Editor’s Note

We are pleased to present this Special Topic issue. I am grateful to Antonio Nanni (editor of ASCE’s Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering) for initiating the concept of this issue in a discussion with me at an ASCE editors’ workshop in 2006, and also for suggesting Gustavo Tumialan as the guest editor. It has truly been a pleasure to work with Gustavo this past year on the solicitation and review of the manuscripts published herein. These manuscripts represent applications of field monitoring techniques to evaluate the condition and performance of a wide range of facility types, including historic masonry buildings, structural concrete slabs, bridges, and culverts.

This topic is particularly relevant to the scope of the Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities. Sustainability of the infrastructure depends on effective monitoring of already-constructed works. Forensic engineers possess the tools and the skills for competent performance of this critical task.

Our call for papers on load testing and in situ monitoring attracted a large number of high-quality manuscripts, more than can be published in a single issue. Several manuscripts are working their way through the review process, and we are aware of others still in preparation. We plan to collect these manuscripts as they become ready for publication in future special topic issues or special topic sections. Should you wish to discuss a potential case history manuscript involving in situ load testing, monitoring of existing facilities, or any other related topic, please feel free to contact me by mail: Kenneth L. Carper, School of Architecture and Construction Management, College of Engineering and Architecture, P.O. Box 642220, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-2220; by phone: (509) 335-1229; by Fax: (509) 335-6132; or by e-mail: [email protected].

With a feeling of deep personal loss and with concern for our colleagues in India, I am moved to comment on the untimely passing of Rameshchandra N. Raikar (Fig. 1) Ramesh Raikar, a founding member of this journal’s Editorial Review Board, passed from this life on March 8, 2008, at his home in Mumbai, India. His death followed a stroke, suffered while he was delivering the welcoming address at the first International Conference on Forensic Engineering in Mumbai, India, December 6, 2007. (See my editor’s note in the May/June 2008 issue. I did not report on his illness in that Editor’s Note, as we were all, at the time of that writing, hoping for his recovery.) The image of Ramesh Raikar speaking his last words will be forever embedded in my memory. His was a life lived to the fullest, surrounded by the love of his family, earning the highest esteem of his clients, employees, and professional colleagues, and dedicated to altruistic pursuits that inspired and encouraged excellence.

Ramesh Raikar has certainly been an encouragement to me, as founding editor of this journal, with $22\text{years}$ of warm and personal e-mail and posted messages. His communications consistently reminded me of our focus and our mission—the improvement of design and construction practices throughout the world. His reviews were always timely, thorough, and constructive, despite his intensely busy practice and other professional commitments. I will miss him and will always be inspired by the memories of our frequent interactions.

In 1967, Ramesh Raikar founded his consulting practice in Mumbai, Structwel Designers and Consultants Pvt. Ltd. His firm has become a leading civil engineering consultancy, providing consulting for repair and rehabilitation of structures. He has authored a number of books, detailing case histories from his consultancy and providing guidance for improving the performance and durability of constructed works. He is survived by his wife, daughter, son-in-law, two sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren. His two sons, Chetan Raikar and Kaustubh Raikar, continue to direct the consulting firm.

Ramesh Raikar was instrumental in establishing the India Chapter of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) as one of the most highly respected professional organizations in the world. It is the largest chapter of ACI and has received the Excellent Chapter Award for eight consecutive years. He organized numerous international conferences and contributed in many other ways to international professional development. In 2004, ACI awarded him the prestigious level of Honorary Membership “in recognition of his countless years of service to ACI and its India Chapter; for his unlimited enthusiasm to ensure quality concrete; and for his faithful labors in support of international cooperation.” Ramesh Raikar was a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India), the Institution of Structural Engineers (U.K.), the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, and many other organizations. Based on his vision and the inspiration of his contributions, a new Forensic Council of India is being established in Mumbai, with the assistance of the international forensic engineering community.

A final tribute to Ramesh Raikar’s life is his legendary encouragement of young people entering the design and construction professions. Among other innovative programs, he initiated an annual Cube Test Competition for engineering students. Most recently, in recognition of the acute shortage of qualified construction supervisors in India, he established a new one-year Construction Supervisors’ Course, which is offered to qualified persons who could not meet the full qualifications to enter the prestigious academic institutions. This course is producing skilled supervisors to provide the critical link between construction workers and design engineers desperately needed in this time of infrastructure expansion in India.

Ramesh Raikar will be greatly missed by his wonderful family, by his younger and older Indian colleagues, and by his international friends. Some people leave this world a better place as the result of dwelling here for a time. Ramesh Raikar clearly belongs to that fraternity.