AI in structural engineering

Date & Time

15 October 2026
17:30 - 18:30 GMT

Location

Online

Price

Free
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AI in structural engineering

Regional

Date & Time

15 October 2026
17:30 - 18:30 GMT

Location

Online

Price

Free

Availability

Places available

A practical exploration of how structural engineers can harness AI’s productivity benefits while managing its risks through human judgement, robust data checks, and responsible governance.

Presentation topics:

  • Where within Structural Engineering does using AI make sense

  • From Experiment to Engineering: Lessons from Applying Agentic AI

  • Beyond the Black Box: Responsible AI in Structural Engineering


Rahul’s presentation - AI is rapidly moving into everyday structural engineering, offering brilliant productivity boosts but also real risks like 'black box' errors, biased data, and the erosion of our own engineering judgement. This presentation explores how we navigate these challenges on the ground. We'll look at a practical, ethical framework - focusing on human-in-the-loop governance and smart data checks - to help us embrace AI safely without compromising our core duty to public welfare.
 
Yulan’s presentation draws on a real project example, this presentation shares some lessons learned from applying Agentic AI to a structural engineering workflow. I’ll explore where it worked well, where it struggled, and the practical challenges of making AI-generated outputs reliable enough for engineering use. The experience also raises an interesting question around how much time and cost AI really saves once checking and validation are taken into account.
 
Emily’s presentation explores where AI can genuinely add value in structural engineering, focusing on practical applications, productivity gains, and the boundaries where human expertise and engineering judgement remain essential.

Speakers

Rahul Wala Structural engineer, Pick Everard
Rahul Wala is a Structural Engineer at Pick Everard and an active contributor to the IStructE Digital Workflow panels. He also directs technical initiatives for the IStructE London YMG. Bringing a well-rounded industry perspective, his background spans design, contracting, and project management consultancy. Rahul’s technical foundation is anchored by an outstanding academic record from Queen’s University Belfast: he graduated with distinction, topped his MSc cohort, secured six awards, and won the IStructE Adrian Long Cup. As the author of "An Ethical Framework for AI in Structural Engineering" (IStructE technical magazine, Oct 2025), Rahul pairs a deep understanding of AI ethics with a practical passion for breaking down complex engineering problems and building smart automations to solve them.
Emily Scoones Head of digital & innovation, Ramboll
Emily Scoones is Head of Digital & Innovation at Ramboll and has over 10+ years of experience of leveraging her digital expertise and computational design skills on traditional buildings projects. Her experience in combining this with traditional engineering skills while working closely with clients allow her to deliver new digital workflows, develop new tools and services to provide greater value for projects.
Yulan Lyu Structural engineer, Arup
Yulan Lyu is a structural engineer at Arup, with experience delivering different building projects across a range of sectors. Alongside her project work, she is actively exploring how artificial intelligence can support structural engineering, from design automation and engineering workflows to knowledge management and decision support. She is passionate about identifying practical applications of AI that enhance productivity while maintaining engineering rigour, professional judgement, and safety.

Contact

Email - [email protected]

Name - Rahul Wala

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