B.Sc. (Urmia University), M.Sc. (Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz), PhD (University of Western Australia), P.Eng.

• Professor

Contact Information

Ph: 709-864-2738
Em: hshiri[at]mun.ca
Office: EN3067

Expertise

• Digital Twins for Sustainable Infrastructures
• Offshore and Onshore Foundations
• Offshore and Onshore Geotechnics
• Soil-Structure Interaction
• Subsea Pipelines and Risers
• Arctic and Subsea Geohazards
• Offshore and Subsea Installation
• Offshore Structural Integrity
• Construction Techniques
• Numerical Modelling, Data Analytics, AI, ML, and CV
• Small and Large-scale Experimental Studies and Field Testing

Research Interests

I have carried out extensive research on fluid-soil-pipeline interaction, fatigue performance of deepwater risers, Arctic seabed hazards and their impact on subsea flowlines and structures, vortex-induced vibration (VIV) fatigue of flowlines, offshore foundations and geotechnics, Arctic subsea renewable energy systems, seabed hazards affecting mobile jack-up units, catenary mooring and anchoring system performance, subsea and offshore installation methods, and offshore construction challenges.

At present, my primary research is centered on the development of digital twins for the real-time monitoring and long-term sustainability of onshore and offshore infrastructure, with a particular focus on geotechnical challenges. This highly multidisciplinary work combines 3D Building Information Models (BIMs), Internet of Things (IoT) integration, spaceborne remote sensing, drone-based aerial imagery, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), and cloud-enabled AI algorithms. We are actively applying these technologies to digital twin projects across a variety of sectors, including but not limited to mining, manufacturing, offshore structures, process plants, marine infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, and environmental biodiversity, contributing to the advancement of smarter, more resilient, and sustainable engineering solutions.

Personal Profile

I joined Memorial University in June 2015 as a tenure-track Assistant Professor and Wood Group Research Chair in Arctic and Harsh Environment Engineering. Since then, I have built a strong research team and addressed a wide range of domestic and global geotechnical challenges. My work particularly emphasizes the modeling of soil-structure interaction and simulation of its impact on structural performance and recently more focused on using Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Computer Vision in modern geotechnics, with applications across diverse areas such as subsea geohazards, onshore and offshore pipelines, subsea production and drilling risers, subsea anchors, frozen soils, cold-region road condition monitoring, renewable energy infrastructure, icebergs and ice gouging, sustainable infrastructure, and digital twins for infrastructure systems. In 2021, I was promoted to tenured Associate Professor and received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Supervision of Graduate Students.

Between 2015 and 2025, I secured approximately $3M in industry-sponsored research funding and trained 45 highly qualified personnel (HQP), including 8 postdoctoral fellows, 16 Ph.D. students, 14 M.Eng. students, and 7 B.Eng. students (38 solely supervised and 7 co-supervised). Under my supervision, this research team produced more than 150 journal and conference papers, averaging 22.3 publications per year. Citations of our work increased by 1,200% over this period, underscoring the growing influence and impact of our research. In 2024, I was recognized by Stanford University as one of the world’s top 2% most cited scientists. That same year, I was nominated by the International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM) for the IAAM Young Scientist Medal Lecture Award, in recognition of my contributions to materials science, engineering, and technology. In 2025, I was promoted to the rank of Full Professor, two years ahead of the standard timeline, reflecting the strength of my national and international research recognition. This milestone marked a significant achievement in academic excellence and leadership.

Over the past decade, I have successfully taught several core and elective courses in geotechnical and civil engineering at both undergraduate and graduate levels, consistently earning outstanding feedback from students. In 2023, my commitment to teaching excellence was formally recognized when I received the “Exemplary Performance as a Civil Engineering Professor of the Undergraduate Program” award from Memorial University’s Vice-President (Academic) and the Student Society. Beyond teaching, I have cultivated numerous international academic and industrial collaborations with leading scholars and institutions, including the University of Western Australia (Australia), the University of São Paulo (Brazil), ETH Zurich (Switzerland), and the University of Brescia (Italy), along with several industry partners. At Memorial, I also played a pivotal role in founding the Centre for Sustainable Infrastructures (CSI), strengthening the university’s research and innovation capacity. In 2024, I further expanded our capabilities by establishing a dedicated drone laboratory, advancing airborne-assisted development of digital twins for geotechnical infrastructure.

