On 13 May, the academic final of the Olympiades des Sciences de l’Ingénieur (Engineering Sciences Olympiad) took place at BUILDERS in Caen. During the event, Yoann Bonte, hydraulics and drone engineer at BUILDERS, presented the FIER project to an audience of secondary school students and educators.
The Olympiad is a national French competition that challenges students to develop and present innovative science or engineering projects. Finalists are selected from academic rounds across the country and evaluated by a panel of professionals and academics.
The FIER presentation added a real-world dimension to the competition, illustrating how engineering plays a vital role in responding to today’s environmental challenges, especially those related to climate-induced flooding.
From innovation to impact: how BUILDERS strengthens flood protection
Yoann Bonte’s presentation highlighted how BUILDERS contributes to FIER through advanced monitoring of flood protection infrastructure. Using drones equipped with LiDAR and thermal imaging, engineers can assess dyke conditions in real time, enabling faster and more informed decision-making in high-risk areas.
The goal of the session was not only to showcase technical innovation, but also to inspire young participants to view engineering as a tool for societal resilience. Yoann Bonte emphasised the importance of anticipating future risks and designing systems that protect both people and their environments.
By linking the students’ creativity with current challenges in flood resilience, the Olympiad event showed how future engineers can become active contributors to climate adaptation efforts.