ICT contributes to the success of BCRRA 2017

The tenth International Conference on the Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways, and Airfields (BCRRA) was held June 28–30, 2017 in Athens, Greece, and the transportation group of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign had a strong presence at this year’s meeting. 

BCRRA 2017 covered a wide span of topics featuring materials, laboratory testing, design, construction, and maintenance and management systems of transportation infrastructure related to roads, railways and airfields. The event provided a unique opportunity for interaction, exchange, and sharing of information among researchers, practicing engineers, and other professionals from around the world.

The Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT) was a co-organizer of this year’s event, and ICT-affiliated faculty contributed to the success of the conference with Professor Imad Al-Qadi serving as a conference co-chair, Professor Jeffery Roesler delivering a keynote speech, Professor Erol Tutumluer chairing a conference session, and several other faculty members chairing multiple scientific committees.

The conference was preceded with four workshops: 1) Introducing FAARFIELD 1.41: Latest Updates to FAA Airport Pavement Design Procedures; 2) Modelling and Testing of the Vehicle-Tire-Pavement System; 3) Railway Track Settlements: Innovations in Monitoring and Maintenance; and 4) Cold Regions Engineering: Challenges and Opportunities. In addition, two special technical sessions were held as part of the conference program: 2017 Deflection at Road Traffic Speed meeting and the 8th European Falling Weight Deflectometer Users Group Meeting.

Following the conference, attendees partook in a one-day tour of Argolis and/or enjoyed a three-island cruise!

For more information about BCRRA 2017, please visit the conference’s homepage.