June 2012
CTBUH Leader's Message
June 2012
This month the Council formally launches the very first issue of the CTBUH Research Journal, The International Journal of High-Rise Buildings, in collaboration with the CTBUH Korea. The new journal will primarily contain papers on research results, contributing a wealth of scientific data to the tall building industry and adding to the resources already provided by the existing CTBUH Journal.
This new research journal will operate under the direction of four co-chief editors, including Prof. Shinsuke Kato from University of Tokyo; Prof. Guo-qiang Li from Tongji University, China; Prof. William Bahnfleth from Penn State University in the United States; and myself from Korea University.
The journal will cover every aspect of tall building design and construction, although for the first two years we plan to concentrate on structural engineering, construction technology, energy saving, sustainability and MEP. The schedule calls for issues published in March and September to focus on structural engineering and construction technology, and then issues published in June and December will contain papers on energy saving, sustainability and MEP. Papers on other topics will also be published in these issues, but we want to provide a depth of information on the key topics currently facing the industry.
We hope this new publication will provide the industry with a venue to exchange the latest information on tall building design and construction, as well as scientific study results. Building design codes in various countries reflect the experiences of many researchers and practitioners, but there are a number of issues still evolving in the construction of tall buildings, requiring new ideas and new research.
At the same time, Asia is rapidly becoming the focus for much of the tall building industry. As the number of tall buildings under construction in Asia increases, the number of researchers on the subject of tall buildings is also increasing. They seek to publish their work and results in an “international publication” for evaluation. Universities consider these results as important material for promoting their work.
As a result we expect two major outcomes from the new research journal. First, I strongly believe that new research results can directly contribute to tall building design and construction. And, second, we can expand our membership in academia by attracting more researchers interested in publishing their work in this new journal.
The research results we are publishing in the journal will also be reflected in future design guides produced by the CTBUH. The designs guides, promoting better design of tall buildings, are one of the key by-products of the Council’s working groups, which are tackling many of the key issues facing the industry. The Seismic Design Guide for High-rise Buildings was published in 2008 and design guides for wind tunnel testing, outrigger design and natural ventilation are scheduled to be published in the near future.
New publications are a great way to follow the tradition of the Council, which has grown its reputation through the production of high quality papers, books and journals over the last 40 years.
From my perspective, I hope the new research journal will help bring more academics into the CTBUH. I know that professors who attend CTBUH conferences sometimes feel awkward and left out of events that seem more focused on sharing design knowledge and the business activities of architects, engineers, developers and other practitioners.
The Council should be a place for all members of the industry - practitioners, business people and academia. I have no doubt the new research journal will play a role in reaching that goal. I also believe the upcoming CTBUH World Congress in Shanghai will be more comprehensive and provide more opportunities for many researchers (especially young ones) to present their work. Engaging more researchers will promote the Council even more and develop its structure in balance at the same time.
Sincerely,
Prof. Sang Dae Kim
CTBUH Vice-Chairman