Forensic engineering - Failure, diagnosis and problem solving

The India chapter of American Concrete Institute is organising an international seminar on 'Forensic Engineering - Failure, diagnosis and problem solving' from December 6 - 9, 2007 at Mumbai.

The theme suggests the blending of 'structural engineering' and 'material science' into structures. There are many permutations and combinations of very large parameters. Strictly Forensic Engineering is "Engineering investigation of serviceability or collapse failures which may lead to litigation'. It involves rigorous investigation of engineering phenomena and the application of the results to improved design and construction practice". This particular theme has received attention of the fraternity of practicing engineers and senior faculty members from institutions worldwide.

The objectives of the seminar are to create awareness about proper use of forensic engineering; bring in the state-of-the-art knowledge on the subject; focus on incorporation of forensic engineering into acceptance specifications; chalk out a road-map from "where we stand" to "Where we should stand" and to establish a national committee on incorporating forensic engineering into acceptance criteria and contract specifications,

The conference would cover forensic engineering and its value are forensic engineering; its value to society and the construction industry, geotechnical failures and soil structure interaction, collapse failures of structures, serviceability and durability failures, forensic education and knowledge transfer, interaction of legal processes and investigations after failure, influence of contract and construction practice on failure risk, methodologies for structural assessment and materials investigation, limits of acceptable damage and deterioration, investigations and assessment of fire damaged structures, learning from earthquake, hurricane and tsunami damage assessment, improving robustness to withstand terrorist attacks and failures during demolition of structures.

For more details, please contact:
Mr. R.N. Raikar
Principal Coordinator
India Chapter of ACI
2-3, Nagree Terraces,
Soonawala Agiary Road,
Mahim (W), Mumbai 400 016
Tel: (022) 2446 9175, 3295 7023
Fax: (022) 24460760
Email: icaci@vsnl.net

International fib symposium 2008

The International fib symposium 2008 will be held from May 19 to 22, 2008, at Gouda, The Netherlands. The theme of the symposium is 'Tailor made concrete structures: New solutions for our society'. It would focus on the design and construction in concrete together with the techniques and technologies needed today and in the near future.

For more details, please contact:
Congress Secretariat
fib Amsterdam 2008,
c/o Betonvereniging
P.O. Box 411, NL - 2800 AK,
Gouda, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 182 539233
Fax: +31 182 537510
E-mail: info@fib2008amsterdam.nl
Website: www.fib2008amsterdam.nl

Holcim Foundation: next generation in focus

The Holcim Foundation recognizes the critical role of the next generation in promoting innovative approaches to sustainable construction in diverse ways. A new category for students and young professionals has been created in the forthcoming Holcim Awards competition. The foundation has also handed over grants for PhD research projects and invited university students to attend an international symposium on urban transformation in Shanghai.

'Next Generation' category for Holcim Awards competition

The Holcim Awards is an USD 2 million international competition for future-oriented and tangible sustainable construction projects. For the first time, a special 'Next Generation' category with prize money of USD 175,000 will open for entries on June 1, 2007. To be eligible to participate in the 'Next Generation' category, all project authors must be less than 35 years of age when entries close on February 29, 2008.

In addition to the main competition for sustainable construction projects at an advanced stage of design and a high probability of execution, the 'Next Generation' category is open to ideas and conceptual visions. All entries in the competition will be evaluated by five regional juries of independent experts from the fields of architecture, science and civil society. Prizes will be presented at Holcim Awards ceremonies for each region of the world in the third quarter of 2008 in Madrid, Montreal, Mexico City, Marrakech and New Delhi. For more details about the Holcim Awards competition see:

www.holcimawards.org

The Holcim Awards competition is an initiative of the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction, which is supported by Holcim Ltd but is independent of its commercial interests. Holcim Ltd is one of the world's leading suppliers of cement and aggregates (crushed stone, sand and gravel) as well as downstream activities such as ready-mix concrete and asphalt including services. The Holcim Group holds majority and minority interests in more than 70 countries on all continents.

For more details, please contact:
Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction
Hagenholzstrasse 85,
CH-8050 Zurich, Switzerland
Phone +41 58 858 8298
Fax +41 58 858 8299
Email: info@holcimfoundation.org
Website: www.holcimfoundation.org

8th International conference on multi-purpose high-rise towers and tall buildings

The 8th International conference on multi-purpose high-rise towers and tall buildings will be held from December 10-12, 2007 at Abu Dhabi. The theme of the conference is 'Innovations in conquest of vertical space - Reaching for the skies'.

The topics of the conference would be structural analysis and design, construction process, management, materials & design code, rehabilitation and strengthening, foundations & earthquakes, sustainable & eco architecture, urban planning & design, architecture (habitability, preservation and space planning), building environment & energy, smart buildings: design, safety, service & control etc.

For more details, please contact:
Patrick Latchem
PO Box 8534
Dubai U.A.E
Tel: +971 4 397 6138
E-mail: patrickl@acevents.ae