Special Column | Historic Bridges: Heritage, Technology, and Future Perspectives

Introduction

Historic bridges stand as enduring testaments to human ingenuity, aesthetic vision, and cultural identity. Beyond their utilitarian purpose, these structures embody the collective memory of societies, connecting not only places but generations. As invaluable cultural and engineering heritage, historic bridges reveal the evolution of design, materials, and craftsmanship that have shaped transportation infrastructure throughout history. Yet, these remarkable monuments are increasingly vulnerable to natural deterioration, environmental challenges, and the pressures of modern development. Their preservation is therefore not only an engineering responsibility but also a cultural imperative, one that safeguards the tangible links between past achievements and future innovation.

In recognition of this significance, the Journal of Highway and Transportation Research and Development (English Edition) (HTRD) is pleased to announce a Special Column on “Historic Bridges: Heritage, Technology, and Future Perspectives” to be published in 2026. This special column aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and to showcase cutting-edge research that bridges the gap between tradition and modernity in the field of bridge engineering and heritage conservation.

Objectives

The primary goal of this special issue is to advance global understanding of historic bridges through three interrelated dimensions:

• Heritage: To highlight the cultural, historical, and aesthetic values of historic bridges, emphasizing their roles as shared legacies and symbols of societal progress.
• Technology: To promote the integration of advanced materials, digital tools, structural assessment methods, and conservation technologies in the study and preservation of historic bridges.
• Future Perspectives: To encourage forward-looking research that reimagines the role of historic bridges in sustainable infrastructure systems, aligning preservation efforts with modern demands for resilience, safety, and environmental responsibility.

Through these themes, HTRD seeks to inspire collaboration among engineers, historians, conservationists, and policy-makers, fostering innovative solutions that honor the past while supporting the sustainable development of future transportation networks.

Scope

This special column welcomes original research papers, case studies, and review articles that address, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• Historical investigation, documentation, and analysis of bridge heritage
• Assessment of structural integrity and material performance of historic bridges
• Strategies for conservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse
• Application of modern technologies such as digital twin modeling, AI, remote sensing, or non-destructive evaluation in heritage bridge research
• Policy, management, and community engagement in bridge preservation
• Case studies that exemplify the successful integration of heritage and modern engineering principles

By uniting perspectives from heritage science and engineering innovation, this special column aims to illuminate pathways toward the sustainable conservation and revitalization of historic bridges, ensuring that these timeless structures continue to inspire, educate, and connect future generations.

Submission Guidelines:

Manuscripts should be original and not previously published elsewhere.

• All submissions will undergo rigorous peer review based on research merit and quality.
• Papers should be submitted through the journal's online submission system selecting the " Historic Bridges: Heritage, Technology, and Future Perspectives". This is to ensure that your submission will be considered for this special issue instead of being handled as a regular paper.
• Your paper can be submitted via https://mc03.manuscriptcentral.com/htrd.
• Author Guidelines:https://www.sciopen.com/journal/join_journal/submission_guidelines?id=1810149294156099586&issn=2095-6215
• HTRD Manuscript Template: https://www.sciopen.com/journal/join_journal/submission_guidelines?id=1810149294156099586&issn=2095-6215#a1

Special Submission Requirements:

An article processing charge (APC) of CNY6,000.00 applies to papers accepted after peer review.
Submission Deadline: 15 March 2026
Expected Publication Date: 25 June 2026

Guest Editors:
Prof. Khaled Sennah, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada, E-mail: ksennah@torontomu.ca

Prof. Chiyu Jiao, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, China. E-mail: jcy@bucea.edu.cn

Prof. Baochun Chen, Fuzhou University, China, E-mail: baochunchen@fzu.edu.cn

Associate Researcher Shujie Chen, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou, China, E-mail: chenshujie1986@163.com

Associate Prof. Emanuele Reccia, University of Cagliari, Italy, E-mail: emanuele.reccia@unica.it