Preparation of an emergency protocol for conducting NDT in Latin America and the Caribbean

To date, we have operated in the Latin America and Caribbean and Asia-Pacific regions, contributing to the development of significant training projects aimed at instructing local technicians in the use of Non-Destructive Testing in the civil engineering sector (NDT-CE), as well as to the preparation of training and certification programs, particularly to mitigate the effects of natural and man-made disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and explosions.

The important assignment we are currently carrying out involves coordinating, in emergency situations, the activities of the four sub-regional reference centers for non-destructive testing, which are currently being established in the Latin America and Caribbean region. As the only non-South American experts appointed, we are collaborating with local technicians on the preparation of a “Protocolo de Emergencia para Latinoamérica y el Caribe”, aimed at identifying the most appropriate non-destructive testing techniques, applicable standards, laboratory organization and certification procedures, as well as providing guidelines for the application of NDT in disaster scenarios and in the field of cultural heritage.

A particular source of pride, as Italians, is that our national standards have been recognized as the most comprehensive in the field for guiding the development of these laboratories. From a professional standpoint, it is also especially rewarding that we have been specifically asked to present selected case histories from our professional experience, which will serve as reference examples for the implementation of laboratory activities throughout South America.