Pre-Symposium Workshops
Secure your seat
Participation fee per participant, per workshop. Each workshop is limited to 40 participants.
| Category | Indian participants | International participants |
|---|---|---|
| Standard FeePer participant | ₹ 10,000 | € 200 |
| IABSE Members10% discount | ₹ 9,000 | € 180 |
| Young Engineers & Students25% discount | ₹ 7,500 | € 150 |
How to register
- Choose one workshop – both run in parallel on 21 April 2027.
- Register early: seats are limited to 40 per workshop.
- The workshops are followed by the Symposium, 22–24 April 2027, at the same venue.
Two full-day parallel masterclasses
Ahead of the IABSE Symposium Guwahati 2027, the Indian National Group of IABSE (ING-IABSE) is organising two full-day pre-symposium workshops at the symposium venue. Led by internationally recognised practitioners and academics, the workshops offer an intensive, practice-oriented learning experience on two subjects that sit at the heart of safe, resilient and elegant structures – the conceptual design process in structural engineering, and Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD) for buildings and bridges.
Register for a workshopKey details
DateWednesday, 21 April 2027
Time8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
VenueMayfair Spring Valley Resort, Guwahati
FormatTwo workshops run in parallel – choose one
Seats40 per workshop – small groups for close interaction
Conceptual Design Process in Structural Engineering
Wednesday, 21 April 2027 · 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM · Mayfair Spring Valley Resort, Guwahati
Background to the workshop
The success of a structure is often determined long before detailed calculations and drawings begin. The conceptual design stage is where the engineer establishes the fundamental structural form, load path, material selection, construction methodology, sustainability strategy, and overall project vision. Decisions made during this early phase have the greatest influence on structural efficiency, economy, constructability, aesthetics, durability, and environmental impact.
Throughout history, the most admired structures, from bridges and stadiums to towers and long-span roofs, have emerged from a rigorous conceptual design process that integrates engineering principles, creativity, innovation, and collaboration. Advances in digital tools and computational methods have expanded the possibilities available to engineers; however, the ability to develop elegant and efficient structural concepts remains a critical professional skill.
This workshop aims to explore the philosophy, methodology, and practical application of conceptual structural design. Drawing on examples from landmark projects around the world, it will illustrate how engineers can transform functional requirements into structurally efficient, sustainable, and aesthetically inspiring solutions, emphasising force flow, load paths, structural form, material behaviour, constructability, and sustainability.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Understand the importance of conceptual design in achieving successful structural solutions.
- Identify efficient load paths and structural forms.
- Generate and evaluate alternative structural concepts.
- Integrate engineering, architecture, sustainability, and constructability considerations.
- Apply conceptual design principles to buildings, bridges, and special structures.
- Develop a more creative and holistic approach to structural engineering practice.
The workshop will address
- Philosophy of conceptual structural design
- Understanding force flow and load paths
- Structural form and efficiency
- Creativity and innovation in engineering
- Material selection and structural optimization
- Integration of architecture and engineering
- Sustainability and resource-efficient design
- Constructability and lifecycle considerations
- Case studies of landmark buildings and bridges
- Lessons from successful international projects
Objectives
- Introduce the principles and philosophy of conceptual structural design.
- Demonstrate how structural form emerges from function and force flow.
- Explain the relationship between efficiency, economy, aesthetics, and sustainability.
- Provide methodologies for generating and evaluating alternative structural concepts.
- Illustrate the role of conceptual design in buildings, bridges, roofs, towers, and special structures.
- Develop the ability to think creatively and critically during the early stages of design.
Who should attend
- Structural and bridge engineers
- Architects and urban designers
- Consulting engineers
- Infrastructure planners and project managers
- Researchers and academicians
- Graduate students in structural engineering and architecture
- Professionals interested in innovative and sustainable structural systems
Instructors
Prof. Mike Schlaich
Partner, Schlaich Bergermann Partner (sbp), Germany; Professor Emeritus, Technical University of Berlin
Dr.-Ing. Boris Reyher
Managing Director, Schlaich Bergermann Partner (sbp), Germany
Er. V. N. Heggade
Founder & CEO, DECon Complete Solutions, India
Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD) for Buildings and Bridges
Wednesday, 21 April 2027 · 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM · Mayfair Spring Valley Resort, Guwahati
Background to the workshop
Conventional seismic design procedures primarily focus on life safety through force-based design approaches. However, recent earthquakes around the world have demonstrated that structures designed to code provisions may still suffer significant damage, resulting in prolonged downtime, economic losses, and disruption of critical services. Further, the current code-based approach provides no idea of the expected performance of the structure during the design or any other specific level of earthquake event.
Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD) has emerged as a rational and advanced design methodology that explicitly relates expected structural performance to specified levels of seismic hazard. It enables engineers to evaluate and design structures for multiple performance objectives – Immediate Occupancy, Operational Continuity, Life Safety, and Collapse Prevention – at different levels of hazard. For critical infrastructure such as lifeline buildings and bridges, PBSD provides a framework for resilience, sustainability, and risk-informed decision making.
This workshop provides a comprehensive understanding of PBSD principles, methodologies, analytical tools, and practical applications in both buildings and bridges, combining theoretical concepts, international best practices, and real-world case studies.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Understand the principles and objectives of PBSD.
- Define suitable performance targets for buildings and bridges.
- Select appropriate nonlinear analysis procedures.
- Interpret performance assessment results.
- Apply PBSD concepts to practical engineering projects.
- Appreciate the role of PBSD in achieving resilient and sustainable infrastructure.
The workshop will address
- Evolution from force-based to performance-based seismic design
- Seismic hazard characterization and risk assessment
- Performance objectives and acceptance criteria
- Nonlinear static and nonlinear dynamic analysis
- PBSD of reinforced concrete, steel and composite buildings
- PBSD of highway and railway bridges
- Seismic resilience and functional recovery
- International codes, guidelines and emerging standards
- Case studies from recent earthquakes
- Future directions for resilient infrastructure
Objectives
- Introduce the philosophy and evolution of Performance-Based Seismic Design.
- Explain seismic performance objectives and performance levels for buildings and bridges.
- Familiarize participants with nonlinear analysis procedures used in PBSD.
- Demonstrate practical implementation through case studies and design examples.
- Discuss international guidelines, emerging standards, and future directions in seismic resilience.
- Provide insight into the challenges and opportunities of adopting PBSD in India and other seismic regions.
Who should attend
- Structural and bridge engineers
- Earthquake engineers
- Consulting engineers and designers
- Researchers and academicians
- Infrastructure owners and project managers
- Government agencies and code developers
- Graduate students interested in seismic engineering
Participants receive
- Electronic copies of lecture presentations
- Selected journal papers and technical reports
- Design examples and worked-out case studies
- Relevant FEMA/NIST documents
Instructors
Prof. Yogendra Singh
Professor, Department of Earthquake Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Prof. Dipti Ranjan Sahoo
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Mr. Alok Bhowmick
B&S Engineering Consultants Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
Prof. P. C. Ashwin Kumar
Assistant Professor, Department of Earthquake Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Mr. Tajul Islam
Research Scholar, Department of Earthquake Engineering, IIT Roorkee; CEO, RealmRisk NG Pvt. Ltd.