The World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (WCEE) is a prestigious event held every four years, bringing together experts and researchers from around the globe. Since its inception in 1956, organized by UC-Berkeley to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, WCEE has been a cornerstone in the field of earthquake engineering.
This year marked the 18th WCEE, held in Milan, Italy, during the first week of July. Notably, this conference featured a dedicated technical session on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for the first time in its 68-year history. The growing interest in AI within the research community was evident, with over 125 papers on AI applications presented, compared to about 21 papers in the previous conference, WCEE 2020.
Ayush Singhania from the NCSEA Foundation’s AI Grant Team had the privilege of attending this year’s conference, supported by his current firm, SGH. Singhania explored ongoing AI research in earthquake engineering during his time at the conference. He attended numerous technical talks focused on AI applications and engaged with researchers actively working in this innovative field.
The research presented at this conference highlighted the extensive and impactful applications of AI in earthquake engineering. From hazard predictions and ground motion selection to performance predictions of different structures and fundamental analysis, AI is making significant strides. Interestingly, the majority of AI research was presented by academicians, highlighting a substantial opportunity for collaboration between professionals and academia to translate this research into practical applications. Singhania and the AI Grant Team will be sharing more practical insights from research as part of NCSEA’s AI Education Initiative in the months to come.
Singhania’s experience at WCEE 2024 underscores the potential of AI to revolutionize earthquake engineering and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to advance the field.