Dr Elia A. Tantele is a Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics. She undertook her PhD studies as well as her Post-Doctoral Research in the area of optimization of preventative maintenance strategies on reinforced concrete structures using genetic algorithm and bayesian updating, from the University of Surrey, Department of Civil Engineering (UK). Her PhD was sponsored by Highway Agency and Transport Research Laboratory (UK). She obtained a First Class BEng (Honours) Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Surrey, UK. She also obtained a First class HND Diploma in Civil Engineering from the Higher Technical Institute. Dr Tantele worked as a bridge engineer in the consulting firm PB (Parsons Brinckerhoff) where she was specialized in the design, assessment, inspection and maintenance of various types of bridges; PB is one of the world's leading planning, engineering, and program & construction management organization. Currently she is the Coordinator of a Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation research project entitled “Unified performance prediction model for structures and infrastructures incorporating diverse monitoring data”. In addition she is participating in the SmartEN Marie Curie ITN programme on ‘Smart Management for Sustainable Human Environment’ funded by the European Commission with €3.7 million (2009-2013). She is a member of the Cyprus Scientific & Technical Chamber (ETEK). Her research interests include: techniques of risk and reliability, multi-criteria optimization of maintenance, corrosion of reinforced concrete, life-cycle performance, structural health monitoring, and use of artificial intelligence algorithms-genetic algorithms.