D/6D: Integrating time (4D), cost (5D), and sustainability/lifecycle analysis (6D) into the design process.

  • AI and Machine Learning: Using algorithms for optimized structural design, predictive maintenance scheduling, and automated construction management.

3. Resilient Structural Design

This focuses on engineering structures that can better absorb, adapt to, and rapidly recover from extreme events, often related to climate change.

• Climate Adaptation and Hazard Mitigation:

  • Seismic-Resilient Design: Utilizing technologies like base isolation and energy-dissipating dampers to protect buildings and bridges from earthquake damage.

  • Flood-Resistant Infrastructure: Designing elevated foundations, permeable pavements, and flood walls in response to rising sea levels and extreme rainfall.

  • Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment: Comprehensive modeling of combined risks (e.g., wind, storm surge, and power failure) on interconnected infrastructure systems.

• Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Circular Economy:

  • Design for Disassembly (DfD): Planning structures for easy deconstruction and reuse of components at the end of their useful life.

  • Material Passports: Digital tracking of materials to facilitate their reuse and recycling within a circular economy model.

4. Environmental Systems Engineering

These topics deal with the management of natural resources and waste within the engineered environment.

• Water Resource Management:

  • Smart Water Grids: Using sensors and data analytics to minimize leakage and optimize distribution systems.

  • Stormwater Management: Implementation of Green Infrastructure solutions like Rain Gardens, bio-retention ponds, and Permeable Pavement to naturally manage and filter runoff.

• Waste and Remediation:

  • Waste-to-Energy (WtE) and Landfill Mining: Innovative processes for extracting value or energy from solid waste.

  • Geo-Environmental Engineering: Developing novel methods for site remediation, contaminant transport modeling, and managing construction waste.

• Urban Ecology and Green Building:

  • Green Roofs and Vertical Gardens: Designing structures to incorporate vegetation to reduce the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, and manage stormwater.

  • Passive Design Strategies: Using architectural and material choices (e.g., orientation, shading, high-efficiency insulation) to drastically reduce a building's operational energy demand.