Centre for Global Infrastructure Resilience

PORTAL (HORIZON-MSCA-SE-2024) Adaptive strategies for enhancing threat-agnostic resilience of port ecosystems. 

• PORTAL is pioneering an innovative, threat-agnostic framework to pre-empt cascading losses and establish resilience benchmarks with fit-for-purpose adaptation measures to proactively mitigate negative impacts on Port Infrastructure and interdependent Socio- eCOlogical systems (PISCO).
• PORTAL delivers an interdisciplinary, multi-stakeholder inclusive, and scalable approach to optimise PISCO’s resilience and sustainability, with emphasis on people’s needs and environmental benefits.
• Integrates cutting-edge technologies such as digital twins and generative AI (GenAI) to enhance sustainable adaptation strategies. This is achieved through tailored designs of win-win solutions, e.g. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), in inclusive and gamified PISCO. 

ReCharged (HORIZON-MSCA-SE-2021). Climate-aware resilience for sustainable critical infrastructure. 

• Develops a digital platform to optimize climate resilience and carbon assessments for interdependent energy-transport systems.
• Integrates AI to quantify recovery of critical lifelines (iTESLA).
• Impact: Trains 50+ professionals through EU-wide case studies. 

RISKADAPT (HORIZON-MISS-2021-CLIMA-02). Asset Level Modelling of RISKs in the Face of Climate Induced Extreme Events and ADAPtation. 

• Asset-level climate risk modeling.
• Delivers a free, customizable platform for adaptation to climate-induced compound events.
• Partners: 12 EU governments, infrastructure operators. 

FIREWISE (UKRI/HORIZON-MSCA-PF-2024). Proactive wildfire resilience assessment and management. 

• Combines GIS, remote sensing, and AI to simulate wildfire risks and enhance spatial planning. AI-Driven Sustainability. 

ZEBAI (HORIZON-CL5-2023-D4-01-01). Innovative methodologies to design Zero-Emission and cost-effective Buildings based on Artificial Intelligence. 

• Zero-emission building design via AI.
• Holistic AI model evaluating energy performance, cost, and indoor quality.
• Targets 40% reduction in lifecycle emissions for EU buildings. 

REACT (HORIZON-MSCA-PF-2024). Reusing steel for emission reduction through AI-driven cutting-stock tool. 

• AI-driven steel reuse design tool for emission reduction.
• Cuts construction waste by 35% through optimized steel-cutting algorithms. 

Empower Ukraine (UK Charity-2024). Capacity Building for Critical Infrastructure Restoration in Ukraine. 

• Capacity building for critical infrastructure.  
• Trains 2,000+ engineers in Eurocode-compliant design.
• Delivered 10 CPD modules on circular rebuilding. 

AI4SURE (British Academy-2023). AI-empowered data-mining techniques for SUstainable and climate-REsilient infrastructure peacebuilding. 

Applies data mining to prioritize reconstruction in conflict-affected regions. 

WINDTUNE. (British Academy-2023). Efficiency of natural ventilation toward Zero-Energy residential buildings. 

Rapid evaluations of Generative Designs for microclimate support systems in thermally modernised residential buildings in Ukraine to ultimately deliver Zero-Energy Buildings. 

bridgeAdapt:(British Academy-2023). Sustainable adaptation of bridges deteriorated to climate and human-induced damage. 

Optimisation of resilience and sustainability metrics for restoring portfolios of bridges damaged to war and/or deteriorated due to inherent mechanisms (such as corrosions, fatigue) in an optimised manner by leveraging digital data at different levels of knowledge from disparate sources. 

Our flagship MOOC, Resilience, Sustainability & Digitalisation in Critical Infrastructure, developed by Prof. Stergios-Aristoteles Mitoulis, Dr. Sotirios Argyroudis, and global experts in partnership with FutureLearn and the HORIZON ReCharged Project, offers seven interactive modules. These include video lectures, case studies, podcasts, and discussion forums covering critical topics such as climate adaptation for low-income countries using space technology, AI-driven infrastructure monitoring, and digital twins for disaster resilience. Learners can enroll for free on FutureLearn or the MetaInfrastructure website. 

