Advances in Life-Cycle Civil Engineering. Guest Editorial

Civil engineering is currently facing a profound transition towards a life-cycle-oriented design paradigm integrating continuous advances in the fields of modelling, analysis, design, inspection, monitoring, maintenance and rehabi- litation of structure and infrastructure systems under uncertainty. To support this transition and promote the study, research and applications in the assessment, prediction and optimal management of life-cycle performance, safety, reliability and risk of civil structures and infrastructures, it was decided to bring together the main advances in the field of life-cycle civil engineering and related topics at the Second International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering (IALCCE 2010), held in Taipei, Taiwan, 27 – 31 October, 2010. The extended versions of seven selected papers presented at IALCCE 2010 are published in this special issue. These papers deal with emerging concepts and innovative applications in the field of life-cycle civil engineering and related topics. We hope that this special issue will provide a valuable source of information for researchers, students and practitioners interested in the life-cycle of civil structure and infrastructure systems.