Since joining Memorial University, I have continued to provide industry consultation alongside my academic activities, contributing to several globally unique projects. Since 2021, I have also served as an Associate Editor for some of the world’s leading pipeline journals, published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Elsevier. Building on my extensive experience in student-centered, research-to-innovation initiatives and in fostering knowledge-based entrepreneurship, I completed a certificate of expertise in “Launching Tech Ventures” from Harvard University in 2023.

Currently, my primary research focuses on developing digital twins for real-time monitoring and sustainability of onshore and offshore infrastructure, with particular attention to geotechnical challenges. This cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research integrates my industry and academic expertise with advanced technologies, including 3D Building Information Models (BIMs), Internet of Things (IoT) deployment, spaceborne remote sensing, airborne drone imagery, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), and cloud-based AI algorithms. We are actively applying these approaches to digital twin projects in diverse sectors such as mining, manufacturing, offshore structures, process plants, marine infrastructure, and environmental biodiversity, paving the way for smarter, more sustainable engineering solutions.

If you are interested in pursuing a graduate degree focused on digital twins for infrastructure, and you have strong fundamental knowledge, along with preferably some industry experience, in areas such as 3D CAD and Building Information Modeling (BIM), simulation and numerical modeling, data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), computer vision (CV), and programming, I encourage you to get in touch. Candidates should also be eager to independently learn and apply new tools, including cloud-based system integration platforms, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, drones, and remote sensing. Exciting opportunities might be available for motivated students ready to contribute to cutting-edge research.

Before Joining Memorial University

After earning my B.Eng. in Civil Engineering in 1997, I began my career as a field engineer on the construction of the largest sugar production plant in the Middle East. A year later, while continuing to work in industry, I pursued a M.Eng. in Geotechnical Engineering, graduating in 1999. During this time, I contributed to the construction of earth dams and embankments. In 2000, I transitioned to the offshore construction industry, where I worked until 2006 on some of the world’s largest EPCI (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Installation) projects. My responsibilities spanned the fabrication, loadout, sea transportation, and offshore installation of floating and fixed platforms, as well as the construction of jetties, harbors, seawater intakes, artificial islands, and subsea pipelines. Over this period, I advanced through a wide range of roles, from design and field engineer to engineering manager, installation manager, construction manager, project manager, and project director. I gained extensive experience managing projects of varying scales, from $10M to $12B, and had the privilege of collaborating with some of the world’s leading energy and offshore construction companies, including Samsung, Statoil (Equinor), Petropars, Worley Parsons, Technip, JP Kenny, Intecsea, Aker Marine, Kvaerner, and Allseas.

In 2006, I moved to Australia and started my PhD program in offshore geotechnics under the supervision of Professor Mark Randolph, the world’s renown scientists in Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems (COFS), University of Western Australia (UWA) at Perth. During my PhD program I was not only working on the impact of riser-seabed interaction on the fatigue performance of Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs) but also providing consultation services for Australian offshore industries on several projects in Northwest Shelf. Also, I was teaching sessional Offshore Structures in UWA, where I was nominated by students in 2007 for Dean’s Award in Excellence in Teaching.

As soon as, I received my PhD degree in 2010, I returned to serve my home country, IRAN, and joined a young university in my hometown to establish a master’s program in Civil Engineering, where I hold the position of Department Head as well. During this period, I found a consultant engineers start-up working on a range of projects; the company was later acquired by major players in industry. In 2012, I acquired some shares of an offshore construction start-up, where we conducted over $100 M offshore projects in three years including seawater intakes, subsea pipelines, offshore installation, offshore foundation drilling, etc. In 2015, I sold my share in the company and moved to Canada, where I joined Memorial University as a tenure-track assistant professor and Wood Group Chair in Arctic and Harsh Environment Engineering.