Moncef L. Nehdi, MASc, PhD, P.Eng., FACI, FCSCE, FEIC

Over two decades of visionary and impactful research, Dr. Moncef L. Nehdi made transformative, multi-sector contributions to engineering R&D.

In the early 1990s, his research triggered the emergence of Portland limestone cements in North America, reducing the cement production carbon footprint by about 15 per cent. He also developed the use of cement kiln dust and class C fly ash to mitigate acid mine drainage, the largest environmental liability of Canada’s mining industry.

Dr. Nehdi is also a global leader in research on machine learning and computational intelligence modeling of civil engineering materials and structures. His use of drones equipped with infrared tomography for remote sensing of bridge decks received the American Concrete Institute’s NDT award. His trailblazing research on stimuli-responsive materials, self-healing concrete and nano-fibers incorporating phase change materials for energy storage won the 2019 CSCE Holt Lepholz Medal and the Ontario Premier’s Research Excellence Award.

Dr. Nehdi has applied his research to several world landmark projects, including solving challenges in the construction of the world’s next tallest building (Kingdom Tower, 1008-m tall), the world’s third tallest building (Makkah Clock Tower, 603-m tall), and the world’s deepest and second largest wastewater pumping station. His research also empowers capacity building in developing countries, including a low-cost processor to produce rice husk ash cement additive in rural construction, currently used in Egypt and India. He developed simple technology allowing the sugarcane industry, which produces 80% of Brazil’s green electricity, to use their by-product bagasse ash in concrete production with added value.