Study Group 01: AI-informed Structural Engineering and Design

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the landscape of structural engineering, transforming it in the same deep ways it is reshaping every other domain of human society. The rapid advancements in AI technologies, such as evolutive intelligence models, deep learning, generative AI, and sophisticated neural network architectures (transformers, RNN, LLM, etc), are pushing to an incredible growth the entire civil engineering. These are not only simply incremental improvements, but more realistically they are a leap beyond traditional methodologies. By enabling more efficient design processes, facilitating predictive maintenance, and enhancing overall structural performance, AI is ushering us into a new era of engineering excellence.

Background

This SG aims to serve as a dedicated platform for advancing the integration of AI and machine learning (ML) into structural engineering and design. The group will explore topics such as forward and inverse design, sequential decision-making models, generative modeling, knowledge integration, physics-informed approaches, large language models, and other cutting-edge ML techniques. In addition to technical advancements, the SG will address the ethical implications of AI applications in structural engineering, foster collaboration among researchers, and compile knowledge, datasets, and best practices to drive innovation in this transformative area of study.

Current Activities

1. Organising several paper sessions at the upcoming 2026 IASS Symposia and Colloquia related to AI-Informed Structural Engineering and Design, including promoting Working Group 5 activities on “Shells and Artificial Intelligence.”
2. Supporting Let’s Shape It! summer-school activities held in conjunction with IASS 2026.

3. Promoting member-led 2026 IASS workshops, including:

   • Second Lives: AI-Assisted Design of Spatial Structures from Reclaimed Steel, led by Dan Reynolds, Jared Friedman, Hossein Zargar, Jose Vera, and Rimjhim Singh
   • Introduction to Differentiable Form-Finding with JAX FDM by Dr Rafael Pastrana
4. Organising regular research talks and webinars, providing opportunities for members and invited speakers to present emerging work and discuss developments in AI-informed structural engineering and design.
5. Holding regular Study Group meetings, including meetings alongside the 2025 IASS Symposium in Mexico City, to engage members in defining the Study Group’s aims, priorities, and future activities.
6. Contributing to wider international coordination on AI through the Liaison Committee Task Group on AI, bringing together representatives from IASS, IABSE, fib, RILEM, CIB, and ECCS. Discussions at the 16 January 2026 meeting identified three areas of shared interest: ontologies, AI ethics, and contracts/regulation.  The Study Group is following up on these themes through: 
• (a) an AI Activity Register, mapping current AI-related research, associated data/code, and approaches to data and model representation; and 
• (b) a community survey, examining practical experiences and barriers relating to responsible AI use, collaboration, data sharing, ownership, contracts, regulation, governance, and implementation.

Membership

The SG coordinators embark on this initiative, reaching out to IASS members and colleagues whose expertise and interests align with the SG’s objectives. If this emerging field resonates with your research or professional interests, they would be delighted to include you on the list of SG members.

All current members of the Study Group are members of the IASS. The Study Group welcomes additional members who have an interest in the mission and objectives of the group; those IASS members interested should please contact one of the Chairs of the Study Group (Find e-mail addresses in the IASS Directory by logging in).

Study Group Chairs

Further Information for IASS Members