36th IABSE Symposium

The current global paradigm is one of inclusive growth that puts a premium on mobility of people and goods, across formidable barriers. Under the same paradigm, quality of life in the holistic sense of active community participation in the affairs of society has also gained currency. Meeting these demands has posed challenges to the structural engineering community, particularly in the context of crossing wide and raging rivers, deep gorges and sea links, and also in devising places of congregation for sports, conventions and other public gatherings demanding unclu5ered space. The structural engineering solutions, then, which focus on providing long spans for crossings and large covered spaces as in airport and rail terminals, sports stadiums, convention centres, have become the norm. When it comes to long span bridges, Kolkata, home of the famed and iconic Rabindra Setu (also called Howrah Bridge) across the River Hooghly, holds the pride of place in India. It is only appropriate, then, that a symposiumentitled Long Span Bridges and Roofs – development, design and implementation, be held at a place wherefrom, while being inspired by the majesty of the bridge, we can take pride in the achievements of structural and bridge engineers. Considering that the world, as a whole, is rapidly urbanising and the pace is greater in developing countries like India, there is a need for structural engineers to share their expertise as well as to think imaginatively about foreseeable structural forms, materials, and construction processes. It is with this in mind that the symposium has large span roof structures and long span bridges as the two major themes. Both social and ethical responsibilities of engineers’ actions will also be debated.