Our News

On 7th March, the School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, had the distinct honour of hosting Prof. Ioannis Anastasopoulos, Head of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geomatic Engineering at ETH Zurich.

Prof. Anastasopoulos delivered an engaging and fascinating talk titled:
“Breakwaters Subjected to Tsunamis and Flood-Induced Scouring of Bridge Foundations”
He shared his groundbreaking research on geotechnical earthquake engineering and soil–structure interaction, leaving our audience inspired by his expertise and innovative approaches.

Beyond the lecture, we had productive discussions on future research collaborations, including:

• PhD exchanges and capacity-building opportunities
• Joint research grants, including Horizon and Europe initiatives
• Co-authorship of research papers to advance geotechnical engineering
• Conference contributions, including key events Prof. Anastasopoulos is organizing in 2026
• Staff exchange programmes to strengthen academic and industrial partnerships

We also had the pleasure of showing Prof. Anastasopoulos our National Buried Infrastructure Facility (NBIF), an integral part of geotechnical and infrastructure research.

A huge thank you to Prof. Ioannis Anastasopoulos for his visit, inspiring talk, and invaluable insights. His leadership and expertise in the field of geotechnical engineering are truly remarkable, and we look forward to the exciting collaborations ahead!

At the School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, we recently hosted an engaging Scoping Workshop on Future Built Ecosystems, bringing together over 50 experts, both in-person and online, from a wide range of disciplines. The event aimed to spark new collaborations, explore innovative research directions, and strategize for bidding on large research grants.

From advancing AI and robotics in the built environment to shaping pathways for low-carbon, climate-resilient, and people-centric cities, the discussions were rich with insights and opportunities. It was truly inspiring to witness so many brilliant minds come together to share ideas, paving the way for groundbreaking research and transformative outcomes.

A huge thank you to all the participants for your valuable contributions! We are excited to see how these conversations evolve and drive forward our vision for the future of built ecosystems.

Building on the momentum of this workshop, we will be developing a collaborative roadmap to turn these innovative ideas into impactful projects.

We are thrilled to celebrate the two-year milestone of ReCharged: Climate-aware Resilience for Sustainable Critical and Interdependent Infrastructure Systems enhanced by emerging Digital Technologies.

This achievement reflects the success of our project meetings, workshops, and invaluable networking events that continue to drive innovation and collaboration.

After a productive meeting in Madrid, we are re-energized to move forward. These gatherings provide the perfect platform for:

• Discussing research progress,
• Setting priorities for upcoming milestones,
• And fostering new opportunities for collaboration.

A huge thank you to all contributors, especially David Garcia-Sanchez and Tecnalia Research & Innovation, for their exceptional organization!

Let’s keep building on this momentum as we continue to push boundaries in research and innovation.

Discover more about ReCharged on our website: msca-recharged.eu

The paper titled “Cause-agnostic Bridge Damage State Identification Utilizing Machine Learning” has been selected by the Editors-in-Chief of Engineering Structures as the featured article for the December 2024 issue. This recognition comes after its presentation at major conferences and receiving an award from The Institution of Structural Engineers, reflecting the dedication and innovation behind this work.
Read more here.

Following a valuable experience in the Oil & Gas sector, which provided significant insights and expertise, Dr. Stergios has returned to the team at Robert Bird Group. This marks a new chapter of collaboration and commitment to delivering outstanding engineering projects, building on the lessons learned from previous roles.

The University of Birmingham and Metainfrastructure have won the Structural Engineering Award in Research at the prestigious IStructE – Institution of Structural Engineering Award Ceremony!

Our groundbreaking paper, titled “Cause-agnostic bridge damage state identification utilising machine learning”, represents a pioneering effort in ML-assisted bridge damage state identification for rapid fragility assessment.

Read the Paper

The open-access paper can be found here:
Kazantzi, A.K., Moutsianos, S., Bakalis, K., Mitoulis, S.A. 2024.
Engineering Structures. Vol. 320, (1), 118887.
Read the paper on Engineering Structures

Congratulations to the Team

A huge congratulations to the FutureStructures – University of Birmingham group, Metainfrastructure group, and the authors:

• Athanasia Kazantzi
• Sokratis Moutsianos

Research Funding

This work was supported by the #ReCharged, #HorizonEurope, and #MSCA projects.

