ARTEK International Conference: AIC 2018 - Transporation Infrastructure Engineering in Cold Regions, May 1-3, 2018 in Sisimiut, Greenland

Background

Communities in the Arctic and other cold regions are strongly dependent on well-functioning transportation infrastructure to sustain business opportunities, health and general well-being. For isolated communities (most coastal Arctic communities) regional or international travel and transportation must rely on air or sea transport. A harsh climate and unstable weather conditions impact constructions and make navigation challenging.

Faced with social and industrial changes, transportation infrastructure in these regions must be adapted to larger traffic loads and changing transportation patterns. At the same time, climate change impacts on permafrost and ground stability, sea ice distribution and properties, changing wave regimes etc., pose severe challenges to transportation infrastructure.

The topical sessions of the conference are:

• Harbors and offshore constructions: Design, construction and operation of harbors and offshore structures. Ice and wave impacts on structures. Ice-induced vibration. Ice gouging, coastal erosion and sediment redistribution. Structural reliability in a changing climate.
• Vessel and boat traffic in icy waters: Ice loads from sea ice and glacial ice. Design and strength of ships. Ship performance in ice, including ice resistance. Risk and safety. Regulations.
  Linear infrastructure: Roads, power- and pipelines, sewers. Design and maintenance issues. Technical adaptation solutions. Design and maintenance approaches in permafrost regions.
• Airports and other large constructions: Airstrips and other large constructions on land. Site investigations and material properties. Design solutions and operating conditions. Design and maintenance approaches in permafrost regions.
  Navigation, Positioning and Communication Systems: Maritime e-navigation. GNSS assisted take-off and landing procedures. Space weather impacts on navigation in the Arctic. Sea ice and iceberg warning systems. Surveying and geographical information systems.
• Planning of physical infrastructure: Socioeconomic and sociotechnical impacts of transportation infrastructure, planning infrastructure networks, business opportunities related to infrastructure.

Extended deadline for abstracts: January 15, 2017.

We are also planning an exciting post-conference field trip to Kangerlussuaq, the main ariport hub of Greenland. Check it out!

For more information, see the AIC 2018 website.