The competitive trends of world economy and markets globalisation are driving NDT to a new exciting phase, especially since the increasing demand for warranty and quality put pressure on manufacturers. As the costs due to failure may be much higher than the component that failed, quality is nowadays a powerful argument in competition.

Safety is not the only requirement of process industry: operating more efficiently and more productively is a must for any industry. Risk estimation combining both the probability of failure and the consequences of failure, sets the new directions in inspection practices and the new standards for cost effective technology and condition monitoring. On the other hand, life assessment, security and fitness for service set the new directions and standards for reliable NDT. On this background, the 4th International Conference, Emerging Technologies in NDT, aims to be an international forum of information for all scientists, researchers, industrial engineers and professionals involved in modern non-destructive testing. Personal contact and interchange of knowledge and experience with other NDT experts is a very effective way to broaden the knowledge and to improve utilization of the state-of-the-art technologies. Recognising the multidisciplinary nature of NDT, scientists and engineers from other fields are invited to participate and/or present their experience and needs in this exciting technical field. 

Scientists, developers, engineers and practitioners will be able to review the potential of recent developments and to identify outstanding needs and opportunities for further advances in the field of NDT.

In addition, the event will provide the framework for establishment of links and partnership throughout the Technology Transfer and Business Partnership meetings. The conference will also include an equipment exhibition, giving the opportunity for a close look at the latest industrial products.

- New NDT methodologies and techniques

- NDT for life assessment, security and fitness for service

- NDT and damage tolerance design

- NDT for risk based inspection

- Structural health monitoring

- On–line inspection, condition monitoring and diagnosis

- Hybrid numerical-experimental techniques for NDT

- Quantitative assessment and NDT related fracture mechanics problems

- Inverse problems and mathematical modelling in NDT/NDE

- Numerical simulation in NDT/NDE

- Enhanced NDE by means of information technology

- Artificial intelligence and advanced processing of NDT data

- Advances in NDT instrumentation and transducers technology

- Remote NDT and modern industrial applications

- NDT applications in naval and aircraft structures

- NDT advances for materials characterization and design optimisation

- Reliability in NDT

- Accreditation, certification and standardisation.

The official language of the 4th International Conference on Emerging Technologies in NDT is English.

Presentation can be either oral or as a poster depending on the suggestion of the reviewers and the decision of the scientific committee. Authors should indicate their own preferences. Participants are invited to submit abstracts in English of not more than 500 words (1 page). The abstracts should include author(s) name and affiliation, relevant references and maximum two figures clearly indicating the background, methodology and results of the research. They must be sent (e-mailed) to the conference secretariat before the 1^st of November, 2006. Questions concerning abstracts should be directed to Mrs. Myriam Bourlau: phone  32 (02) 629 29 22; fax 32 (02) 629 29 28; e-mail secretariat@etech-ndt.eu.org

Deadline for submission of the final manuscript: 30 March 2007.