WIDE Trust Supports Doctoral Student’s Knowledge Enhancement at International Timber Bridge Conference.
The WIDE Trust proudly supported the professional development of emerging talent at the recent International Conference on Timber Bridges (ICTB) held in Rotorua, New Zealand. This event marked the first time the prestigious conference was hosted in the Southern Hemisphere, following successful gatherings in Norway, the United States, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The ICTB conference provided New Zealand’s timber industry with a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge advancements in timber bridge design, durability of exterior wooden structures, and sustainable construction practices. Attendees benefited from presentations by internationally renowned researchers and practicing engineers who shared the latest state-of-the-art technical insights.
Sponsored Registration Enables Doctoral Researcher to Engage with Industry Leaders
Among those attending with support from the WIDE Trust was Weixi (Frank) Wang, a doctoral candidate at The University of Auckland. Weixi’s research focuses on the behaviour of preservative-treated cross-laminated timber (CLT) for long-term exterior exposure, directly addressing the 100-year durability standards essential for timber bridges. His work is supervised by Dr. Gary Raftery of the CIRCUIT Research Centre and Professor Pierre Quenneville.
The research program involves advanced experimental techniques including accelerated ageing, fracture energy testing, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Weixi’s study also embraces circular economy principles, aiming to promote sustainability alongside infrastructure longevity.
Insights and Industry Engagement
Vehicle timber bridges are experiencing renewed interest in New Zealand, with the NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) playing a key role in hosting this international event. The conference highlighted the core values of efficiency, effectiveness, and resilience in timber infrastructure development.
Reflecting on the experience, Weixi shared, “The technical sessions clearly demonstrated the challenges of meeting stringent service life requirements. However, with meticulous attention to construction detailing and careful chemical preservative selection, these goals are achievable. There is also growing recognition internationally of low carbon infrastructure initiatives and the importance of planning for end-of-life scenarios.”
Keynote presentations from experts in Canada and Australia outlined future pathways for broader adoption of sustainable timber infrastructure globally. Recurring themes included standardisation, supply chain optimisation, maintainability, design for disassembly, and circular economy integration. The panel discussions underscored durability and sustainability as critical pillars for the future of timber bridges.
A Stronger Commitment to Industry Advancement
Attendance at the conference deepened Weixi’s motivation to contribute meaningful scientific and technological innovations to the timber bridge sector. Supported by WIDE Trust’s sponsorship, Weixi has gained valuable insights and industry connections that will help guide his research towards practical application in New Zealand’s infrastructure.
The WIDE Trust is proud to play a role in nurturing the next generation of experts who will help drive sustainable, durable, and innovative timber construction forward.