FCP Innovation Award 2026: Three Theses Were Awarded for Sustainable Civil Engineering

The awarded papers

In the category diploma thesis Dipl.-Ing. Marlene C. Wagner, BSc received the award for “Untersuchung des Einflusses von Bentonitbeimengungen auf die thermischen Eigenschaften von Bettungsmaterialien für erdverlegte Stromkabel” (Investigation of the influence of bentonite admixtures on the thermal properties of bedding materials for underground power cables). Her investigations showed that appropriate bentonite admixtures can improve the water retention capacity of the soil and reduce thermally induced drying without negatively affecting thermal conductivity in case of sufficient compaction – a basis for thermal optimization of cable bedding. 

In the category dissertation Dr.techn. Simon Fischer, BSc was awarded for “Automatisierung des Genehmigungsprozesses für Fluchtwege basierend auf digitalen Gebäudemodellen und offenen Formaten” (Automating the escape route checking process based on digital building models and open formats). He developed and validated a partly automated test process by means of software prototypes, which generated possible escape routes from building models, left the selection to the planner and subsequently enabled an automatic check as well as the permanent storage of the results in open IFC format.

A further award in the category dissertation went to Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Dipl.-Ing. Valentin Senk, BSc for “Mechanik pflanzenfaserverstärkter Kompositwerkstoffe: Von der Mikro-Meso-Modellierung bis zu interaktiven Frameworks für materialinformiertes Design in frühen Planungsphasen” (Mechanics of plant fiber-reinforced composite materials: from micro–meso modeling to interactive frameworks for material-informed design in early planning phases). His paper connected numerical models of the mechanical behaviour of plant fibre-reinforced composite materials with interactive design tools and thus enabled the consideration of material properties already in early planning phases and the assessment of different material and structural alternatives.  

“Sustainable development in civil engineering needs scientific bases as well as new approaches for planning practice. The awarded papers analyse diverse tasks – from energy infrastructure to digital approval processes up to plant fibre-reinforced materials. We would like to make these research achievements and the special commitment of the young, awarded scientists visible and additionally strengthen the exchange between universities and engineering practice”, said Dr.techn. Dieter Pichler, FCP managing director.