Non-Destructive Techniques for the Evaluation of Structures and Infrastructure

Dr. Belén Riveiro is an Assistant Professor of Structural Engineering at University of Vigo. She has been an Associate Professor at the School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences of Newcastle University in 2011-12 (UK) and visiting researcher at several research and academic institutions: the Institute for Applied Photogrammetry and Geoinformatics, Oldenburg (Germany, 2009), the Department of Civil Engineering of the New Mexico State University (USA, 2010) and at the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Minho (Portugal, 2012-2013 and 2014). She got her PhD in the field of Civil Engineering where she tested different geomatic techniques, such as photogrammetry and laser scanning, towards their implementation in structural evaluation processes. Her postdoctoral research focuses on automating LiDAR data processing to implement its products into the field of structural engineering and smart cities. She has published 35 scientific papers in prestigious international journals (JCR) (h-index 8), 28 papers in international conferences, and is co-inventor of 4 patents. During her research career she has been participating as co-investigator in more than 35 national and international projects. Since 2012 she teaches courses of Mechanics of Materials and Stress Analysis, Structural analysis and Construction at the School of Industrial Engineering of the University of Vigo.

Dr. Mercedes Solla is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and mainly in Surveying and Construction, at the Defense Centre University (Spanish Naval Academy). Previously to this position, she has taught courses on Surveying and Construction, Non-Destructive Evaluation, Structural Analysis and Construction, and Mechanics of Materials and Stress Analysis at the School of Industrial Engineering at the University of Vigo. She received the PhD degree in the field of Civil Engineering, focusing on the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) method. She was a visiting researcher at the School of Engineering, Institute for Infrastructure and Environment at the University of Edinburgh, and she collaborated with the Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre (EPCC) for the development of advanced FDTD numerical modeling. The purpose was to simulate the propagation of the GPR signal considering more realistic environments that are modeled from data obtained by other complementary geomatic techniques. Her postdoctoral research deals with the development of efficient and automated GPR data processing to structures and infrastructures. Since 2009, she has been collaborating with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and she is an active member of the Transport and Urban Development COST Action TU1208 "Civil Engineering Applications of Ground Penetrating Radar" (Management Committee Member representing Spain and Vice-Chair of Working Group 4 -Different Applications of Ground Penetrating Radar and other Non-Destructive Testing Technologies in Civil Engineering-). She has published 30 scientific papers in prestigious international journals (JCR) (h-index 8), 40 papers in international conferences, and she is co-inventor of 1 patent. Since 2007, she has participated in more than 40 national and international projects.