Whole life care of infrastructure - a serious challenge for civil engineers

Infrastructure undergoes a number of phases during its whole service life: from planning, design, construction, operation (or service), rehabilitation and final demolition end of life. One of the most challenging issues facing civil engineering profession is the intelligent management of infrastructure to ensure its safe and serviceable operation and function. This paper will present a paradigm for the whole life care of infrastructure. Based on recent research and findings in corrosion affected concrete structures during its whole life of service, methods and models to be used in the paradigm will be outlined. Discussion on challenges in each area will also be provided. This paper will advocate that whole life care of infrastructure is the future trend for civil engineering progression