More than 80 representatives from Thailand’s public and private infrastructure sectors attended the seminar, “Modular Steel Bridge Systems for a Sustainable and Resilient Future,” on December 24, 2025, at The Sukosol Hotel in Bangkok.
The event was organized by the Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand (ISIT) in collaboration with the South East Asia Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI), with a focus on the practical application of modular steel bridge systems in long-term infrastructure development.
Presentations by invited speakers addressed the use of prefabricated steel systems and digital design tools to enhance construction efficiency, structural reliability, and lifecycle performance. Technical sessions covered steel materials for bridge construction, digital and parametric design methods, modular construction techniques, and recent project applications.
Speakers also highlighted the role of standardization and factory-based fabrication in reducing construction time and improving quality control, particularly for repetitive and small-to-medium span bridge projects.
The seminar drew strong interest from public agencies, including the Department of Highways, the Department of Rural Roads, the Expressway Authority of Thailand, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand, and the State Railway of Thailand.
Private-sector participants included consulting engineers, contractors, fabricators, technology providers, and university researchers.
Overall, the seminar provided a successful platform for knowledge exchange on current practices and emerging approaches in steel bridge engineering.
Technical Session: Bridge Design and Digital Optimization by Dr. Naveed Anwar
One of the main highlight presentations (the only one in English) was delivered by Dr. Naveed Anwar, Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Computers and Structures, Inc. (CSI). Dr. Anwar spoke on bridge design philosophy and the increasing use of digital tools in structural engineering practice.
Mr. Nuttapon Suttitam, Advisor to ISIT and Vice President of the Construction Materials Cluster of the Federation of Thai Industries, provided summarized Thai translations in segments to help the audience follow the presentation.
Key takeaways from Dr. Naveed’s session covered:
- The need to apply the same level of design rigor, analysis, optimization, and safety considerations to everyday bridges as to iconic landmark bridges
- Reinforcement of fundamental bridge engineering principles, including design methodology, structural analysis, mathematical modeling, and engineering judgment
- Identification of material modeling as a continuing challenge in bridge engineering due to limitations in capability, creativity, or resources, particularly when compared with advances in other fields, such as medical applications
- The evolution of bridge modeling practices toward parametric modeling to improve flexibility and efficiency in design development
- An overview of modeling and analysis workflows using CSiBridge Express, supported by video demonstrations showing its application in bridge design, modeling, and structural analysis
- The use of artificial intelligence to improve engineering workflows and support optimization-based decision-making without replacing professional expertise
A summary and a few slides from his presentation can be viewed on the We Love Steel Construction Facebook page.
After his presentation, Dr. Naveed received a token of appreciation from the host and a warm thank you from several participants.
Other Talks: Industry Practice, Standards, and Project Experience
The seminar agenda comprised additional technical sessions, including
- Opening Remarks by Assoc. Prof. Anek Siripanichkorn, Board Member, Thailand Iron and Steel Institute
- Steel Production and Steel Standards for Bridge Construction by Dr. Thinnakorn Padungwong, Board of Directors, Sahaviriya Plate Mill PCL.
- Standard Steel Bridges Design and Pilot Project by Mr. Nuttapon Suttitam, Advisor to Thailand Iron and Steel Institute and the Steel Industry Group / Vice President, Construction Materials Cluster, Federation of Thai Industries / Subcommittee on Steel Structures, Engineering Institute of Thailand
- Case study of steel bridge construction in Thailand by Mr. Yongyut Yambang, Head of Steel Fabrication Solutions Business Unit/ West Coast Engineering Co., Ltd.
- Modular Steel Pedestrian Bridges: Faster Build, Less Disruption, Optimized Design by Dr. Suporn Kittivinitchnun, Chief Expert Engineer, Steel Solution Centre, and Mr. Pattharadach Tangbunnitiwong, Manager of Steel Construction Technology and Market Development, Sahaviriya Steel Industries Public Company Limited
- Steel Structure Fabrication and Installation Standard as per ISO 10721 by Mr. Nattapol Sutthitham
The seminar concluded with an open discussion among participants from government agencies, industry, and academia. Exchanges during the session reflected growing confidence in modular steel bridge systems and digital design tools as practical options for meeting future transportation needs while improving resilience and long-term performance across Thailand’s infrastructure network.
Event Details
Seminar on “Modular Steel Bridge System for Sustainable and Resilient Future”
Date: 24 December 2025
Venue: The Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok
Hosted by: Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand and South East Asia Iron and Steel Institute
