Project description
New life for ageing European RC bridge networks
Throughout Europe, ageing reinforced concrete (RC) bridge networks play an important role in infrastructure that is crucial to everyday lives and to the smooth operation of industries. However, many of these networks are facing increasing risks resulting from corrosion-induced deterioration or mainshock-aftershock (MS-AS) seismic sequences. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the DREAMS project will develop a multi-scale probabilistic framework to quantify the spatiotemporal resilience of deteriorating bridge networks. This framework will use new technologies, including AI-assisted workflows, material-level physics-based deterioration models, network-level resilience analysis and structure-level state-dependent fragility assessments for MS-AS sequences. It will also demonstrate this solution on a synthetic testbed of an Italian coastal bridge network.
Objective
Aging reinforced concrete (RC) bridge networks in Europe face growing risks from sequential and cascading hazards. Corrosion-induced deterioration progressively reduces structural capacity, while sequential seismic events such as mainshock–aftershock (MS–AS) sequences amplify vulnerabilities and threaten system-wide functionality. The 2016–2017 Central Italy earthquake sequence alone caused an estimated €27 billion in reconstruction costs, underscoring the socio-economic burden of cascading seismic impacts. To address these challenges, DREAMS develops a multi-scale probabilistic framework to quantify the spatiotemporal resilience of deteriorating bridge networks. The framework integrates (a) material-level physics-based deterioration models calibrated against experimental datasets, (b) structure-level state-dependent fragility assessment under MS–AS sequences, and (c) network-level resilience analysis that propagates damage to functionality trajectories, recovery times, and accessibility metrics. Novel contributions also include AI-assisted workflows such as surrogate modeling and active learning for efficient computational simulation, and stochastic treatment of sequential hazards beyond single “worst-case” assumptions. A synthetic testbed of an Italian coastal bridge network will serve as a demonstrator, enabling scenario-based analyses and participatory “what-if” workshops with academic partners and collaborators, practitioners, and stakeholders. Key outcomes include open-source Python libraries and packages, end-to-end reproducible workflows, and an interactive decision-support system with GIS dashboards designed for both scientific advancement and practice-oriented decision-making. By explicitly linking long-term deterioration with sequential hazard impacts, DREAMS provides a robust foundation for resilience-oriented planning, supporting infrastructure robustness, risk-informed policy, and enhanced social preparedness.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences physical geography cartography geographic information systems
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
WC1E 6BT London
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.