This paper presents the research and training focus of major European Marie Curie Initial
Training Network research programme, SmartEN, which focuses on the development of effective smart
proactive management methods for sustainable built and natural environment. The SmartEN research focuses
on multi-disciplinary developments combining mainly the areas of proactive management, non-destructive
evaluation methods from the civil engineering discipline, with wireless sensor networks, signal processing
and communication technologies from the electrical engineering. Recent emerging technologies in miniature
wireless sensor platforms which utilize novel digital signal processing offer new opportunities for continuous
monitoring of complex systems. These developments open up a completely novel area for multi-disciplinary
research towards the ‘smart’ management of sustainable environment. The SmartEN ITN Marie Curie
Programme aims to push innovation through effective development and integration of emerging technologies
targeting key application areas of current interest to Europe and worldwide. These include smart proactive
management of structural systems such as tall buildings, bridges including long span modern bridges and
heritage bridges, transportation infrastructure networks and urban micro-climate as this affects urban
structures and infrastructure networks.