Introduction
Prof. Dr. Tobia Zordan is the Chair of IABSE’s Technical Committee (TC), and was elected in this role in November 2022. As a Young Engineer Prize winner, he has been a member of the Association for over two decades. He was also the Chair of the IABSE Foundation Council in the past and has worked across several Scientific and Organising Committees of IABSE conferences. In the last two years, he has enabled a very active technical forum within IABSE, with an upsurge in new members joining various Task Groups (TGs). Almost ten new Task Groups are in the pipeline and are being published on our website this year, find more details here: www.iabse.org/Task-Groups. In this interview Tobia Zordan shares his vision and the steps he has taken to implement his goals.
Prof. Dr. Tobia Zordan, IABSE TC Chair
The TC oversees IABSE's technical activities. The TC promotes, coordinates and assesses the activities of all technical groups within IABSE, comprising the Commissions, the Editorial Boards, the Outstanding Paper Award Committee, the Outstanding Structure Award Committee and the Young Engineers Committee (newly added). IABSE’s six Commissions on different topics are the functional centres, monitoring and coordinating the short-term Task Groups (TGs).
The unique aspect of IABSE lies in the fact that this Association deals with all structures and all materials, and with almost 50 Task Groups which are working on state-of-the-art topics, IABSE provides a discussion forum for a wide range of structural engineering topics—relevant to an academic as well as a practising engineer. Each Task Group has a Chair, Vice-Chair and global engineers working independently to achieve the TG’s goal—be it to publish a document with recent research, conduct a seminar, coordinate with experts to write a guideline, or any other approved proposal—to enhance knowledge sharing, which is the mission of IABSE.
Q. Please introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us about your current roles.
Tobia: As Chair of the IABSE Technical Committee (TC), I try to bring together Academic, Institutional, and Professional experience. In fact, I have had the opportunity in the past to teach at various universities in Italy and abroad. Currently, I hold the institutional position of Chair at the European Technical Committee CEN-TC340 for the development of harmonised European standards EN15129 for anti-seismic devices. Additionally, I am currently the president of (www.bolinaingegneria.com), where I have the opportunity to work on projects and construction of bridges, special structures and anti-seismic structures.
Tobia Zordan, chairing the Technical Committee Meeting in New Delhi
Q. Please tell us what are the current trends that we should watch out for in the field of structural engineering in the next five years?
Tobia: As we navigate the complexities of our rapidly changing world, it is evident that climate change and artificial intelligence shall stand out as paramount global themes. In the near future, structural engineering must confront these issues and their associated challenges.
Climate change poses profound challenges to our infrastructure, demanding innovative solutions to mitigate its impacts and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Similarly, integrating artificial intelligence encompasses new opportunities and complexities in structural design, construction, and maintenance.
The worldwide community of structural engineers play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges. Their expertise is indispensable in developing resilient infrastructures that can withstand the effects of climate change. We also need engineers to harness the potential of artificial intelligence to optimise performance and efficiency in the built world. True progress and sustainable development can take place only if we effectively manage our planet's myriad conflicts. This necessitates fostering peaceful coexistence based on dialogue, tolerance, and inclusivity.
As we look ahead, it's essential to recognise that sustainability encompasses all aspects of structural engineering. Every field within IABSE's six Commissions—from performance and conceptual design to construction methods and sustainability—will evolve significantly. Current trends indicate a growing emphasis on resilient and adaptive design practices, renewable materials, and integrated technologies that enhance both performance and sustainability. IABSE is key in providing an international platform for discussions and decisions in this field, not only through our Technical Commissions but also with the conferences. IABSE Symposium in Manchester 2024, which took place in April 2024, dealt with the topic “Construction’s Role for a World in Emergency”, and the upcoming IABSE Congress San Jose 2024 in September, shall deal with the topic “Beyond Structural Engineering”. In my role as the TC Chair, along with the Chairs of the SCs; we have selected the Scientific Committees carefully, with worldwide experts, and are happy to say that the abstracts and papers that we received for both these conferences, show an engaging community of structural engineers, who are taking active steps to address these issues.
