IABSE Webinars

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The Great Engineers: Silvano Zorzi and the Culture of Infrastructure Design

When: 10 April 2026, 14:00 - 15:00 hrs CET (Hybrid). 

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After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Speakers: Valeria Gozzi, SUPSI Politecnico di Torino; Tullia Iori, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy.

Moderators: Fabrizio Palmisano, NG Chair, Erica Lenticchia, Politecnico di Torino; Filippo Landi, University of Pisa; Italian National Group.

This webinar is the second of a new series organized by the Italian Group of IABSE, focusing on the Great Engineers.

It follows a Duo-webinar format, which includes two presentations on a specific topic. In this series, the first presentation focuses on the professional life of a renowned ‘Great Engineer’, while the second covers a research or practical topic closely connected to the works of this engineer.

The webinar explores the work of Silvano Zorzi through a dual perspective that connects engineering culture with design practice.

The first part offers a historical and theoretical reflection on the intellectual and cultural context in which Zorzi operated. Moving beyond a purely technical narrative, it examines how design culture, historical awareness, and methodological thinking shaped his approach to infrastructure design, highlighting engineering as both a creative and critical discipline within the broader history of twentieth-century structural engineering.

The second part focuses on the Viadotto Fichera as a significant example of innovative infrastructure design. Through the analysis of its structural conception and design process, the lecture discusses how Zorzi translated theoretical principles into practical engineering solutions, illustrating the relationship between technological experimentation, structural efficiency, and architectural expression. The case study provides an opportunity to reflect on how past engineering practices can inform contemporary approaches to infrastructure design.

The Challenges and Innovations in the Nanjing Xianxin Road Yangtze River Crossing, China

When: 8 May 2026, 14:00 - 15:00 hrs CET 

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Speaker: Heqiang Tang, Professor Level Senior Engineer, Project Design Manager of the Nanjing Xianxin Road Yangtze River Crossing, China

Moderator: Limin Sun, Vice President of IABSE, President of Chinese NG, Prof. Dr. Civil Eng., P.E., Tongji University, China

The Nanjing Xianxin Road Yangtze River Crossing, located in China’s busiest inland river port area, has a total length of 13.17 km. The project comprises the main bridge, approach bridges, tunnels, interchanges, roadbeds and other structures.

The design and construction face exceptional challenges, including wind resistance and fire protection for the super-long-span suspension bridge, structural durability, cost control, and the protection of ecological parks, railways, cultural relics and Yangtze River embankments.

To address these challenges, the team implemented a series of technical innovations, including low-damping wind-resistant technology, integrated fire and corrosion protection technology, innovative foundation design methods, advanced material development, and carbon emission reduction technologies. After five years of construction, the project was opened to traffic and has become a new landmark in the region.

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