In 2020 the in-person gathering scheduled for 26 - 30 April in Anaheim, California, USA was cancelled due to the global COVID-19 health crisis. However, SPIE recognized the importance for the photonics community to report the advances many had hoped to present at SPIE Smart Structures + NDE. To continue the information exchange and networking that the sensing community values and relies on, in just a few short weeks the in-person meeting shifted to a new, Digital Forum.
SPIE Smart Structures + NDE Digital Forum 2020 had 890 people sign up for the opportunity to participate in the free event. Authors shared emerging research and technology in advanced materials and non-destructive evaluation, bioinspired robotics, along with energy harvesting, sensor systems, and structural health monitoring for automotive, aerospace, civil infrastructure, Smart Cities, and Industry 4.0.
What is a Digital Forum? The SPIE Smart Structures +NDE Digital Forum was free to all participants. Authors uploaded their presentations (audio and PowerPoint) leading up to the event. A free and simple registration gave participants access to the forum content from 27 April - 8 May 2020. Participants from the global sensing community accessed the authors’ works by watching presentations on their own schedule. A commenting section gave participants and authors a chance to engage in professional dialogue.
Those who signed up have access to the Digital Forum Proceedings for free.
