Dr. Ali Rahman

Profile

I am an Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering at the University of Leeds, where I contribute to research-led teaching and supervise PGR students in the field of transport infrastructure. With more than 10 years of academic and industry experience, my work focuses on the durability, resilience, and digitalisation of transport infrastructure systems, with a particular emphasis on AI-based pavement assessment, material performance modelling, and sustainable design methods.

My research spans pavement materials characterisation and performance testing, surface and sub-surface distress detection, durability and resiliency of pavement structures, development of smart materials and computational models for road performance prediction, sustainble solutions for pavement construction and maintenance, and data-driven performance modelling and prediction. I have published extensively on these topics in international peer-reviewed journals and actively collaborate with international researchers across Europe and Asia, particularly through joint doctoral programmes and interdisciplinary projects.

Before joining the University of Leeds in 2024, I held academic and research positions at Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) in China for 5 years, where I contributed to research and training programmes in road engineering. I also served as a mentor of the Key Laboratory for Highway Engineering of Sichuan Province. I hold a PhD in Road and Railway Engineering from SWJTU and have extensive experience working in international academic environments in the UK, China, and Iran. My passion lies in creating more sustainable and intelligent transport infrastructure through research, education, and international collaboration.

Editorial and Reviewing Activities

I actively contribute to the academic community by serving as a reviewer for numerous international peer-reviewed journals in the field of civil and transportation engineering. My reviewing work supports the advancement of research quality and rigour across interdisciplinary areas related to pavement materials, infrastructure performance, and intelligent transport systems.

In addition to my reviewing responsibilities, I serve as a Young Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure, where I support the development of high-quality content and help promote emerging research in data-driven and smart infrastructure systems.

I welcome opportunities to collaborate with journal editors, conference organisers, and research networks focused on innovation and impact in transportation infrastructure research.

Research interests

My research focuses on developing intelligent, resilient, and sustainable transport infrastructure systems through interdisciplinary approaches that integrate civil engineering principles, computational modelling, and artificial intelligence. I focus on real-world challenges related to performance, durability, and safety across both road and railway networks.

In the area of AI-based infrastructure condition assessment, I develop deep learning and computer vision models for detecting and segmenting pavement cracks from aerial and ground-based images. My work explores attention mechanisms and transformer-based networks to improve accuracy and robustness, particularly under varied lighting and surface conditions. I am also interested in weakly supervised learning methods to reduce reliance on large annotated datasets, aiming to deliver scalable tools for predictive maintenance and network-level decision-making.

In the area of non-destructive testing (NDT) and digital inspection, I apply advanced imaging, sensing, and signal analysis techniques to assess the structural health of pavements and railway components without damaging them. I work with ground-penetrating radar (GPR), ultrasonic pulse velocity, and infrared thermography, integrating these data sources with AI and data fusion techniques to enable real-time assessment and deterioration tracking. My aim is to develop more accurate, accessible, and automated NDT frameworks that support both asset management and long-term maintenance planning.

My work on pavement and material performance modelling includes the investigation of mechanical behaviour, interlayer bonding, and ageing in asphalt mixtures. I use 2D and 3D discrete element modelling (DEM) to simulate material failure and study the role of interface conditions on long-term pavement durability. I also explore the enhancement of performance through the integration of nanomaterials, polymer modifiers, and other advanced additives, linking microstructural behaviour to macro-level performance outcomes.

Under the theme of sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure, I analyse the long-term impacts of pavement maintenance and design decisions on carbon emissions and economic performance. I am particularly interested in linking pavement condition metrics (such as IRI and PCI) with road safety indicators and crash severity to support climate adaptation planning. I work on interdisciplinary collaborations that promote circular economy practices and advance low-carbon, high-performance infrastructure solutions.

I am currently involved in several international collaborations, and I welcome partnerships with researchers, students, and industry professionals focused on digitalisation, sustainability, and resilience in transport infrastructure.

Academic Engagement and Outreach

During my time at Southwest Jiaotong University, I launched the Pavement Webinar Series—an initiative hosted by the School of Civil Engineering to connect students, researchers, and academic staff with international experts in pavement engineering. This platform enabled invited speakers to present and discuss their latest research developments, fostering global academic exchange and collaboration in the field. You can learn more about the series and explore past sessions via the Pavement Webinar Series at SWJTU webpage.

Qualifications

• BSc in Civil Engineering (Islamic Azad University, Iran), 2006
• MSc in Road and Transportation Engineering (Shahid Chamran University, Iran), 2010
• PhD in Road and Railway Engineering (Southwest Jiaotong University, China), 2019

Professional memberships

• Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), Member
• Academy of Pavement Science and Engineering (APSE), Academic Member
• World Road Association (PIARC), Member
• International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures (RILEM), Staff Member
• National Asphalt Research Consortium (NARC), Academic Member

Student education

My approach to student education is centred on creating an engaging, research-informed, and inclusive learning environment that equips students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills relevant to the challenges of modern civil and transport infrastructure systems. I contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching across topics in civil engineering. My teaching integrates real-world case studies, emerging technologies, and interdisciplinary perspectives, helping students to understand both the technical and societal dimensions of engineering practice.

I supervise PhD research projects in areas aligned with my expertise. I take a personalised approach to supervision, encouraging students to pursue independent inquiry, develop strong analytical skills, and build confidence in communicating their findings to diverse audiences.

Supervision and Opportunities

Prospective PhD applicants with a strong background in transport infrastructure, highway and pavement engineering, particularly those who have secured or intend to apply for external funding or scholarships, are warmly encouraged to get in touch. I also welcome expressions of interest from postdoctoral researchers seeking to collaborate on projects in related fields.

Several funding opportunities are available to support doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, including:

• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships – for candidates from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries.
• Leeds Doctoral Scholarships – for UK/Home students only.
• Leeds Opportunity Research Scholarship – for UK/Home students only.
• China Scholarship Council-University of Leeds PhD Scholarships – for Chinese nationals applying through the China Scholarship Council.
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA PF) – for postdoctoral researchers aiming to work across Europe.
• Newton International Fellowships – for postdoctoral researchers from non-UK countries to conduct research in the UK.

Research groups and institutes

• Cities, Infrastructure and Energy
• Materials and Structures