European infrastructure is extensive and well developed, but much of it is also ageing. Replacing this ageing network is costly, disruptive and time consuming – so it is vital that what is already in place is utilised to its full potential. This scenario is made even more perilous by the reduced spending in maintenance caused by the economic downturn of recent years. As such, a management strategy that guarantees maintenance and structural safety with the best use of the resources available is required. This goal is at the heart of the TRUSS Innovative Training Network (ITN). TRUSS addresses a lack of expertise on the management and modernisation of an ageing infrastructure stock that is critical for society to function and prosper. The cost of making repairs once an infrastructure starts to fail is prohibitive, yet there is no easy way to measure how infrastructure deteriorates over time and to assess structural safety. [DOI] -> External link to full paper as published online
Link to full text Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITNs) are a prestigious scheme funded by the European Union which aims to train a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial and innovative Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs), able to face current and future challenges and to convert knowledge and ideas into products and services for economic and social benefit. A total 1161 proposals were evaluated as part of the H2020-MSCA-ITN-2014 call for a success rate of about 10.5%. The School of Civil Engineering in University College Dublin (UCD) is coordinating one of the 121 successful ITN proposals, titled TRUSS (Training in Reducing Uncertainty in Structural Safety, http://TrussITN.eu). TRUSS is a 4 year project with an estimated budget of €3.7 million that started on the 1st January 2015. -> External link to full paper as published online
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