Prof. Dr. Hong-Hu Zhu | Geotechnical Monitoring | Top Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Hong-Hu Zhu | Geotechnical Monitoring | Nanjing University | China

Prof. Dr. Hong-Hu Zhu Ph.D., Professor, is a highly accomplished male researcher and academic leader in the field of engineering geology, geotechnics, and advanced sensing technology, recognized for his exceptional contributions to geohazard monitoring and underground infrastructure safety. He holds a Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, a Master’s degree in Engineering Mechanics from Jinan University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Zhejiang University, reflecting a strong multidisciplinary foundation. Currently serving as a Professor and Dean at the Institute of Earth Exploration and Sensing at Nanjing University, he has also held important leadership roles including Deputy Director of the Human Resources Department and Director of the Geological Engineering Division, demonstrating his strategic influence in academic governance. His professional background further includes impactful international research experience as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Cambridge. Prof. Dr. Hong-Hu Zhu’s research interests focus on interfacial behaviors in geotechnical systems, multi-physical monitoring, assessment, and mitigation of geohazards such as landslides and ground collapses, as well as structural and performance evaluation of tunnels and underground pipelines. His expertise extends to emerging sensing technologies including distributed acoustic sensing, machine learning-based displacement prediction, deep generative modeling of geotechnical media, material point method simulations, and full-scale structural testing for sustainable underground infrastructure. With more than 293 publications indexed in Scopus, above 6,800 citations, and an h-index of 47, he maintains strong global scientific influence, collaborating with more than 400 co-authors across international institutions. His professional skills are enriched by capabilities such as multi-physics data integration, computational geomechanics, in-situ instrumentation, and high-impact research dissemination. He has been actively engaged in community development, academic mentoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration, enhancing innovation and capacity building in earth sensing technologies. His awards, recognitions, and continuous contributions to high-value research projects reflect a proven record of excellence. Prof. Dr. Hong-Hu Zhu’s future research goals emphasize establishing resilient smart-sensing systems for infrastructure safety, accelerating global collaboration, and translating data-driven geotechnical insights into scalable solutions for environmental sustainability.

Professional Profiles: ORCID | Google Scholar | Scopus

Featured Publications

Zhu, H.-H., et al. (2026). Ground collapse early warning driven by edge-based data assimilation and adaptive threshold using quasi-distributed flexible conductive film sensor array. Measurement.
Zhu, H.-H., et al. (2026). Probabilistic analysis of top deflection of laterally loaded piles considering spatially variable soil stiffness. Computers and Geotechnics.
Zhu, H.-H., et al. (2025). Real-time monitoring of water states in large-diameter aqueducts – learning from distributed acoustic sensing signals. Communications Engineering.
Zhu, H.-H., et al. (2025). Randomly generating realistic calcareous sand for directional seepage simulation using deep convolutional generative adversarial networks. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
Zhu, H.-H., et al. (2025). Structural behavior of triple-layer composite lining of a water conveyance tunnel: Insight from full-scale loading tests. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
Zhu, H.-H., et al. (2025). 3D displacement time series prediction of a north-facing reservoir landslide powered by InSAR and machine learning. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
Zhu, H.-H., et al. (2025). Rheological behaviors of Na-montmorillonite considering particle interactions: A molecular dynamics study. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.

Mr. Mahmoud Safaan | Ground Penetrating Radar | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Mahmoud Safaan | Ground Penetrating Radar | Cairo University | Egypt

Mr. Mahmoud Hamdy Safaan is a distinguished civil engineer and researcher whose professional and academic journey demonstrates exceptional dedication to the advancement of smart infrastructure, sensing technology, and artificial intelligence applications in construction management. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Higher Technological Institute in Cairo, Egypt, followed by a Higher Diploma in Construction Management from Cairo University, where he is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Construction Management. Over the years, Mahmoud Safaan has accumulated extensive professional experience in large-scale engineering projects across the Middle East and Africa, including Egypt, Libya, Cameroon, and Ethiopia. His progressive career at MIDAR, where he currently serves as Technical Office Manager (PMO), as well as previous roles as Senior Project Engineer, Project Control Engineer, and Construction Engineer at leading organizations such as VINCI, Zuhair Fayez Partnership, and Akram Group, has shaped his deep understanding of project optimization, sustainable design, and data-driven management systems. Mahmoud Safaan’s research interests lie at the intersection of artificial intelligence, deep learning, sensing systems, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) applied to infrastructure development, with a strong focus on energy-efficient buildings, predictive analytics, and real-time sensing visualization. His technical and research skills encompass advanced data modeling, simulation for energy optimization, sensor data interpretation, project risk analysis, and the integration of AI into construction monitoring systems. Through his academic pursuits and publications in top-tier journals like Automation in Construction and Energy and Buildings, he has contributed novel methodologies to enhance smart infrastructure performance, improve energy efficiency, and promote the use of sensing technologies in civil engineering. Mahmoud Safaan has been recognized for his contributions to multidisciplinary collaborations that bring together construction technology, digital modeling, and intelligent sensing. His scholarly excellence and technical leadership have earned him notable professional credibility and growing recognition within the research community. Among his awards and honors are acknowledgments for his role in pioneering research on subsurface utility detection and deep learning-based energy consumption prediction, both of which have influenced emerging trends in the field of construction sensing and smart city frameworks.

Professional Profile: ORCID

Selected Publications

Safaan, M. H., Metawie, M., & Marzouk, M. (2025). Subsurface utility detection and augmented reality visualization using GPR and deep learning. Automation in Construction.
El-Maraghy, M., Metawie, M., Safaan, M., Saad Eldin, A., Hamdy, A., El Sharkawy, M., Abdelaty, A., Azab, S., & Marzouk, M. (2024). Predicting energy consumption of mosque buildings during the operation stage using deep learning approach. Energy and Buildings. — Citations: 5
Safaan, M. H., & Marzouk, M. (2024). Integrating AI-based sensing systems for project performance optimization in construction management. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management. — Citations: 12
Safaan, M. H., Metawie, M. (2023). A hybrid deep learning framework for anomaly detection in smart construction sites using sensor data fusion. IEEE Access. — Citations: 18
Safaan, M. H., & El-Maraghy, M. (2023). Enhancing construction project monitoring using IoT-based sensing and predictive analytics techniques. Sustainable Cities and Society. — Citations: 22