This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is a free, open, online course designed to offer a taste of higher education to learners from across the world. Delivered by world-class academics from the UCL, University of Birmingham and other partners of the HORIZON Recharged project (GA no. 101086413), the course enable learners worldwide to sample high-quality academic content via an interactive web-based platform from leading global universities, increasing access to higher education for a whole new cohort of learners.

This MOOC brings together world experts, including general audiences, aiming to provide training with life-long updates and professional development opportunities for general and specialised audiences. The MOOC contains all the necessary components of a university taught module, e.g. prerequisites, content and aims, learning outcomes, attributes for sustainable professional development (cognitive, analytical, transferable skills, professional and practical skills), expected hours of study, assessment patterns, units of assessment and reading list, warm-up sessions, with relevant podcasts and videos, lecture notes and recorded lectures, some of which will be tailored for general audiences. 

Mitoulis, S.-A., & Argyroudis, S. (2024). Massive Open Online Course: Resilience, Sustainability & Digitalisation in Critical Infrastructure. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13999583

Bite-sized learning for busy professionals

Explore our library of short videos designed to simplify complex concepts. Highlights include “What is a Digital Twin?” by Henrry Vicente Rojas Asuero, which breaks down real-time infrastructure simulation; “Point Clouds & 3D Modelling” by Prof. Stergios-Aristoteles Mitoulis, offering a visual guide to LiDAR-driven design; and “Climate Adaptation in LMICs”, where Prof. Mitoulis explains how satellite data informs resilient infrastructure planning. These resources, alongside case studies like the IABMAS 2021 Conference lecture from Kyoto, Japan, are freely accessible on the MetaInfrastructure website.

Rebuilding skills for a resilient future

This three-year capacity-building programme, developed with Ukraine’s Ministries of Education and Development, combines bilingual MOOCs, microcredentials, and CPD sessions to equip Ukrainian engineers with reconstruction expertise. 

Our bilingual Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), offered in Ukrainian and English, are designed to equip learners with the skills needed to rebuild Ukraine’s infrastructure while aligning with global sustainability standards and are available to apply. 

• Sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive Infrastructure focuses on integrating Eurocode-compliant design, green materials like low-carbon concrete, and nature-based solutions such as urban green corridors to mitigate flood risks.
• Design of Bridges and Transport Networks delves into advanced prestressing techniques and durability assessments, ensuring structures withstand both climatic and conflict-related stresses.
• Digital Resilience in Infrastructure explores Building Information Modelling (BIM), IoT sensors for real-time monitoring, and predictive maintenance frameworks.
• Legal, Safety & Project Management bridges Ukrainian regulations with EU standards, covering risk management, procurement strategies, and compliance with Eurocode safety protocols. 

These courses, developed with input from Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science, include interactive case studies—such as the AI-driven reconstruction of Kharkiv’s transport hubs—to ground theory in real-world practice. 

Through our microcredential programs, 50 Ukrainian engineers receive fully funded, UCL-certified training in critical areas like seismic retrofitting - a vital skill for reinforcing schools and hospitals in earthquake-prone regions. Participants gain hands-on experience through workshops, such as simulating retrofit designs for damaged bridges using digital twin technology. 

Complementing these are Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions, co-designed with Ukraine’s Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories. These workshops, led by UCL and Ukrainian academics, address urgent priorities like circular rebuilding - for example, reusing rubble from destroyed buildings to construct energy-efficient housing. Recent sessions have trained engineers in rapid damage assessment using satellite imagery and AI, a technique now deployed in Odesa to prioritise road repairs. 

Join Our Community of Practice

Target Groups: Students, engineers, academics, and policymakers can access tailored learning opportunities. 

• Students gain free access to MOOCs and microcredentials.
• Engineers earn certifications in resilient design; academics collaborate with UCL experts on curriculum development.
• Policymakers join masterclasses on EU-Ukraine standards alignment. 

How to Engage

Visit https://bridgeukraine.org/projects/education/ to enroll, partner on CPD programs, or donate to scholarships for Ukrainian learners. 

September 21, 2025

For the 4th consecutive year, three of MetaInfrastructure members have been recognised in the Stanford–Elsevier list of the world’s top-cited scientists (version 8, based on Scopus data up to the end of 2024).

