On December 5, 2022, the signing ceremony for the establishment of the Urban Lifeline journal by Southeast University and Springer Nature Publishing Group was held in Nanjing. Representatives including Wu Gang, Executive Vice President of Southeast University, Professor Su Zhiqiang from the School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University and academician of the National Academy of Engineering of Singapore, Professor Meng Xiaolin from the School of Urban Construction, Beijing University of Technology, Associate Professor Zhiqiang Chen from the University of Missouri, Associate Professor Ji Dang from Saitama University in Japan, Lu Weibing, Dean of the Research Institute of Southeast University, Guo Tong, Dean of the School of Civil Engineering, Niels Peter Thomas, Global President of Books and Greater China President of Springer Nature Publishing Group, Li Xian, Greater China Director of Journal Publishing, Zhang Zhenzhen, Manager of Natural Science Research Institutions Cooperation, Yang Lu, Executive Publisher of Materials Science Journals in Greater China, and representatives of teachers from the School of Civil Engineering, School of Transportation, School of Automation, School of Information Science and Technology, School of Computer Science, and School of Electronic Engineering at Southeast University attended the signing ceremony either online or offline. The ceremony was hosted by Dean Guo Tong.
Fig 1 Cover of Urban Lifeline
Executive Vice President Wu Gang congratulated the launch of the Urban Lifeline journal on behalf of the university, expressing gratitude to Springer Nature for their attention and emphasis on the journal. He highlighted the university's academic strengths, the significance of urban lifeline engineering, existing technical challenges, and the close connection between various disciplines and urban lifeline research. Dr. Niels Peter Thomas expressed that collaborating with Southeast University to publish the Urban Lifeline journal would provide an excellent platform for global researchers in the field of urban lifelines, contributing to reducing safety risks and advancing sustainable development goals.
Fig 2 Leaders and experts attending online
Following that, Li Xian, Publishing Director of Springer Nature in Greater China, and Professor Su Zhiqiang, a member of the Singapore National Academy of Engineering and a professor at the School of Civil Engineering of Southeast University, delivered speeches, warmly congratulating the establishment of Urban Lifeline. They expressed confidence in its development and committed to actively participating in the editing and publishing work of the journal to contribute to its long-term high-quality development.
Fig 3 The Executive Vice President of Southeast University, Wu Gang, and the Publishing Director of Springer Nature in Greater China, Li Xian, jointly signed a journal co-publishing agreement.
In the presence of representatives from Southeast University and Springer Nature, Professor Wu Gang, the journal's chief editor and director of the Urban Lifeline Safety Research Center at Southeast University, signed a cooperation agreement with Li Xian, the director of Springer Nature. The journal is set to be officially published in 2023, focusing on advancing theoretical, methodological, and technological research to enhance the sustainability and resilience of urban lifelines. The signing ceremony not only advanced the development of the Urban Lifeline journal but also promoted international collaboration and communication in the field of urban lifelines, aiming to create safer and more livable cities.
Fig 4 Group photo of participants offline
