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NEWS: Coastal wetlands are unable to adapt to the rate of sea-level rise and are constrained by infrastructure

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Wetlands, precious ecosystems that shield coastlines, safeguard drinking water from saltwater contamination, and nourish diverse wildlife, face a dire threat from the accelerating pace of sea-level rise, driven by global warming. Wetlands have historically adapted to rising sea levels by expanding upward and inland. However, predictions indicate that the waterline will soon shift far too rapidly for wetlands to keep pace. Consequently, future decades may witness the tragic loss of these vital wetland ecosystems. Wetlands along coastlines have historically played valuable roles for people and wildlife, but are now facing the threat of sea-level rise. As temperatures rise, sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, and wetlands are unable to keep pace by building upward and migrating inland. This is due to human-induced climate change and the burning of fossil fuels, which has warmed the oceans and melted glaciers. Sea levels are now rising at about 10 millimeters per year, and are
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NEWS: World’s first 3D-printed steel bridge opens

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The world’s first 3D printed steel bridge has opened to the public in Amsterdam.


The pedestrian bridge is a result of a multi-disciplinary team of experts collaborating on the future design of public spaces.

It was printed by robotic arms and equipped with an innovative sensor network, linked to a digital twin computer model that monitors its performance in real-time.

This means that everyone who walks, runs, or cycles over the bridge will generate data, which will help to monitor the bridge’s structure and provide information about how it’s being used.

As a new material, safety is crucial. The in-built sensors will constantly gather data on strain, displacement, vibration, air quality and temperature.


This data will be used to create the digital twin of the bridge, which can then predict how the structure will behave as the bridge is used. This will allow maintenance needs to be highlighted at the earliest opportunity, and also help engineers understand how 3D printed steel might be used for larger scale and more complex building projects.

The Alan Turing Institute’s data-centric engineering (DCE) programme has been integral to the bridge’s development, with researchers undertaking the materials testing and designing the digital twin, incorporating Autodesk’s software.

They have teamed up with 3D printing company MX3D and Joris Laarman Labs, which designed and built the bridge.

DCE programme director Mark Girolami the team is “incredibly excited” about the project.

“Not only is it a stunning design, but with the sensors inbuilt into the fabric of the bridge it is also pioneering ground-breaking digital twin technologies,” he said.

“It is a significant step towards making huge changes to how we think about and improve the engineered world and our built environment. It is fantastic to see the project coming to life and the public engaging with it.”

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