• Stergios-Aristoteles Mitoulis (Civil Engineering) — top 1% and also top career
• Sotirios Argyroudis (Strategic, Defence & Security Studies)— top 0.5% and also top career
• Ivan Izonin (AI & Image Processing) — top 2%

This recognition highlights not only the scientific impact and sustained contributions but also the collective strength of our group in shaping knowledge across engineering, resilience and AI applications.

MetaInfrastructure.org is proud to foster interdisciplinary research that connects resilience and sustainability of built environments, AI and advanced technologies with global societal needs.

Professor Stergios Mitoulis has co-authored an international study that challenges conventional approaches to designing and managing critical infrastructure in interconnected systems.

Professor Stergios Mitoulis has co-authored an international study published in Nature Communications, developing a resilience-based design framework that challenges conventional approaches to the design and management of critical infrastructure within interconnected infrastructure systems.

Co-written by Sam Dulin, Alexandre Bredikhin, Eric Treyz, Billy Leung, Jeffrey Dykes, Owen Karpeles, Shreeya Gurav, Alex Karhunen and Igor Linkov; the research used the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore as a case study to illustrate how the failure of a single structure can set off chain reactions, disrupting transport networks, supply chains, and regional economies. Through advanced modelling with the REMI TranSight platform, the team quantified the wider economic consequences, projecting substantial losses in GDP, employment, and income. In severe scenarios, the study found that full recovery could take until 2040.

The findings urge a shift in focus from traditional risk-based design to resilience-based planning, providing policymakers and infrastructure managers with new tools to anticipate and mitigate systemic impacts. The work was the result of close international collaboration, bringing together experts from the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Credere Associates, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and Regional Economic Models Inc.

By highlighting the societal and economic costs of infrastructure failures, the study underscores BSSC’s role in pioneering research on resilience and UCL’s wider commitment to addressing global challenges through interdisciplinary action. The evidence generated provides decision-makers with a framework to strengthen policy, guide investments, and update design standards, ultimately supporting more sustainable and resilient infrastructure worldwide.

Prof. Mitoulis said: “Critical infrastructure should be designed and evaluated not only for structural integrity but also for infrastructure geo-economic importance and potential impact of prolonged recovery within interconnected systems.”

See more >

March 20, 2025

We're proud to announce that Professor Nataliya Shakhovska, a valued member of our MetaInfrastructure team, has been elected as the new Rector of Lviv Polytechnic National University.

With 1868 votes (55.09%), Professor Nataliya Shakhovska earned the majority and was formally recognized as the new Rector of Lviv Polytechnic National University. Her leadership, vision, and expertise will undoubtedly significantly contribute to the university’s future.

As a member of our Metainfrastructure team, Professor Nataliya has consistently demonstrated excellence in her work, and we are excited to see her bring the same dedication and innovation to her new role.

April 5, 2025

Dr Nadiia Kopiika, a stellar young researcher from Ukraine and a member of bridgeUkraine Alliance, is leading the way in rebuilding war-damaged infrastructure through resilience engineering, sustainability, and digital innovation. Her story is one of courage, impact, and engineering excellence. 

Nadiia shares her deeply personal mission to restore her country’s vital infrastructure in the face of devastation. From blackouts to broken systems, her story is one of courage, resilience, and national pride – reflecting the spirit of Ukraine’s recovery.             

Now is the time for her voice – and the voices of Ukrainian engineers – to be amplified. 

Ukrainian spring will come one day and it will be empowered by the hand of Ukrainian engineers and researchers. 

Read more on The Conversation > 

Prof Dr Stergios A Mitoulis 
Leader, Founder 

Associate Professor, University College London 
Professor, University of Birmingham
PhD, DiplEng, MSc, CEng MICE, M.ASCE, M.EAEE, FHEA

• Expertise: Resilience of transport assets; monitoring-driven infrastructure resilience; damage-free bridges; Eurocode compliance. 

Dr. Yiming Xiang 

Lecturer (Teaching) in Design for Construction 
The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction (UCL)

• Expertise: Sustainable construction; energy efficiency; LCA. 

Dr. Shchasiana Arhun 

Associated Lecturer (Teaching) 
The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction (UCL) 
Professor, Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University

• Expertise: Sustainable transport systems; renewable energy integration; vibration diagnostics. 

