The SUBLIME consortium is proud to share that Ali Sabzi Khoshraftar, EngD researcher at the University of Twente’s Pervasive Systems Research Group, presented his latest research at the IEEE SmartNets 2025 conference. The conference took place from 22-24 July 2025 and hosted by Istinye University, Turkey, and brought together global experts in digital systems, monitoring technologies, and smart infrastructure. Ali’s paper, titled “Digital Twins for Bridge Assessment and Maintenance,” addresses a critical challenge faced by asset managers worldwide: how to efficiently and accurately monitor and maintain an aging stock of bridges in a safe, cost-effective, and environmentally conscious manner. Developed as part of Work Package 2 of the SUBLIME project, his work introduces a reference architecture for a predictive digital twin (DT) system tailored specifically for steel bridge maintenance. Read more on the M2i website
Smarter Testing for Steel Bridges: How Few Tests Can Tell Us More
Many steel bridges across Europe are reaching the end of their intended service lives, raising critical questions about how to assess and extend their safe use. Within the SUBLIME program (“Sustainable and Reliable Macro Steel Infrastructures”), our mission is to ensure that these critical structures remain safe, sustainable, and serviceable for decades to come. One of the program’s key objectives is developing smarter assessment tools that help us better understand the condition of ageing steel — particularly when data is limited. That’s where the work of Elena Zancato, PhD researcher at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), comes into focus.
WP3 Progress Meeting and Workshop on Sustainable and Reliable Steel Infrastructure
On 11 September 2025, the SUBLIME consortium convened at Leiden University for the WP3 progress meeting and workshop on sustainable and reliable steel infrastructure. Presentations by PhD researcher Faysal Tareq (Leiden University, CML) and Mic Barendsz (Bouwen met Staal) addressed material flows, carbon emissions, and circular design strategies. In the afternoon, Dr. Mohammad Hamida (TU Delft) led an interactive workshop exploring technical, environmental, economic, legal, and social challenges, and identifying possible solutions. The event highlighted the importance of combining material analysis, design practice, and governance perspectives to guide the transition toward circular and climate-resilient steel infrastructures.
Pioneering the Future of Bridge Maintenance: Highlights from the SUBLIME Digital Twin Workshop
On March 21, 2025, the SUBLIME project consortium gathered for its 2nd Annual User Committee Meeting. Hosted by North Sea Port (NSP) at its Vlissingen premises, the meeting brought together over 30 representatives from research institutions, industry partners, government bodies, and funding agencies to reflect on progress, share research outcomes and explore pathways for future collaboration.
The day featured presentations from PhD and EngD researchers, discussions on key user cases and a site-specific boat tour through the North Sea Port, highlighting the real-world relevance of the project’s themes—fatigue, corrosion, digital monitoring and infrastructure sustainability.