Shayan Ghazimoghadam | Structural Health Monitoring | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Shayan Ghazimoghadam | Structural Health Monitoring | Best Researcher Award

PhD Student, Islamic Azad University, Iran

Shayan Ghazimoghadam is a Ph.D. student in Structural Engineering at Islamic Azad University of Shahrood, Iran, specializing in data-driven structural health monitoring. His research integrates artificial intelligence with civil engineering to develop unsupervised deep learning methods for real-time damage detection in structures. Shayan’s work focuses on creating digital twins for infrastructure assessment, aiming to enhance predictive maintenance and safety. He has authored several publications, including a notable paper on vibration-based damage diagnosis using multi-head self-attention LSTM autoencoders, published in Measurement journal. Additionally, he has presented his research at national conferences and served as a keynote speaker, demonstrating his commitment to advancing the field of structural health monitoring.

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Education

Shayan Ghazimoghadam completed his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Islamic Azad University of Gorgan, Iran, in 2018, where he excelled in design courses, achieving a GPA of 19/20 in Steel Structures and a perfect 20/20 in Concrete Structures. He then pursued a Master of Science in Structural Engineering at Lamei Gorgani Institute of Higher Education, Gorgan, graduating in 2022 with a GPA of 19.07/20. His master’s dissertation focused on structural damage identification under ambient vibration using an unsupervised deep learning method, supervised by Dr. Seyed Ali Asghar Hosseinzadeh. Currently, Shayan is a Ph.D. student at Islamic Azad University of Shahrood, Iran, where he continues to explore innovative approaches in structural health monitoring and artificial intelligence applications in civil engineering.

Experience 

Between 2022 and 2023, Shayan Ghazimoghadam served as a Research Assistant at Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran, under the guidance of Dr. Seyed Ali Asghar Hosseinzadeh. During this period, he conducted research on real-time structural health monitoring utilizing AI-powered techniques. His work involved developing and testing unsupervised deep learning algorithms for damage detection in structures based on vibration data. Shayan’s contributions led to the presentation of his findings at national conferences, showcasing his ability to communicate complex research outcomes effectively. This experience has significantly enhanced his expertise in integrating artificial intelligence with structural engineering, positioning him as a promising researcher in the field of structural health monitoring.

Awards and Honors 

Shayan Ghazimoghadam has been recognized for his academic excellence and research contributions. He ranked first among M.Sc. students in Structural Engineering at Lamei Gorgani Institute of Higher Education, Gorgan, Iran, in 2022, achieving a GPA of 19.07/20. His innovative research on structural damage identification using unsupervised deep learning methods has been published in reputable journals, including the Measurement journal, where his paper has garnered 26 citations as of 2024. Additionally, Shayan was invited as a keynote speaker at the 3rd National Conference on Civil Engineering, Intelligent Development, and Sustainable Systems in 2023, where he presented on AI-powered structural damage identification and localization through accelerometer data. These accolades underscore his commitment to advancing the field of structural health monitoring and his potential for future contributions to civil engineering research.

Research Focus

Shayan Ghazimoghadam’s research focuses on the integration of artificial intelligence with structural health monitoring (SHM) to develop innovative solutions for infrastructure maintenance. His primary interests include data-driven SHM, unsupervised structural damage identification, and the application of digital twins for condition assessment. Shayan aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of damage detection in structures by employing unsupervised deep learning techniques, particularly multi-head self-attention LSTM autoencoders. His work contributes to the development of digital twins, virtual representations of physical assets, to monitor and assess the condition of infrastructure in real time. By leveraging AI and machine learning, Shayan seeks to revolutionize traditional SHM practices, offering more proactive and predictive maintenance strategies that can lead to safer and more sustainable infrastructure systems.

Publication Top Notes​

📘 1. A Novel Unsupervised Deep Learning Approach for Vibration-Based Damage Diagnosis Using a Multi-Head Self-Attention LSTM Autoencoder

Authors: S. Ghazimoghadam, S.A.A. Hosseinzadeh
Journal: Measurement, Volume 229, Article 114410
Year: 2024
Citations (as of 2025): 26
DOI: Measurement 229, 114410 (sample link, please verify)

🔍 Summary:

This publication introduces a novel unsupervised deep learning method for real-time structural damage detection using only ambient vibration data. The approach combines Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) autoencoders with multi-head self-attention mechanisms, enabling the system to effectively learn temporal features and focus on critical data patterns without the need for labeled damage data.

By leveraging unsupervised learning, the model is highly adaptable and scalable, making it suitable for practical deployment in real-world structural health monitoring (SHM) scenarios. The method was validated using benchmark datasets, showing superior performance in damage localization and diagnosis accuracy compared to traditional approaches.

📗 2. Transformer-Based Time-Series GAN for Data Augmentation in Bridge Monitoring Digital Twins

Authors: V. Mousavi, M. Rashidi, S. Ghazimoghadam, M. Mohammadi, B. Samali
Journal: Automation in Construction, Volume 175, Article 106208
Year: 2025 (Under Review)
DOI: Automation in Construction 175, 106208 (check for final link when published)

🔍 Summary:

This paper presents a Transformer-based Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) for augmenting time-series sensor data in bridge monitoring systems. The technique is particularly geared towards Digital Twin models, which require large, diverse, and high-quality datasets to simulate and predict structural behavior accurately.