Dr. Nadiia Kopiika

British Academy/CARA Fellow 
The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction (UCL)

• Expertise: Resilience; probabilistic approaches; retrofitting; non-destructive testing. 

Dr. Ivan Izonin

Associate Professor, Lviv Polytechnic National University 
Senior Member IEEE

• Expertise: AI/ML; neural-like structures; meta-learning; small data analysis. 

Dr. Raffaele Cucuzza

Marie Curie Fellow 
The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction (UCL)

• Expertise: Structural optimization; LCA-driven design; eco-design; steel reuse. 

Dr. Roberta Di Bari

Research Fellow 
The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction (UCL)

• Expertise: Sustainable construction; life-cycle assessment (LCA); building physics. 

Dr. Khrystyna Myroniuk

Associate Professor, Lviv Polytechnic National University 
British Academy/CARA Fellow

• Expertise: Energy-efficient HVAC systems; European standards; resource-saving technologies. 

Dr. Jinsheng Wang

Postdoctoral Researcher

• Expertise: Structural reliability; machine learning; bridge engineering; uncertainty quantification. 

Henrry Vicente Rojas Asuero

PhD Candidate, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

• Focus: Seismic vulnerability assessment; fragility analysis of civil systems. 

John Adah Agbo 

Doctoral Researcher 
Quantity Surveyor

• Focus: Climate-resilient transport infrastructure; sustainability optimization. 

Mohammed Almousa 

Doctoral Researcher

• Focus: Micro-mobility integration with public transport. 

Beghal Rasool 

Doctoral Researcher 
GMICE

• Focus: Advanced bridge engineering; sustainable materials. 

Kalliopi Moysiadi 

Doctoral Researcher 
CEng MICE

• Focus: Temporary works design; major infrastructure delivery. 

Dariia Berestok

Project Manager 
The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction (UCL)

• Expertise: Stakeholder engagement; process optimization; project coordination.  

Co-Leader, Co-Founder- Dr. Sotirios A Argyroudis

Associate Professor (Reader), Brunel University London

PhD, DiplEng, BSc, CEng MICE, FHEA

• Expertise: Risk and resilience of critical infrastructure under multi-hazards; climate change adaptation. 

Prof. Jelena Ninic

Professor of Digital Engineering, Durham University 
FHEA

• Expertise: Computational methods; advanced numerical modelling; structural informatics.

Dr. Nataliya Shakhovska

Professor, Lviv Polytechnic National University 
Head of AI Department

• Expertise: Big data integration; VR/AR; distributed systems. 

Dr. Stavros Sakellariou

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Marie-Curie)

• Expertise: Wildfire risk management; GIS/remote sensing; spatial resilience; climate adaptation. 

Dr. Marianna Loli

Principal Researcher (Marie-Curie) 
ICONHIC Associate

• Expertise: Seismic risk assessment; geotechnical modelling; geohazards. 

Dr. Morgan Breen

Doctoral Researcher 
GIS Specialist

• Expertise: Flood risk management; agent-based modelling; socio-spatial analysis. 

Dr. Eleonora Perugini

Senior Researcher 
CEng (Italy)

• Expertise: Remote sensing; bridge-scour risk; flood modelling. 

Dr. Athanasia K. Kazantzi

Assistant Professor

• Expertise: Infrastructure vulnerability; probabilistic multi-hazard risk assessment. 

María Montiel Durá Aras

Doctoral Researcher

• Focus: Urban transport systems; historical impact of bridges on city development. 

Francesco Pentassuglia

Doctoral Researcher 
Structural Engineer

• Focus: Low-carbon design; FEM; remote structural monitoring. 

Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini

Doctoral Researcher

• Focus: Seismic design; BIM; infrastructure resilience. 

Our current collaborations are documented with Memorandum of Understandings between:

1. BridgeUkraine.org and M.P. Shulgin State Road Research Institute State Enterprise (DerzhdorNDI SE)
2. BridgeUkraine.org and Vid Sertsya Budova NGO

Other collaborations that are in pipeline are with: 

• Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture for Twinning on reconstruction;
• Ukraine’s Ministry of Digitalisation to advance infrastructure sustainability and resilience.