Research on Emerging Technologies for Structural Design, Inspection, and Maintenance

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advancements in next-generation information technologies, including big data, artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), and cloud computing, have spurred significant opportunities in structural engineering. Novel technologies are continually emerging and being actively explored, such as AI-based generative design, intelligent sensing devices, multi-source data fusion, and digital twin (DT)-based management. These emerging technologies are exerting profound impacts on the lifecycle aspects of buildings, including their design, inspection, and management. AI-based generative design is revolutionizing the way engineers approach structures by sketching prototypes, optimizing layouts, and aiding in drafting and reviewing drawings. Intelligent sensing devices are transforming the means by which engineers identify structural conditions, including smart sensing materials and the intelligent inspection equipment of unmanned aerial vehicles and movable robots. IoT technology provides platforms for integrating multi-modal and multi-source inspection and monitoring data from structures, whereas DTs, in combination with big-data processing technologies and deep learning algorithms, are revolutionizing the way engineers manage structures like never before.

The aim of this Special Issue is to bring together original research and review articles discussing emerging technologies for structural design, inspection, and maintenance. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. The AI-based design and optimization of structures;
2. Innovative inspection technologies with smart sensing materials and intelligent equipment in unmanned aerial vehicles and movable robots;
3. Advanced testing techniques for precast structures and composite structures;
4. Data fusion technologies and applications using multi-sensor or multi-source information from inspection and monitoring;
5. The DT-based intelligent construction and maintenance of structures for improved management.

Dr. Junyong Zhou
Dr. Zeren Jin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• artificial intelligence intelligent design and optimization smart sensing material
• intelligent inspection equipment
• advanced testing technique
• multi-sensor and multi-source data fusion
• digital twins for management
• inspection and monitoring