In the next five years, we should closely monitor advancements in sustainable construction techniques, such as modular and prefabricated systems, as well as innovations in digital modelling and simulation for enhanced structural analysis and evaluation. Additionally, the integration of green building principles and circular economy concepts will continue to shape the future of structural engineering, ensuring a more sustainable and resilient built environment for generations to come.
Q. IABSE’s Commissions are structured as C1: performance & requirements, C2: conceptual design, C3: structure analysis & evaluation, C4: construction methods & processes, C5: existing structures, and C6: sustainability. which of these fields do you feel is drastically evolving?
Tobia: Over the next five years, it's anticipated that all sectors encompassed within IABSE, including advanced professional practices, construction industries, and research, will experience a significant shift towards prioritising sustainability, driven by the recognition of the concept of ecological footprint. As awareness grows regarding the environmental impact of human activities, there will be an increasing emphasis on minimising footprint across all areas of structural engineering.
This evolution entails focusing on reducing carbon emission, optimising resource consumption, and adopting holistic approaches that consider the entire life cycle of structures, from design to demolition. Concepts such as sustainable materials, energy-efficient construction methods, and circular economy principles are expected to gain prominence, influencing the decision-making processes and project execution strategies.
Moreover, a crucial aspect of sustainability is the concept of controlled consumption of available resources, ensuring they can regenerate to meet the needs of all. This entails using resources efficiently and replenishing them to maintain a balance between consumption and regeneration.
Furthermore, collaboration and knowledge-sharing within IABSE's diverse community will be crucial in advancing sustainable practices. By exchanging ideas, best practices, and innovative solutions, professionals across different sectors and across different countries can collectively work towards reducing carbon footprint in the built world. By addressing the concept of ecological footprint head-on and promoting controlled resource consumption, IABSE and its members have the opportunity to lead the way towards a more environmentally responsible and resilient built environment.
Ten years ago, I co-authored the Structural Engineering Document (SED 14) on “Sustainable Structural Engineering”, where the mitigation of climate change with sustainable solutions for new and existing structures was discussed. Taking from both practice and research, this book provided engineers with applicable, timely, and innovative information on sustainable structural design. At IABSE, we have kept discussing this topic over the years, consistently. Last year, IABSE Congress New Delhi 2023 addressed a similar topic, “Engineering for Sustainable Development, and you can read the papers presented at this Congress in the Conference Proceeding. In addition to the Commissions, we must not forget the role of the Editorial Boards. Be it for the quarterly journal Structural Engineering International (SEI), IABSE Bulletin with SEDs, Case Studies and Guidelines, or the eLearning documents, webinars, lectures and tools. IABSE’s Technical Commission is driven by dedicated members leading these Boards. They represent practice and academia and are not only initiating discussions and publications on important topics but are also highly influential in shaping future codes and contributing to guidelines worldwide. Their motto is to learn, share and grow as structural engineers in the service of humanity.
The Technical Committee (TC) is the forum where technical innovation and leadership take place within IABSE, and we must prepare to address the new demands and emergencies of the built environment in which we operate.
IABSE Commissions and Task Groups meetings (onsite and hybrid)
Q. Please elaborate on your role as the Chair of IABSE's Technical Committee and your main goals and milestones that have been achieved until now.
Tobia: The main goals of my chairmanship of the TC can be summarized as follows:
Inclusion of Young Engineers
One of my main goals is to make IABSE increasingly engaging and stimulating for structural and bridge engineers, as well as civil engineers in general, by fostering an inclusive and unique environment. By recognising that young engineers represent the future of our profession, I believe it is crucial for IABSE to be an open and stimulating platform. This involves creating opportunities for young engineers to meet, discuss, and engage directly with prominent figures in structural engineering who traditionally uphold IABSE’s reputation for excellence. To achieve this, I have made the Commissions and Task Groups more accessible for our young engineers. I constantly encourage their involvement, even without specific expertise, based on their eagerness to learn and interest in specific topics. Additionally, I have proposed and transformed the previous Young Engineers Programme (YEP) into the actual Young Engineers Committee (YEC) within IABSE, granting Young Engineers an equal status to other bodies within IABSE by fostering a sense of belonging. With this transformation, all Commissions and Boards are now open for Young Engineers to join as effective Members, based on their concrete and stated interest and disregarding their specific cv and experience. The nomination of candidates from the group of younger colleagues, is left to the Chair of the YEC and approved at the TC level. We hope to have the largest possible participation from now on. This year, YEC is planning many new programmes, like the mentorship programme, with the TC’s support, and is committed to helping young engineers grow in their careers.
