Hitoshi Furuta

Kansai University
Osaka, Japan
Co-Chair, IALCCE2014

Dan M. Frangopol

Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA, USA
Co-Chair, IALCCE2014

Mitsuyoshi Akiyama

Waseda University
Tokyo, Japan
Co-Chair, IALCCE2014

Nowadays, the analysis, design, construction, inspection, monitoring, repair, maintenance and optimal management of structures and infrastructures require the consideration of the life-cycle of systems under uncertainty. The objective of the International Association for Life-Cycle Civil Engineering, founded in 2006, is to promote international cooperation in the field of life-cycle civil engineering for the purpose of enhancing the welfare of society. Its mission is to become the premier international organization for the advancement of the state-of-the-art in the field of life-cycle civil engineering. IALCCE encompasses all aspects of life-cycle assessment, design, maintenance, rehabilitation and monitoring of civil engineering systems. The first International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering (IALCCE'08) was held in Varenna, Lake Como, Italy (June 10-14, 2008), the Second International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering (IALCCE2010) was held in Taipei, Taiwan (October 27-30, 2010), and the third International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering (IALCCE2012) was held in Vienna, Austria (October 3-6, 2012).

The fourth International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering (IALCCE2014) has been organized on behalf of the IALCCE under the auspices of Waseda University, Tokyo Japan. The interest of the international civil engineering community in areas covered by the IALCCE has been confirmed by the significant response to the IALCCE2014 call for papers. In fact, 436 abstracts from 44 countries were received by the Symposium Secretariat, and approximately 75% of them were selected for publication. Contributions presented at IALCCE2014 include state-of-the-art as well as emerging applications related to key aspects of the life-cycle civil engineering field.

All major aspects of life-cycle engineering are addressed, with special focus on structural damage processes, life-cycle design, inspection, monitoring, assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation, life-cycle cost of structures and infrastructures, life-cycle performance of special structures, and life-cycle oriented computational tools.

The proceedings book Life-Cycle of Structural Systems: Design, Assessment, Maintenance and Management contains the papers presented at the fourth International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering. It consists of a book of extended abstracts and a DVD with 312 full papers including the Fazlur R. Khan lecture, 7 keynote lectures, and 304 technical papers from 38 countries.

The aim of the editors is to provide a valuable source for anyone interested in life-cycle of civil infrastructure systems, including students, researchers and practitioners from all areas of engineering and industry.

November 2014

Yoichi Masuzoe
Governor of Tokyo

On behalf of the citizens of Tokyo, I would like to extend a sincere welcome to the Fourth International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering and to all who have gathered in Tokyo to attend.

Tokyo is currently advancing its preparations for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games so that we will be ready to warmly welcome the many visitors who will come to Tokyo from around the world.

Tokyo is a city where the tradition and culture that stretches back some 400 years to the Edo period and the modern cutting-edge technology of the present day meet. I hope that all of you will enjoy the many attractions that Tokyo has to offer, including cultural experiences, the arts, shopping, and world-class Japanese and international cuisine.

Please accept my best wishes for the success of IALCCE 2014 and for a pleasant stay in Tokyo filled with lasting memories.