On behalf of the Portuguese National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC), I am very pleased to invite you to attend the conference MEDACHS08 which will be held from the 28th to the 30th of January 2008 in the LNEC Congress Centre, Lisbon.

MEDACHS (Marine Environment Damage to Atlantic Coast Structures and Buildings: Methods of Assessment and Repair) is a research project, initiated in 2005, within the framework of the EU INTERREG - Atlantic Area Programme. The project deals with the study of the behavior of existing constructions and materials in Atlantic marine environments with the aim to develop, a better understanding of degradation phenomena, NDT diagnostic methods, decision based tools for structure owners/managers to optimize whole life cost and to rationalize maintenance, and to investigate available testing and repair methods. It involves twelve partners from four European countries committed to organize periodic international conferences to exchange expertise.

The International Conference MEDACHS08 will provide a forum to highlight the work which has been performed within the MEDACHS Project. It also provides an opportunity to exchange knowledge and expertise in this field between academic researchers, engineers, producers of building materials and repairing products and end-users from countries experiencing problems concerning the performance of constructions in the marine environment.

The conference will be held in the beautiful city of Lisbon, with its picturesque old quarters contrasting with famous monuments and modern areas.

I encourage your participation, and look forward to welcoming you to Lisbon.

Manuela Salta