KREBS+KIEFER covered the topic of “Sustainable Bridge Construction” in a presentation at the IABSE Symposium 2015 in Geneva

“Solutions for global challenges” was the motto of this year’s symposium of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering, which took place from 23 to 25 September in Geneva, Switzerland. The main topics at the symposium were climate change and challenges in the energy sector, global challenges for engineers, the latest technology, and urbanisation and population growth.

With its contribution entitled “Bridge Design in Germany from the Perspective of Sustainability”, Dr.-Ing. Ioannis Retzepis, Managing Director of KREBS+KIEFER in Karlsruhe, discussed the current procedures in Germany with existing structures, taking into consideration the guidelines issued by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development for the re-dimensioning of existing road bridges. Using examples of reinforced structures, he explained the procedures from the perspective of sustainability.

In general, sustainability was the dominant theme of the symposium — not just in individual lectures, but in podium discussions as well. In his closing words, the President of the Association, Professor David Nethercot, stressed the important contribution of the association to the solving of current global problems and the numerous constructive discussions during this event.