The participation of a professor and researcher from the Faculty of Geosciences Engineering (FICT) at the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) in an international technical seminar helped strengthen the exchange of knowledge and keep participants up to date in the field of pavement engineering. The event took place from August 31 to September 4, 2026, in Santiago, Chile, as part of activities related to ALACPA.
As part of this event, Carola Gordillo, M.Sc., received a copy of the book Airport Pavements and Infrastructure: Theory and Practice in person from its author, Silvio Rodrigues, Ph.D., who has over 40 years of experience. The publication addresses aspects related to the design, construction, evaluation, maintenance, and management of airport pavements and infrastructure. This technical exchange will help integrate knowledge and experience into teaching practices.
The book combines theoretical foundations with practical scenarios in airport infrastructure. Among the topics it covers are the behavior of pavements under aircraft loads, structural design and analysis, evaluation of alternatives, maintenance and rehabilitation, life-cycle management, and resource optimization for interventions.
These materials serve as a supplementary resource for teaching Pavement Design, a course in the Civil Engineering program at ESPOL, by linking concepts related to structural behavior, materials, traffic, design, and maintenance strategies to real-world experiences and challenges in airport infrastructure.
For student education, this exchange provides a perspective that goes beyond a review of technical literature. The incorporation of professional experiences and real-world case studies brings decision-making criteria and challenges inherent in infrastructure management in real-world contexts directly into the classroom.
The activity also highlights the value of international technical conferences as forums for professional development and the transfer of knowledge among specialists. This connection helps strengthen a university education that is aligned with the evolution of engineering and the country’s infrastructure needs.
FICT’s participation in these forums facilitates the updating of course content and exposure to methodologies, technologies, and experiences applied to the professional practice of engineering worldwide. The continuation of such exchanges opens opportunities to maintain and strengthen the links between university education and the professional practice of international engineers.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 4 – Quality Education. Participation directly contributes to teacher professional development and continuing education, strengthening the transfer of specialized knowledge to students and academic activities.
- SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. The technical content shared relates to the design, construction, maintenance, management, and rehabilitation of transportation infrastructure, promoting more efficient, safe, and sustainable infrastructure.
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals. International seminars facilitate the creation of academic and professional networks, the exchange of experiences, and cooperation among specialists, universities, and organizations involved in infrastructure engineering.
