DiCEA has the objective to improve, increase, and strengthen the research for excellence in the field of Architectural Structures.

It is focused on solving present and future structural challenges of high complexity to optimise design solutions, thus increasing sustainability and efficiency. These challenges require a high level of specialisation and a multidisciplinary approach. However, it is also essential to be able to find synergies, merging diverse fields of specialisation, to respond to those challenges to finally improve structural integrity, structural safety, and structural optimization (which are directly related both to economy and sustainability).

At this point it is very important to highlight that we must respond, not only as researchers to structural challenges, but also to architectural challenges, involving among others functionality, serviceability and aesthetics. Advanced structural analysis applying numerical methods, computer simulations, and experimental tests are a great tool to achieve these objectives and to design more efficient structures based on the geometric and topological optimization.