News

Giovanni received the Best Student Paper Award at the 12th European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring (EWSHM 2026) for his work on a novel Optical Time Stretch-based Fiber Bragg Grating interrogation system for high-resolution and high-speed Structural Health Monitoring.

This recognition represents an important milestone in his PhD journey and acknowledges the work carried out over the past years, from the design and development of the interrogation system to its experimental validation through static and dynamic measurements.

Some of the USES2 members participated in the EWSHM 2026 conference in Toulouse, where they presented their latest research and engaged with the structural health monitoring community. The event provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas, showcase recent advances from the project, and strengthen collaborations with researchers and industry partners. To more and more success! 

The 1st USES² Training School, hosted by Université Gustave Eiffel, brought together doctoral candidates, academics, and industry experts for an intensive programme combining lectures, hands-on exercises, demonstrations, and technical exchanges on innovative sensing technologies, advanced wave-based imaging methods, and smart structural monitoring

The event featured a kenote by Prof. Parisa Shokouhi from Penn. State University (USA), engaging discussions and a poster session highlighting the research projects of the Doctoral Candidates and some of the participants. 

During Giovanni's secondment at BAM, he worked on the experimental validation of optical fiber sensing technologies for structural health monitoring, carrying out non-destructive testing and strain measurements on concrete structures. It was a valuable opportunity to evaluate the performance of their interrogation system in realistic experimental conditions while collaborating with experts from different disciplines.

Damiano presented his work at the LATAMSHM 2026 conference, Santiago, Chile, hosted by the University of Chile. His presentation, titled "Assessing Reliability of cm-Scale Optical Fiber Strain Sensing in High Gradient Configurations through Benchmarking and Mechanical Modelling", explored the performance of optical fiber strain sensors in regions with steep strain gradients, such as those found near cracks or defects, where the conventional constant-strain assumption no longer applies. The work, carried out in collaboration with researchers from Zensor, CEA-List, and the VUB Research Group Electrochemical and Surface Engineering, contributes to improving the reliability of structural health monitoring technologies

Damiano started his secondment at Airbus Defence and Space in Getafe, Madrid.

During these 2 months, he collaborated with DC09 Luigi Trezza at Airbus Defence and Space on structural health monitoring (SHM), with a particular focus on operational monitoring and damage detection. The experience provides an opportunity to strengthen the connection between his PhD research on sensor-data fault detection and real-world aerospace applications, while fostering knowledge exchange and new research collaborations within the field of structural integrity monitoring.

The first USES2 Industry Days took place in February 2025 at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Spain, bringing together USES2 doctoral candidates, academic supervisors, and industrial partners for a dedicated event focused on knowledge exchange, collaboration, and professional development. The event provided an opportunity for PhD researchers to present their research progress, discuss challenges and perspectives with experts from academia and industry, and strengthen connections within the structural health monitoring (SHM) community. Through technical discussions, networking activities, and interactions with industry stakeholders, the Industry Days highlighted the importance of collaboration between research and industrial applications in advancing innovative solutions for structural integrity monitoring. The event marked an important milestone in the USES2 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network, supporting the development of the next generation of researchers in the field of SHM.

Luigi Trezza completed his secondment at Fraunhofer IZFP in Ilmenau, Germany, in December 2024 and January 2025. 

During the visit, he worked closely with Dr Florian Roemer, Eduardo Perez, and DC03 Jasmine Hassanien, fostering an enriching exchange of expertise across research fields. The collaboration led to productive discussions, new insights, and the foundation for future joint research on several promising topics.

The secondment highlighted the value of international collaboration within the USES2 network, providing doctoral candidates with opportunities to broaden their expertise, strengthen research partnerships, and advance innovative scientific work.

That's a Wrap! USES² Online Workshop#2 is officially over.
The USES² Online Workshop has officially come to an end, and what an incredible journey it has been! Over the past few days, we’ve had the privilege to delve into cutting-edge topics on ultrasonic and seismic embedded sensors for non-destructive evaluation and structural health monitoring of infrastructure and human-built systems.

