SHM Technology Adoption Workshop

The Workshop on Accelerating Adoption of Structural Health Monitoring Technologies is an upcoming specialist engineering workshop taking place on 20 October 2026 at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, UK. The event is organised within the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing's programme of seminars and workshops and is specifically focused on accelerating the practical adoption of structural health monitoring (SHM) technologies.

Structural health monitoring is becoming increasingly important for organisations responsible for infrastructure, industrial assets, transportation systems, energy facilities and other engineered structures. SHM technologies can help organisations understand asset condition, identify potential problems and support informed maintenance and inspection decisions.

The workshop brings together members of the SHM community and external stakeholders to examine successful industrial applications, existing standards and codes of practice, barriers to adoption and the steps needed to encourage wider use of SHM technology.

Unlike a traditional large-scale conference, this event is designed around discussion, practical examples and stakeholder participation. It provides a focused environment for people working with or interested in the future development of structural health monitoring.

Workshop Programme

The workshop is scheduled to begin at 10:00 and finish at approximately 15:45. The programme has been structured to provide a combination of presentations, case studies, open discussion and networking.

The opening session will establish the context and objectives of the workshop. Participants will then receive an overview of pre-workshop survey results, providing insight into stakeholder perceptions and expectations.

A series of case studies will follow, focusing on successful SHM implementations and lessons learned from real-world projects.

The programme then moves into an attendee reflection and open contribution session. This provides participants with an opportunity to discuss blockers and barriers from their own professional perspectives.

After a networking break and discussions around standards, NDT, condition monitoring and SHM, participants will consider regulatory perspectives.

The afternoon programme includes lunch and networking followed by a moderated panel and forum discussion. The event concludes with a wrap-up and discussion of potential next steps.

Target Audience

The workshop is designed for professionals and organisations interested in the development and practical adoption of structural health monitoring.

The target audience includes:

Structural health monitoring specialists, NDT professionals, condition monitoring engineers, equipment manufacturers, infrastructure asset owners

It is also relevant to regulators, insurers, engineering consultants, researchers, technology developers and organisations responsible for maintaining safety-critical infrastructure.

For end users, the event can provide insight into how SHM technologies are being implemented elsewhere. Manufacturers can use the event to understand the concerns and requirements of potential customers.

Researchers may benefit from hearing directly from industry about practical challenges, while regulators and insurers can contribute to discussions around standards, certification and risk.

Importance of Structural Health Monitoring

Structural health monitoring involves the continuous or periodic collection and analysis of information about the condition and performance of structures or components.

Traditional inspection approaches can provide valuable information, but monitoring technologies can offer additional data about how assets behave over time.

This can support more informed maintenance strategies and potentially help organisations identify changes before they develop into more serious problems.

SHM can be relevant to bridges, buildings, aircraft, rail infrastructure, industrial equipment, energy assets and other engineered systems.

However, technological capability alone does not guarantee successful adoption. Organisations also need confidence in the reliability of monitoring systems, data interpretation, standards, certification and regulatory acceptance.

That is why a stakeholder-focused workshop such as this can be valuable.

Connecting SHM with NDT and Condition Monitoring

Structural health monitoring is closely related to both non-destructive testing and condition monitoring.

NDT provides methods for evaluating materials and components without causing unnecessary damage. Condition monitoring focuses on observing equipment or assets to identify changes that may indicate deterioration or developing problems.

SHM can combine aspects of these approaches with sensors, data acquisition, analytics and monitoring systems.

The workshop provides an opportunity to explore how these technologies can work together and how existing NDT and condition-monitoring standards can support the broader adoption of SHM.

BINDT describes itself as a professional institute concerned with education, training, certification and advancing the science and practice of NDT and condition monitoring.

Networking Opportunities

Although the event is structured as a technical workshop, networking is an important component.

The lunch and networking session gives attendees an opportunity to exchange views with other participants and develop professional connections.

The moderated forum also encourages direct interaction between stakeholders.

This is particularly valuable for emerging technologies because successful adoption often depends on cooperation between technology developers, end users, regulators, insurers and technical specialists.

Participants can therefore use the workshop to discuss current challenges, share experiences and identify potential opportunities for collaboration.

Why Attend?

There are several reasons why professionals involved in SHM and related engineering technologies may find this workshop valuable.

First, it focuses specifically on the practical adoption of SHM rather than simply presenting technology concepts.

Second, the programme includes real-world case studies, allowing participants to examine what has worked in existing applications.

Third, the event addresses standards, regulation and certification, all of which can have a major influence on whether new monitoring technologies are accepted.

Finally, the stakeholder forum provides an opportunity for attendees to contribute directly to discussions about the future development of SHM.

Venue: Manufacturing Technology Centre

The workshop will take place at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry.

The MTC is a major UK centre focused on advanced manufacturing technology and industrial innovation. Its location in the Coventry area places the event within one of the UK's important engineering and manufacturing regions.

Holding an SHM workshop at an advanced manufacturing technology centre provides an appropriate environment for discussions about industrial technology, engineering innovation and the practical implementation of monitoring systems.

Wrapping Up

The Workshop on Accelerating Adoption of Structural Health Monitoring Technologies is a specialist UK engineering event taking place on 20 October 2026 in Coventry.

Its focus on industrial SHM applications, adoption barriers, standards, regulation and stakeholder collaboration makes it particularly relevant to professionals working in non-destructive testing, condition monitoring and structural health monitoring.

The workshop also provides an opportunity for end users, manufacturers, regulators, insurers and other stakeholders to contribute to discussions about how SHM technology can be adopted more effectively.

For organisations considering SHM implementation, the event can provide useful insight into practical applications and challenges. For technology developers and engineering professionals, it offers an opportunity to understand industry requirements and participate in discussions about future standards and adoption pathways.

BINDT confirms that registration is open, and its published programme provides the detailed timetable from 10:00 through to the 15:45 wrap-up.

Overall, this workshop is a strong event listing for the UK engineering and NDT sector because it focuses on a rapidly developing area of inspection and asset-management technology while bringing together the different stakeholders needed to accelerate real-world adoption.