On Friday 11th December 2020, a group of early career researchers met virtually with us for a half-day UKCRIC workshop to learn more about the ways in which UKCRIC supports infrastructure and cities research.
The worskhop was developed for early career professionals with an interest in infrastructure and city futures to discover the research capacities of UKCRIC facilities, and understand how they might use these for future research projects.
Caroline Filed from Arup, UK, gave a presentation on the challenges of delivering future infrastructure and cities, while Professor Anastasios Sextos, Professor of Earthquake Engineering at the University of Bristol, talked about UKCRIC's missions and test facilities, observatories and modelling platform. Dr Neil Carhart, also from the University of Bristol, talked about the Early Career Researcher journey.
In addition to the presentations, the group took part in activites to scope out ideas for research and opportunities for collaboration. Outcomes of the group activities included proposals on: (i) Data collection: how to make use of data/sensors for resilience?; (ii) Resilience of bridges using digital twins; (iii) Use of digital twins for understanding and reducing uncertainties of multiple hazard scenarios; and (iv) Development and testing of affordable, smart materials for person-infrastructure-city interactions.
We had a great turn out for the event, with positive feedback from both presenters and participants. If you're an early career researcher with an interest in infrastructure and cities, and you'd like to take part in our next event, please drop us a line to let us know.
Image credit: Christopher Gower via Unsplash