We are proud to announce that the MetaInfrastructure.org research group has provided expert evidence to the UK Parliament’s 2025 Inquiry on Flood Resilience in England.

Our contribution highlights innovative, sustainable approaches to infrastructure resilience, emphasizing the integration of AI, IoT, and digital twin technologies. We advocate for hybrid solutions that merge nature-based strategies with advanced digital tools, aiming to enhance resilience in urban and transport systems.

Read the full evidence report: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/134013/pdf

Let’s build a more sustainable future together!

We’re excited to announce a groundbreaking study authored by Dr. Athanasia K. Kazantzi, a member of MetaInfrastructure.org, recently published in Engineering Structures (DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2024.118123). The paper, titled “Cause-Agnostic Bridge Damage State Identification Utilizing Machine Learning”, introduces innovative methods for identifying bridge damage states using advanced machine learning techniques, independent of the underlying causes.

Key Highlights:

• AI-Driven Diagnostics: Introduces a machine learning framework capable of identifying bridge damage states without requiring specific knowledge of the causes, enabling faster and more accurate assessments.
• Real-World Applications: Demonstrates the scalability and practicality of the framework through case studies, providing actionable insights for infrastructure managers and engineers.
• Improved Efficiency: Highlights how this approach can reduce inspection times and costs while enhancing the safety and resilience of critical transportation infrastructure.

Dr. Kazantzi, a leading expert at MetaInfrastructure.org, underscores the importance of this work:

“Bridges are vital links in our infrastructure networks. Our research equips stakeholders with tools to identify and address damage efficiently, ensuring public safety and the longevity of bridge assets.”

Alignment with Global Goals:

This study supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting innovation in infrastructure management, particularly:

• SDG 9: Innovation in Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Inclusive, Safe, and Sustainable Cities

It also contributes to advancing resilience in transport infrastructure, a key element in climate adaptation and sustainable urban development.

Why This Matters:

With millions of bridges worldwide requiring regular inspection and maintenance, this research provides engineers, policymakers, and infrastructure managers with a cause-agnostic, machine learning-based framework to enhance operational efficiency and safety.

Explore the full paper here and discover how this research is redefining infrastructure diagnostics through artificial intelligence.

MetaInfrastructure.org congratulates Dr. Kazantzi and her research team on their visionary contributions to advancing infrastructure science and practice.

We are proud to announce that MetaInfrastructure.org has achieved an incredible milestone this year by securing three Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowships—one Global and two European fellowships—demonstrating our commitment to advancing cutting-edge research in infrastructure, climate resilience, and digital transformation.

Meet Our Exceptional Fellows and Their Groundbreaking Projects

1. Dr. Raffaele Cucuzza
   • Fellowship Type: 3-Year Global MSCA Fellowship
   • Project: REACT – Reusing steel for Emission reduction through AI-driven Cutting-stock Tool
   • Funding: €430,000
   • Score: 97%
2. Dr. George Karagiannakis, Ph.D.
   • Fellowship Type: 2-Year European MSCA Fellowship
   • Project: META-GRID – Climate resilience assessment and adaptation of the European power grid
   • Funding: €260,000
   • Score: 96%
3. Dr. Huamei Zhu
   • Fellowship Type: 2-Year European MSCA Fellowship
   • Project: M-Twin4US – Maintenance-oriented Digital Twin for Underground infrastructure with Sensing, Machine Learning, BIM, and Simulation
   • Funding: €260,000
   • Score: 98%

Advancing Resilient and Digital Infrastructure

These outstanding achievements highlight our rapid growth and dedication to research that supports the EU’s priorities around Net Zero, climate resilience, and digital transformation. Through projects like these, we aim to shape the future of infrastructure with innovative, sustainable, and impactful solutions aligned with Horizon Europe’s mission to foster societal progress across Europe and beyond.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our brilliant fellows and express gratitude to Dr. Sotirios Argyroudis and Dr. Jelena Ninic for their exceptional contributions to advancing resilient and digital infrastructure.