Inference and dynamic decision-making for deteriorating systems with probabilistic dependencies through Bayesian networks and deep reinforcement learning

In the context of modern engineering, environmental, and societal concerns, there is an increasing demand for methods able to identify rational management strategies for civil engineering systems, minimizing structural failure risks while optimally planning inspection and maintenance (I&M) processes. Most available methods simplify the I...

Joint paper on inland waterways classification for South America

This joint paper, prepared by the Natural Resources and Infrastructure Division of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and experts from the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC), looks at the benefits of developing a classification of navigable inland waterways in South America. Taking the...

Position paper: Inland waterways classification for South America: Core concepts and initial proposals

South America, as of yet, has not been able to take full advantage of its extensive system of naturally navigable waterways and in making them an integrated part of the region’s transport network to cater for the ever increasing demand for cargo and human mobility. Infrastructure limitations are one of the major obstacles for the development of...

Resilience to flooding: Draft building code

A significant issue associated Flood Defence Systems (FDS) is the difficulty of predicting how these structures will behave when inevitably they have been loaded beyond their designed capacity by a flood. The flood can cause these structures to fail catastrophically with loss of life and substantial damage to property. For a limited incremental...

Optimization of hull structures for a 60 meters Mega Yacht

Innovative Concepts in Navigation Lock Design and Gate Contact Aspects

This paper presents the new report n°106 of PIANC InCom WG29 on Innovations in Navigation Lock Design, published by PIANC in August 2009, as well as some additional contributions on lock gates (gate contact technology). The paper highlights the main objectives and issues of his PIANC report with a specific emphasis on gates and specifically on...