Giuseppe Occhipinti · Existing Structures
Structural engineering consultancy specialising in existing structures and built heritage.
Verba volant, data manent
Every structure has a history, a purpose and a future to protect.
We read the real behaviour of existing structures through measurements, models and monitoring. Words fade, data remain: they guide the diagnosis and justify every intervention.
- 01
Know
Survey, construction history, investigations and non-destructive testing.
- 02
Measure
Sensors and dynamic tests: the real behaviour, not the assumed one.
- 03
Model
Numerical models calibrated on measured data, safety checks and damage scenarios.
- 04
Intervene
Data-driven interventions, verified over time through monitoring.
Services
From diagnosis to intervention
GOES provides consultancy on the seismic vulnerability of existing buildings and infrastructure, and designs strengthening interventions that improve their resilience.
- OMA
Dynamic identification
Ambient vibration testing and operational modal analysis: natural frequencies, damping ratios and mode shapes, measured while the structure stays in use.
- NDT
Non-destructive testing campaigns
Targeted investigation plans for materials and structural members, reaching the required level of knowledge with minimal impact on the structure.
- SHM
Structural health monitoring
Sensor networks (accelerometers, strain gauges, inclinometers) and real-time acquisition to detect cracks, deformations and changes in dynamic behaviour early. The data support model validation, post-earthquake safety checks and maintenance and retrofit planning, especially for heritage and strategic buildings.
- FEM
Advanced modelling and seismic analysis
3D finite element models with nonlinear behaviour, masonry cracking and soil-structure interaction. Pushover, time-history and response spectrum analyses identify weaknesses, quantify seismic risk and check the performance levels required by codes.
- DES
Seismic retrofitting
Design of performance-based, minimally invasive and reversible interventions: local strengthening (masonry, RC, FRP, steel bracing), viscous, friction or hysteretic dampers and base isolation, respecting the heritage value of the structure.
Case studies
Structures we have listened to
Dynamic identificationHerøy FoU
Herøysund and Skattørsundet bridges · Norway
Built heritageMonalisa
Sarcophagus of the Spouses · Rome
Built heritageSan Placido Calonerò
Monumental complex · Messina
Built heritageDurham Castle
Durham · United Kingdom
Dynamic identificationMonvia
Giovanni XXIII bridge · Ragusa
The mark
An X across the letters ES
Every existing building carries a history, often told through its structural cracks. The GOES logo stems from this concept. The firm’s name is rendered in a geometric, bold, and compact typeface—a fitting choice, as the firm’s approach is equally bold: solid, rigorous, and grounded in data rather than opinion. The first two letters, "GO", remain intact; they represent the firm’s foundation—the established knowledge and methodology upon which every diagnosis rests. The final two letters, "ES", represent the building itself: an earthquake cuts through them, fracturing the form and causing its segments to shift. Reading the name from left to right, one moves from the stable to that which requires investigation. The two fissures intersect to form an "X." To a structural engineer, this is a "St. Andrew’s cross"—the signature an earthquake leaves on masonry walls when the direction of shear force reverses. To a researcher, it represents an unknown—a variable to be solved. This is achieved through sensors, data analysis, and computational code—listening to the structure before passing judgment upon it.
The logo embodies both the strength of those who intervene and the fragility of the object upon which they work. Damage is both a sign to be interpreted and an unknown to be resolved.
About
Giuseppe Occhipinti, PhD, Eng.
Structural engineer · PhD
Milestones
- 2004Degree in Structural EngineeringUniversity of Catania · thesis on CFRP cables for cable-stayed bridges
- 2017PhDUniversity of Catania · visiting student at Imperial College London
- 2018–21Research fellow at CNR-IGAGOperability of strategic structures · PON Governance
- 2022Second-level Master's with honoursSapienza University of Rome · MONALISA and MonVia projects
- 2024Level II certified dynamic testing operatorUNI 11931:2024 · non-destructive testing since 2020
- 2026ISI Scientific CommitteeIngegneria Sismica Italiana
I believe that every structure has a story, a purpose, and a future worth safeguarding. The studio’s mission is to empower the world with the tools and insights needed to preserve and enhance the safety and longevity of the buildings and infrastructure that shape our lives.
In an ever-changing world, the need for resilience and foresight has never been greater. That’s why GOES is dedicated to revolutionizing the way we monitor, maintain, and protect our built environment. Through cutting-edge computational technology and real-time monitoring, we transform data into action, ensuring that the structures we rely on every day continue to stand strong for generations to come.
We see every challenge as an opportunity to innovate, every structure as a legacy to be preserved, and every project as a chance to make the world a safer, more sustainable place. At GOES, our commitment goes beyond engineering; it’s about creating a future where the integrity of our buildings and infrastructure is as unwavering as the trust we place in them. Join us on this journey to redefine what’s possible in structural engineering.
Verba volant, data manent.
Research
Publications
- Publications
- In journals
- Years of research
Click a year to jump to its publications. The timeline scrolls sideways; items with a DOI or a case study open with a click.
Contact
Tell us about your structure.
97100 Ragusa · Italy