The IABSE Academy
Establishing IABSE as a central hub for knowledge sharing, for structural engineering needs a dedicated educational board. To achieve this, I proposed the creation of the IABSE Academy at the beginning of my tenure to contribute to the education and training of young engineers, as well as structural engineers eager to learn and brush up their knowledge. The IABSE Academy, after extensive planning and organisation, is on the verge of being launched. I envision it to become a fundamental asset for IABSE. The support and enthusiasm from the new Chair, and the Board members of the IABSE Academy have been instrumental in shaping the curriculum. We envision the IABSE Academy to attract both young and experienced engineers who are willing to participate in continued education and professional courses with diplomas. We also envision students of the Academy, getting integrated within IABSE’s database, and getting access to job opportunities, leveraging IABSE’s extensive reach and influence worldwide.
The IABSE Repository
In an attempt to gather all the materials produced by IABSE’s Task Groups and Editorial Boards (print, videos, proceedings, guidelines), it is crucial that we create a central database where every technical output gets enlisted, accessible by the IABSE TC members. The landscape of technical-scientific production has undergone significant changes in recent years, which are often less tangible within an increasingly fluid and volatile digital communication system. Consequently, there is a pressing need to make IABSE’s wealth of knowledge available and accessible to all, from one central place. For this reason, I have championed the creation of the IABSE Repository, a project currently underway. This initiative involves the implementation of a digitised database capable of collecting, archiving, and providing access to the extensive technical and scientific output stemming from the myriad activities within IABSE. The repository aims to consolidate all the valuable knowledge generated by IABSE, ensuring it is preserved and easily accessible.
Under this initiative, all active Task Groups and Boards are encouraged to contribute their findings and results to the repository, creating a comprehensive virtual archive of IABSE's collective knowledge. This centralised repository will be a valuable resource, facilitating collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning within IABSE. With the IABSE Repository, we aim to address the challenges associated with the evolving nature of technical-scientific production and ensure that the wealth of knowledge generated by IABSE remains readily available and beneficial to its members, both now and in the future.
Increased Importance and Integration of National Groups (NGs)
I consider the role of National Groups to be of fundamental importance for IABSE’s future. For this reason, I warmly welcomed the initiative taken by Carlos Mendez, IABSE Vice-President, to establish an international coordination group for IABSE’s regional National Groups, facilitating their integration within the IABSE TC. This is crucial to maximise opportunities for growth, exchange, synergy, and visibility of individual groups within the IABSE network. I think this will greatly benefit even the less developed or younger NGs. Certainly, the autonomy and initiatives of individual NGs will benefit from this new arrangement and the active participation of the Coordination Group within the IABSE Technical Committee. I have also sought to promote the revival of the Italian National Group, being a member based in Italy for over two decades. The Italian NG is once again making its voice heard within the Association, thanks to the active leadership of our new Chair and Vice Chair.
Q. What do you feel is the future of the IABSE Technical Committee within the association?
Tobia: Of course, I consider the role of the IABSE TC within the Association to be central, and I believe that this structure is the engine driving the life and importance of IABSE to global structural engineers. All the projects and initiatives I have mentioned before in this interview are clearly aimed at growing the Association through the growth of all the Groups participating in the Technical Committee.
Furthermore, I believe that the TC, in order to maximise the success of the new and ambitious projects currently being implemented, should have greater integration with the IABSE Headquarters. For this reason, we have decided to establish an official liaison role, a Liaison Officer, tasked with facilitating communications and optimising synergy between the technical, administrative and managerial aspects of the Association.
I would urge more structural engineers to actively participate in our Task Groups; you need not be a member of IABSE to join a Task Group, i.e. it is not mandatory but desired. Try to integrate more young engineers and share your knowledge and expertise. All I can say is that IABSE is unique, encompassing all materials and all structures, and on a personal note, IABSE has been, and shall always be, like a second family to me!
Tobia Zordan, and the interviewer, Brindarica Bose, IABSE
