We have to make the sad announcement that the former Head of the GMS – Institute of Engineering Geodesy and Measurement Systems Prof. Fritz Brunner passed away on June 19, 2022. Fritz was a remarkable researcher and university teacher. He introduced fibre optic sensing in the field of engineering geodesy and was a recognized expert in geodetic refraction. We will miss Fritz as a scientist, colleague, mentor, lecturer and friend.
It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Professor Alessandro (Sandro) De Stefano in the morning of Wednesday April 13, 2022, at his home in Asti near Turin, Italy. Sandro was a Full Professor of Earthquake Engineering in the Department of Structural Engineering, Construction and Soil Mechanics at the Politecnico di Torino. Sandro was an expert in the diagnosis and restoration of Heritage Structures. During his career as a structural engineer, Sandro was asked to develop methods and construction techniques for restoration of many historical architectural monuments, 17th century palaces, and cathedrals. Some of his projects were considered impossible to accomplish because of the complexities involved in establishing load paths in structural vaults without design drawings. In addition to his work in restoration of historical structures; Sandro designed several Structural health Monitoring systems for modern bridges, including a fiber optic system for cables of the Lingotto single-arch cable-stayed Pedestrian Bridge during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
Sandro was a dedicated member of ISHMII, serving as a council member from the founding of the society to 2019. He organized the 2nd International Workshop on Civil Structural Health Monitoring (CSHM-2) in Taormina in 2008 and the 7th International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure (SHMII-7) in Turin in 2015 with great success. He also has actively participated and contributed to several ISHMII committees, including the committee on ISHMII standardization. Professor De Stefano’s legacy was honored many times within the Society. In 2020, he was appointed as an Emeritus Council Member, in recognition of his years of service to the Society. After his retirement in 2015, Sandro became a partner in a start-up company (Flex Patch System, Turin, Italy) producing innovative wireless sensors and sensor systems.
Sandro is survived by his wife Ursula, his son Matteo, two daugthers Anna and Elisa and grand children. He will be greatly missed.