On January 24, 2024, the kick-off workshop for the initiation of work package 3 was conducted at the University of Leiden. The workshop featured presentations by key contributors, including Arnold Tukker, the leader of work package 3, PhD candidates Faysal Tareq and Laura Bremenkamp, Bouwen met Staal (BmS), Madaster, and the Municipality of Amsterdam. The session concluded with a comprehensive discussion among the participants.
A crucial point of focus during the workshop was the discussion on the scope of the activities undertaken by the two respective PhD candidates. This led to an engaging dialogue on the scale of their endeavors, considering local, national, EU-wide, or global perspectives. Within this context, the role of case studies was jointly examined. Particularly challenging will be the positioning of Laura’s efforts within the jurisdiction of policy and governance for major steel infrastructures. However, insights from industrial partners present at the workshop shed light on what is pertinent in the Dutch steel infrastructure landscape. These partners also shared information on the broader economic structures related to supply and demand within the Dutch steel sector.
For Laura, an additional consideration is the specification of the exact types of steel networks to be analyzed, making the specific scope clearer and the task more manageable. Industry partners extended their assistance to both PhD candidates.
The Municipality of Amsterdam delivered an insightful presentation on potential candidates for case studies in the project. Recognizing the importance of case study selection, especially for Laura, it was collectively agreed that the next step would involve relevant industry partners (Province of South Holland, North Sea Port, Municipality of Amsterdam, and Rijkswaterstaat) providing their top 3 candidates. This approach allows Laura to proceed with scanning and advancing her data collection efforts, aimed at mapping the relational networks influencing the Dutch steel landscape.
"I found great delight in participating in this workshop. It provided valuable insights from both industry and academic partners, shedding light on the contents and scope of work package three. I particularly appreciated the advancements made in the selection of the case study, a crucial step for the further progression of my research".
SUBLIME workshop at TU Delft builds on earlier insights
On 1 April 2026, TU Delft hosted a follow-up workshop on Sustainable and Reliable Steel Infrastructures, continuing the work started during the first SUBLIME workshop held in September 2025 at Leiden University. The workshop focused on the challenges, solutions and stakeholders associated with the sustainable and reliable operation and governance of steel infrastructures.
SUBLIME Annual Meeting Showcases Progress, Collaboration, and Real-World Impact
On 27 March, the SUBLIME consortium gathered for its annual user committee meeting, hosted by ProRail in a unique and inspiring setting at the Spoorwegmuseum in Utrecht. The meeting brought together academic researchers, industry partners, and infrastructure stakeholders to exchange insights, review progress, and strengthen collaboration across the project.
EngD Project Defence: Ali Sabzi Khoshraftar
The SUBLIME consortium is pleased to announce the successful defence of the Engineering Doctorate (EngD) project by Ali Sabzi Khoshraftar, who presented his work on the development and evaluation of predictive digital twins for steel bridge assessment and maintenance.
Monitoring steel bridges in practice: Van Hall Bridge featured online
The SUBLIME consortium is pleased to see that recent monitoring campaigns at the Van Hall Bridge in Amsterdam are now featured in an online article and video published by Aan de Gracht(en) Amsterdam. The publication highlights how in-depth monitoring of steel bridges contributes to a better understanding of their condition, vulnerabilities, and long-term performance.
CT de Boer Showcases SUBLIME Fieldwork at the 2025 M2i Conference
During the 2025 M2i Conference at Papendal, Anton Gorter of Civiele Technieken de Boer presented the progress of SUBLIME’s field monitoring work on the Van Hall Bridge in Amsterdam. His talk, “An on-site measurement campaign – it sounds so simple” highlighted the many practical steps and unforeseen challenges involved in collecting high-quality strain data on a historic movable steel bridge.
Sheet Pile Corrosion Study Begins
The SUBLIME project is taking a major step forward in understanding how steel sheet piles age in real port conditions. In close collaboration with North Sea Port (NSP), TU Delft researcher Prasaanth Ravi Anusuyadevi is preparing the installation of a new field-testing structure that will allow long-term monitoring of corrosion processes on S355 steel.
Following recent discussions between TU Delft and NSP, both partners agreed to install a dedicated sample-carrying structure directly in the port. The design includes three identical frames, each hosting nine steel samples and each intended for different exposure durations: 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. The samples will be positioned at different depths along the waterline to capture how corrosion varies from splash zone to full immersion.