SAHC: Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions

04/09/2026

Which SAHC course was your favorite, and why?

As we welcome our new 2026/2027 students, we asked our previous class to reflect on the subjects that made the biggest impact on them. 📚

02/09/2026

How would you describe SAHC in 3 words? 🏛️

We asked our 2025/2026 students—watch to see what they said! 💬

26/08/2026

𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐃𝐘𝐍 2027: 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐌𝐒38 - 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

The minisymposium aims to connect seismological characterization and ground motion modelling with nonlinear structural analysis, performance-based assessment, fragility and loss estimation, and the design and selection of seismic retrofit strategies for masonry and reinforced concrete structures. Particular emphasis is placed on innovative and eco-efficient solutions that balance seismic-risk reduction with environmental impacts, economic costs, resource consumption, constructability, downtime, and long-term resilience.

Topics of interest include:

▪️ Seismic-hazard assessment, ground-motion modelling, near-fault effects, local site response, seismic microzonation, and soil-structure interaction;

Nonlinear numerical modelling and performance assessment of masonry and reinforced concrete buildings, bridges, cultural-heritage structures, and critical facilities;

▪️ Fragility, vulnerability, damage, loss, functionality, post-earthquake recovery, and resilience assessment;

Seismic retrofit using isolation, supplemental damping, and innovative strengthening systems;

▪️ Eco-efficient retrofit design, life-cycle assessment and costing, embodied carbon, resource efficiency, and circular-economy approaches;

▪️ Uncertainty quantification, sensitivity analysis, probabilistic methods, multi-objective optimization, and multi-criteria decision-making;

▪️ Artificial intelligence, machine learning, surrogate modelling, and digital twins.

Organisers:

Dr. Shaghayegh Karimzadeh – University of Minho, Portugal

Dr. Nuno Mendes – University of Minho, Portugal

Dr. Omid Hassanshahi – Riga Technical University, Latvia

Dr. Milad Roohi – University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA

📍 Crete, Greece

📅 Conference dates: 13–16 June 2027

📅 Abstract submission deadline: 30 October 2026

📄 Optional full paper & early-bird registration deadline: 28 February 2027

🔗 More information:

COMPDYN 2027 is the ninth edition of the International Conference on Computational Methods in Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering and one of the Thematic Conferences of the ECCOMAS

26/08/2026

What do you like most about living in Portugal? 🇵🇹

We grabbed our mic and asked our 2025/2026 students to share their thoughts about life in this magical country by the ocean! 🌊

24/08/2026

What makes SAHC so special? ✨

Hear from our students as they share their favorite things about the program—from making lifelong friends and studying abroad to why they chose conservation engineering! 🏛️

24/08/2026

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 | 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

📍 Design Museum, Lisbon

📅 2 October 2026

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭! The University of Minho and the University of Lisbon invite you to an international seminar featuring benchmark case studies on the conservation of historic structures, including Notre-Dame, Westminster Abbey, the National Museum of Archaeology and São Carlos National Theatre.

The programme will also include panel discussions and the 20th anniversary celebration of the SAHC Master. 🎓

⚠️ Only 10 places available!

📩 Register by emailing [email protected] with your name and affiliation. Payment must be made within one week to confirm your place.

We look forward to welcoming you to Lisbon!

19/08/2026

𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐂 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝!

The 15th North American Masonry Conference (15NAMC) has extended the abstract submission deadline to 7 September 2026!

The conference will be held in June 2027 in San Antonio, Texas, bringing together researchers and professionals working in masonry-related fields.

If you are planning to contribute, there is still time to submit your abstract!

🔗 Conference website:

https://masonrysociety.org/event/15namc/

🔗 Abstract submission:

https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/dashboard/events/77471

12/08/2026

𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 | 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is looking for a Senior Structural Specialist to support the conservation and protection of modern heritage buildings.

The role focuses on structural assessment, concrete repair and durability, material testing, structural modelling, and intervention strategies.

🔗 LinkedIn Job Posting: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/structural-conservation-senior-specialist-at-department-of-culture-and-tourism-%E2%80%93-abu-dhabi-dct-abu-dhabi-4451396625/

📩 To apply: Send your CV and motivation letter to Hassan Jamal Dankar at [email protected].

Don’t miss this opportunity! 😊

11/08/2026

𝐏𝐡𝐃 & 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐜 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 – ZAGGREGATE Project

Applications are now open for 5 research positions within the international ZAGGREGATE – Developing Retrofit Strategies for Historical Masonry Building Aggregates project, led by the University of Zagreb / Sveučilište u Zagrebu and EPFL.

📌 3 PhD Candidates

📌 2 Postdoctoral Researchers

The project focuses on the seismic behaviour, vulnerability and retrofit of historic masonry buildings, including experimental investigations, non-destructive testing, advanced numerical modelling, fragility assessment and shake-table testing.

📍 Positions are based in Zagreb, with opportunities for international research exchanges, including at EPFL/EESD in Lausanne.

📅 Deadlines:

• Postdoctoral Researchers: 10 September 2026

• PhD Candidates: 30 September 2026

🔗 Relevant links:

• Project page: https://zaggregate.grad.hr/

• Call for applications: https://zaggregate.grad.hr/open-positions/

Do not miss this opportunity! 😊

A Zagreb–Lausanne research project developing evidence-based, heritage-compatible strategies to reduce seismic risk across entire historic masonry building rows.

05/08/2026

Congratulations to the new Masters in Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions who successfully presented and defended their dissertation works at the Czech Technical University (CTU) in Prague! 👩‍🎓🧑‍🎓

📍 Baroque Garden Terraces US Embassy in Prague (Schönborn Palace) – Piper Toto

📍 Properties and Testing of Injection Grouting for the Conservation of Authentic Historical Renders – Sava Savov

📍 From Historical Structure to Standard Classification: Mechanical Evaluation of Old Timber – Elizabeth Paikoff

📍 Diagnosis and Strengthening of Wall Structures of a Historic Church – Ella Thomas

🏅 This year, the examination board at CTU Prague proposed that every MSc SAHC student graduating at CTU be awarded the “Honorable Mention for an Excellent Elaboration and Defense of Diploma Thesis” in recognition of the outstanding quality of their work.

⭐ In addition, one SAHC student has been nominated to compete for the Faculty of Civil Engineering’s “Best Thesis Award”, a remarkable distinction that reflects the high academic standards achieved by this year’s cohort.

Congratulations to all graduates for their dedication, hard work, and excellent achievements! 🎓✨