Abstract

JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND MAINTENANCE, 2017 VOL. 2, NO. 2, 61 https://doi.org/10.1080/24705314.2017.1325614 The Civil Engineering Research Association of Ireland (CERAI) is to nurture early-career researchers by making it accessible was formed in 2012 for the purpose of promoting civil engi- and offering opportunities wherever possible to grow them neering research and practice in Ireland, and its communica- as the next generation of leaders in research and industry. tion to academics and practitioners. The principal activity is the Thus, 5 out of the 12 papers selected for this special issue on sponsoring and overseeing of the organisation of a conference ‘Advancements in Civil and Structural Engineering’ have PhD series dedicated to this goal. Papers contained in this special candidates as lead authors. The five eminent keynote speakers issue on ‘Advancements in Civil and Structural Engineering’ at CERI2016, who were Prof Enzo Siviero, Prof W. John McCarter, were shortlisted from the 119 papers presented at the Civil Prof J. David Frost, Prof Corey Griffin and Dr Annette Harte, are Engineering Research in Ireland 2016 (CERI2016) conference the lead authors on another 5 papers contained in this special held in Galway, Ireland in August 2016. The special issue is in issue.