The lectures were insightful, inspiring, and packed with innovation. We’re grateful to all our speakers, our Doctoral Candidates and all the participants.

Missed any of the sessions or want to revisit the content? You can find all the lectures here
 

DC10 Daminao Gianotti has been working with Inductosense since the beginning of October 2024, for his 2-month secondment there.

Joining Inductosense from Zensor, Damiano is focusing on new passive and wireless sensor design, working closely with the R&D team at Inductosense.
 

From October 4 to 14, 2024, Nantes hosted the 33rd edition of the Fête de la Science, a vibrant celebration of scientific exploration and discovery. This year's theme, "Ocean of Knowledge," highlighted the critical role of oceans in addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development.

This event included science enthusiasts, families, and the simply curious to engage with the latest advancements in oceanography and environmental science. It was a unique opportunity for the public to meet scientists, participate in creative experiments, and deepen their understanding of the ocean's vital importance to our planet.

Training Week #2 at BAM in Berlin, held from June 24th to 28th, was another engaging chapter in the USES2 journey, bringing together Doctoral Candidates for a deep dive into advanced topics. This intensive week featured insightful lectures on FPGA-based sensor signal processing, machine learning, and signal processing fundamentals, alongside sessions on measurement uncertainty, human factors in NDE and SHM, and the gender and diversity dimension in research. Candidates also honed their science communication skills, preparing them to convey complex ideas effectively. The blend of technical and interdisciplinary insights made for a rich learning experience, fueling innovation and awareness in the structural health monitoring community.

You can check more details here.

"The last two and a half months have been incredibly educational and interesting for me.
During May and June, I had the pleasure of being hosted by Université Gustave Eiffel in Nantes for the first of three secondments planned by my doctoral consortium project USES2 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions. Here, I had the opportunity to attend very interesting lectures and seminars, as well as initiate collaborations that will undoubtedly be of significant interest in the coming months. This allowed me to fully leverage the main objective of our doctoral consortium.
Then, in the last week of June, the 2nd Training Week was held in Berlin at Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, marking the second in-person event of my doctoral network. This was an opportunity not only to present updates on our work and engage with fellow candidates but also to attend lectures and seminars on various scientific topics with experts from different universities and research centers like FRAUNHOFER IZFP and Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung.
I am truly grateful for all these experiences and look forward to continuing my work in anticipation of the upcoming events."

DC09 Luigi Trezza

And it's a wrap. Thrilled to share with you this picture that marks the end of the secondments of DC07 Shilan Shaabani and DC08 Jitendra Sharma at Isamgeo, along with DC06 Olga Nesterova. It has been a couple of months full of not only fruitful discussions and great achievements, but also full of new discoveries.

Training Week #1 at CEA Paris-Saclay was an inspiring start to 2024 for our Doctoral Candidates! From January 15th to 19th, these future leaders in structural health monitoring showcased their research and engaged in a dynamic week of knowledge-sharing and hands-on learning. Participants delved into key topics like sensing and instrumentation, data management planning, and wave propagation theory, along with practical sessions on bibliography tools and research best practices. This immersive experience set a strong foundation for collaboration and innovation within the USES2 network, pushing the boundaries of ultrasonic and seismic embedded sensor applications for infrastructure health and sustainability.

You can check more details here.

The November 2023 Introductory Days marked a memorable start to the USES2 project, as Doctoral Candidates gathered for the first time, kicking off an exciting journey together. The management team welcomed them with a comprehensive introduction to the project, outlining the training program designed to shape their research path. Candidates participated in the impactful Climate Fresque workshop, encouraging reflection on climate change and sustainability, and attended a thought-provoking lecture on ethics in research, essential for their future work. Adding a creative dimension, the artists of Scénocosme introduced their vision, setting the stage for an inspiring collaboration that will culminate in an art piece co-created with the candidates. This unique blend of science, ethics, and art laid a dynamic foundation for the USES2 experience.

You can check more details here.