our projects

The Philippines is currently experiencing a construction boom, driving a surge in demand for engineering works and raw materials such as concrete, aggregates, cement, and additives. However, the country's growing vulnerability to natural hazards underscores the need for improved quality control and assessment of these construction materials.

This project was conceived to address that need, with its primary objective being the establishment of the Philippines' first concrete petrography laboratory. Additionally, it aims to train personnel from the National Institute of Geological Sciences and partner agencies in sample preparation and petrographic analysis of concrete.

The establishment of this laboratory is a critical step toward enabling detailed compositional and failure analysis of concrete—key processes for identifying the root causes of material deterioration and structural failures in construction.

The program aims to enhance the assessment of (1) concrete from critical lifeline structures and (2) concrete raw materials by integrating geologic methods like petrography and chemical analysis with existing physical methods. It is divided into two components.

Project 1: Concrete Petrography as a Quality Assessment Tool of Hardened Concrete from Lifeline Structures in the Philippines

Project Leader: Richard L. Ybañez, M.Sc.

This project utilizes concrete petrography alongside standard physical tests to assess the quality of hardened concrete from lifeline structures—key facilities critical during disasters. Non-destructive testing, physical testing, and petrography were performed on collected samples, with results correlated to evaluate the overall integrity of these structures. 

Project 2: Geological, Chemical, and Physical Evaluation of Concrete Raw Materials Used in Critical Philippine Infrastructures

Project Leader: Marlon T. Conato, PhD

This project assesses the geological, chemical, and physical properties of concrete raw materials and mix designs used in critical government infrastructures. The findings aim to establish a comprehensive database on the quality and sources of materials used in these construction projects. 

The project aims to implement nationwide assessment and evaluation of concrete taken from government structures and concrete raw materials being used for construction projects in the various regions identified by DPWH. This phase of the program is an expansion and application of the methods and research acquired from the previous programs.

The primary goal of the program is to study how current environmental issues, such as climate change, affect concrete structures in the Philippines exposed to extreme weather conditions. Building on significant technical insights from previous projects that analyzed concrete and local raw materials in the Philippines using concrete petrography, the program seeks to enhance and develop new policies or standards to ensure the resiliency of the country's built environment. 

Project 1:  SoPIA: Software for Petrographic Image Analysis of Philippine Concrete

Project Leader: Carlo A. Arcilla, Ph.D.

Project 2: Effect of Extreme Weather Conditions to Coastal Structures in the Philippines

Project Leader: Audrei Anne B. Ybanez

The project aims to assess the effects of climate change and extreme weather conditions to coastal structures in different areas of the Philippines, which will serve as technical input to the formulation of national standards related to special concrete structures with consideration of specific Philippine microclimates.