Research Areas & Expertise
Rock Engineering · Tunnelling · Slope Stability · Advanced Monitoring
Research integrating fundamental geomechanics with field investigation, numerical modelling, advanced sensing, remote surveying and data-driven approaches for the assessment of rock, slopes, tunnels and geotechnical infrastructure.
Research Profile
Research activities span rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering, with emphasis on the behaviour and characterisation of rock masses, underground infrastructure, slope stability, engineering monitoring and the application of emerging digital technologies to geotechnical assessment. The work combines experimental, field, analytical, numerical and data-driven approaches.
Updated: September 2026Core Research Areas
Rock Engineering & Rock Mechanics
Investigation of intact rock and rock mass behaviour, strength, failure mechanisms, discontinuities and engineering response under different loading conditions.
Tunnelling & Underground Engineering
Research on tunnel excavation, ground response, tunnel support, segmental lining, structural health, settlement and inspection of underground infrastructure.
Rock Slope Stability & Geohazards
Assessment of natural and engineered slopes using geological characterisation, kinematic analysis, limit equilibrium, numerical modelling and advanced remote surveying.
Rock Mass Characterisation & Engineering Geology
Geological and geomechanical characterisation of rock masses for tunnels, slopes, foundations, quarries and infrastructure applications.
Numerical & Computational Geomechanics
Application of finite element, discrete element and related numerical techniques for modelling rock, slopes, tunnels and coupled ground behaviour.
Digital Geotechnics & Remote Sensing
Application of terrestrial laser scanning, UAV photogrammetry, image-based methods and three-dimensional modelling for geotechnical investigation and condition assessment.
Geotechnical Monitoring & Engineering Geophysics
Integration of sensing, vibration monitoring, electrical resistivity tomography and other geophysical techniques for subsurface and infrastructure assessment.
Rock Blasting & Fragmentation
Research on blast-induced vibration, rock fragmentation, fracture behaviour, blasting performance and prediction for quarry and surface excavation applications.
Data-Driven & Machine Learning Applications
Application of machine learning, statistical analysis and soft-computing techniques for prediction and interpretation of rock and geotechnical engineering parameters.
Geotechnical Investigation & Ground Behaviour
Integration of geological, geotechnical and geophysical investigation for understanding subsurface conditions and engineering ground response.
Connecting Field Data, Engineering Behaviour & Digital Technologies
Research increasingly integrates conventional geotechnical and rock engineering approaches with high-resolution surveying, sensing, geophysics, numerical simulation and data-driven methods to improve the assessment, monitoring and management of complex ground and infrastructure systems.
Methods & Technologies
Current & Emerging Research Directions
Coupled Hydro-Mechanical Analysis of Tunnel Stability
Investigation of tunnel stability in complex quartz-intruded granitic terrain using coupled ground-behaviour analysis.
Rock Slope Stability Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning
High-resolution three-dimensional surveying for structural interpretation and stability assessment of rock slopes.
Digital Transformation in Tunnel Health Monitoring
Integration of digital inspection, imaging, monitoring and engineering assessment for tunnel infrastructure.
Data-Driven Prediction of Rock Engineering Behaviour
Machine-learning and soft-computing methods for prediction of rock strength, fragmentation, flyrock and vibration response.
Engineering Applications
Tunnels & Underground Space
Inspection, stability, support and ground response.
Rock Slopes & Geohazards
Characterisation, monitoring and stability assessment.
Quarry & Rock Excavation
Rock quality, blasting, fragmentation and vibration.
Infrastructure Asset Management
Digital inspection, monitoring and condition assessment.
Research Collaboration
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