The GAN architecture uses a Transformer encoder to better capture temporal dependencies in structural response data, generating realistic synthetic datasets for training SHM models. By augmenting scarce or incomplete datasets, this method improves predictive performance, anomaly detection, and damage assessment capabilities of digital twins used in civil infrastructure.

Mahdi Shadabfar | Geotechnical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Mahdi Shadabfar | Geotechnical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor, Ayatollah Boroujerdi University, Iran

Mahdi Shadabfar is a leading researcher and academic in the fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning, with a focus on geotechnical engineering. He currently serves as a Research Fellow at Lakehead University, Canada, specializing in probabilistic geohazard analysis using deep learning techniques. His extensive background includes postdoctoral research at Sharif University of Technology in Iran and Tongji University in China. Dr. Shadabfar has contributed significantly to geotechnical engineering, particularly in reliability analysis, risk assessment, and resilience of civil infrastructure under uncertain conditions. He holds a Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering from Hohai University, China, and has received numerous prestigious awards and honors for his work. Dr. Shadabfar’s research explores deep learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and disaster response strategies, aiming to drive innovation in civil and geotechnical engineering practices.

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Education

Dr. Mahdi Shadabfar holds a Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering from Hohai University, China (2012-2017), where he conducted pioneering research in the reliability analysis of induced damage by single-hole rock blasting. He earned his Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Earthquake Engineering, from Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran (2009-2011), focusing on the seismic behavior of buried steel pipelines. His Bachelor’s degree, also from Shahid Beheshti University (2005-2009), was in Civil Engineering, with a thesis on retrofitting RC structures using FRP. Throughout his academic journey, Dr. Shadabfar has been recognized for his excellence in research and academic performance, achieving high GPAs in his studies. He has also pursued various short-term programs and received international recognition, including visiting tsunami-stricken areas of Japan as part of a research program sponsored by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT).

Experience

Dr. Shadabfar has vast academic and professional experience in civil and geotechnical engineering. He is currently a Research Fellow at Lakehead University in Canada, focusing on probabilistic geohazard analysis using deep learning. Prior to this, he completed postdoctoral research at Sharif University of Technology in Iran, studying performance-based reliability analysis of underground structures, and at Tongji University in China, where he conducted risk and reliability assessments for geotechnical systems. In addition to his research roles, Dr. Shadabfar has taught at several institutions worldwide, including Fujian University of Technology (China), Lorestan University (Iran), and Shahid Beheshti University (Iran), where he led courses in earthquake engineering, geostatistics, and structural analysis. He also created and delivered online courses on his personal website, focusing on topics like deep neural networks and Monte Carlo sampling, demonstrating his commitment to academic innovation and knowledge dissemination in the field of geotechnical engineering.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Mahdi Shadabfar has received numerous prestigious awards and honors throughout his career. He was awarded funding from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to support his research at Lakehead University. He also received national talent funding from Iran’s National Elites Foundation (INEF) for his research position at Sharif University of Technology. Dr. Shadabfar’s postdoctoral research at Tongji University in China was supported by dedicated research funding for two years. His academic excellence has been recognized through the “Academic Innovation” award from Hohai University for two consecutive years (2013-2014). Furthermore, he was awarded a full scholarship by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for his doctoral studies in China. These accolades highlight his exceptional contributions to geotechnical engineering and research, reflecting his innovative approach to applying artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques in infrastructure resilience and risk analysis.

Research Focus

Dr. Mahdi Shadabfar’s research focuses on applying artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques in the field of geotechnical engineering, specifically in reliability analysis, risk assessment, and the resilience of civil infrastructure. His current work at Lakehead University revolves around probabilistic geohazard analysis through deep learning models. Dr. Shadabfar’s research is centered on optimizing urban infrastructure systems, improving disaster response planning, and assessing the impacts of climate change on civil structures. He is also deeply involved in exploring the Internet of Things (IoT) for smart cities and sustainable infrastructure development, along with predictive maintenance strategies. Furthermore, his work in digital twin technology and augmented reality aims to revolutionize civil engineering design and construction. Dr. Shadabfar’s research seeks to integrate cutting-edge technologies to create robust, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure systems capable of responding effectively to natural disasters and environmental challenges.

Publication Top Notes

  • Deep learning-based automatic recognition of water leakage area in shield tunnel lining 🛠️💧
  • Rock fragmentation induced by a TBM disc-cutter considering the effects of joints 🏗️💥
  • Deep learning‐based classification and instance segmentation of leakage‐area and scaling images of shield tunnel linings 📸🔧
  • Beam damage detection under a moving load using random decrement technique and Savitzky–Golay filter 🏗️⚙️
  • Resilience-based design of infrastructure: Review of models, methodologies, and computational tools 🏢💡
  • Image-based segmentation and quantification of weak interlayers in rock tunnel face via deep learning 🧱🔍
  • An optimization strategy to improve the deep learning‐based recognition model of leakage in shield tunnels 🔍🛠️
  • Multi-source data driven method for assessing the rock mass quality of a NATM tunnel face via hybrid ensemble learning models 📊🪨
  • A combined review of vibration control strategies for high-speed trains and railway infrastructures 🚄🔧
  • Approximation of the Monte Carlo sampling method for reliability analysis of structures 🧮🔬