Expertise
Cement-based materials, concrete structures, multi-scale testing, durability and repair, non-destructive testing, net-zero construction, sustainability, climate change adaptation, forensic engineering, data-driven models, modular social housing, energy efficient buildings
Areas of Specialization
Research Clusters
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Department Chair
Civil Engineering
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Professor
Civil Engineering
Overview
Moncef L. Nehdi, PhD, P.Eng., FCAE, FEIC, FACI, FCSCE, FAAIA is the Chair of McMaster’s Department of Civil Engineering. An award-winning scholar, educator, and industry manager, he is a global leader in cement and concrete research, recycling by-products in construction, and artificial intelligence applications in materials and structures. A prolific author with more than 450 research publications, he was listed in the world’s most cited civil engineers by Elsevier and the Shanghai Ranking, and in Stanford University’s World’s top 1% scientists. His research was used in several landmark construction projects around the globe, beneficiated colossal mining and industrial by-products, and reduced the carbon footprint of various sectors of the economy. He served as Technical Manager for three different companies and is Canada’s lead professional development instructor for engineers on the durability and repair of concrete structures, design of formwork and temporary structures, and advanced concrete technology.
Dr. Nehdi received his BASc from Laval University, MASc from Sherbrooke University, and PhD from the University of British Columbia, all in civil engineering. Prior to joining McMaster University, he was a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Western University from 1999 to 2021. His industrial experience includes serving as Technical Manager for three different companies: Imasco Minerals Inc., Materials Technology Laboratories, and BCS. He also served as Associate Director for Environmental Research Western. He was licensed as a professional engineer in British Columbia in 1998 and in Ontario in 1999. He is past Chair of the ACI committee 555 on recycled materials, chair of the CSCE sub-committee on cement and concrete, vice-chair of the CSCE Mechanics Division, deputy chair of the RILEM Technical Committee DCS on data-driven concrete science, and was co-chair of the Infrastructure Division of NSERC’s Discovery Grant Committee 1509. During sabbatical leaves, he was visiting research professor at Qatar University, inaugural chair of urban planning at Alhosn University in Bau-Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, and worked in Saudi Arabia on the world’s next tallest building, the world’s third tallest building, the world’s largest airport, the world’s most venerated pedestrian bridge, and the world’s deepest and second largest water treatment plant.
BASc (Laval)
MASc (Sherbrooke)
PhD (UBC)
Prof. Nehdi is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Engineering Institute of Canada, the American Concrete Institute, the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, and the Asia Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association. He received numerous prestigious awards, including the Engineering Medal for Research and Development from Professional Engineers Ontario and the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, the Ontario Premier’s Research Excellence Award, the ACI Award for Professional Achievement, the CSCE Horst Liepholz Medal, the CSCE Whitman Wright award, the Bill Curtin Metal from the UK’s Institution of Civil Engineers, the ASCE Faculty Fellow Award for Excellence in Engineering Education, the Engineering Prize for Excellence in Teaching from Western University, along with several best paper awards and other recognitions. He has been invited as distinguished, plenary, or keynote speaker in numerous international forums and conferences.
Visit Dr. Nehdi’s Research Gate profile.