Dr Joshua Omer
Faculties, departments and locations
- Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment
- Department of Civil Engineering, Surveying and Construction Management
- School of Built Environment and Geography
- Penrhyn Road
School Director of Learning & Teaching; Senior lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering
- Email:
- [email protected]
About
I am : (i) an acting Director of Learning and Teaching for the School of Built Environment & Geography and (ii) a departmental Exams and Assessment Tutor.
I have 30 years of experience in lecturing and professional practice in UK and overseas. I am a previous winner of: (a) a Royal Society Industry Fellowship, (b) an Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Research and Development award, (c) the David Douglas Prize and Lecture (South Wales Institute of Engineers, UK), and (d) an Association of Commonwealth Universities doctoral scholarship. I have been: (1) a visiting scholar at Covenant University, Nigeria, (2) member of the Pearson BTEC HE/FE Panel for Construction (curriculum development), and (3) external examiner for the University of Nairobi.
I am the Editor of the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312) Special Issue: Offshore Geotechnics & Foundations and Soil-Structure Interaction. I serve in the editorial boards of 2 journals: (a) the Journal of Geo-engineering Case studies of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), and (b) the Journal of Geological Resource & Engineering. I am a member of: (i) the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) Technical Committee on Drilled Shafts, and (ii) the British Geotechnical Association (BGA), which I represent in Technical Committees TC107 and TC212 of the ISSMGE.
I have delivered CPD lectures to Institution of Structural Engineers and ASRANet UK, authored circa 50 publications in journals and conferences, supervised several PhD students, and served as external examiner for PhD and MPhil/MRes in UK and overseas universities. I have been a book reviewer for CRC Press-Taylor Francis and peer reviewer for reputable journals including the ICE Geotechnique, Canadian Geotechnical Journal, ICE Proceedings, Applied Clay Science Journal.
I collaborate with researchers and engineers from the UK, USA, India and China in scholarly activities.
Qualifications
- PhD in Geotechnical Engineering
- MSc in Structural Engineering
- BSc (1st Class honours) in Civil Engineering
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
- Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), UK
- Member of the British Geotechnical Association (BGA)
- Member of the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI), USA
Domains
Acting School Director of Learning and Teaching - School of Built Environment and Geography
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
Departmental Exams and Assessment Tutor – Department of Civil Engineering, Surveying & Construction Management.
Modules taught
- CE4011 - Fluid and Soil Mechanics
- CE5011 - Geotechnical Engineering 1 and Hydraulics
- CE6014 - Individual Project and Research Methods
- CE6611 - Structural Engineering 2 and Geotechnical Engineering 2
- CE7111 - Seismic Design of Structures and Substructures
- CE7113 - Sustainable Construction and Substructure Design
- CE7116 - Technical Dissertation
- FX3002 - Project based Learning (Level 3)
Qualifications
- SFHEA - Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Courses taught
Currently I am a co-investigator in a 30-month KTP project (No. 13742) which received circa £130k UKRI funding. The project aims to develop an intelligent quality management and control system for construction projects, by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to support decision making, to improve both quality and cost effectiveness of construction projects.
Recent research areas
- Soil mechanics; collapsible soils, lateritic and rheological models
- Ground investigation and data interpretation
- Dewatering and settlement analysis
- Piling engineering, drilling and support fluids
- 2D and 3D finite element analysis in geotechnical engineering
- High speed rail tunnels and underground collectors
- Eurocode 7 design concepts and procedures
- Highway pavement engineering, design and materials
I am a co-investigator in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project, funded by UKRI in July 2023. The project is about the development and use of artificial intelligence in building and construction industry.
Since Oct 2023, I am a member of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering, Switzerland (IABSE) Task Group on Well foundations, with responsibility for developing industry guidance on design and reuse of caisson foundations. I am also a member of the HE Panel for Construction in Pearson Group publishers, where I review development documents for a new qualification BTEC AAQ in Construction.
I recently received of $1,500 from the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI, USA) to deliver a lecture at the SuperPile conference in Atlanta, USA, 7–9 July 2023. The presentation was entitled " Effects of Energy Loops on the Geotechnical Performance of Geothermal Energy Piles".
Qualifications and Professional expertise
- Member of the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI), USA
- Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
- Member of the British Geotechnical Association (BGA)
Areas of interest
- Geotechnical Engineering and Foundations
- Highway Pavement Engineering
- Numerical analysis
- Field testing and monitoring of substructures
- Offshore Geotechnics and Wind turbine tower foundations
Industry links
- Galliford Try, UK
- Asranet Ltd (UK) ; MA Marine Consultants, London.
- Deep Foundations Institute, USA
- Federation of Piling Specialists (UK)
- International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineers (IABSE), Switzerland
- Coffey Geotechnics Ltd, UK
- Roger Bullivant, UK
- British Geotechnical Association
- Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and Institution of Structural Engineers (ISTRuctE)
- Envigma Ltd Geo-enviroConsult, UK
I am currently writing a chapter for an International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineers (IABSE) Guidance document for the reuse of caisson foundations and new design and construction methods. I have recently (18 April 2024) delivered a 1-day CPD course entitled "Design of Foundations to Eurocode 7" to The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), Surrey branch. Also, I delivered two CPD courses to practising engineers: (1) "Design of foundations for on-shore wind turbine structures" 6–7 July 2023 and (2) Design of foundations for off-shore wind turbines, 21–22 Nov 2023. Both courses were organised by Asranet Ltd (UK), a maritime company for courses, conferences and research.
Also, I have recently (2019) been involved with the joint EFFC-DFI (European Federation of Foundation Contractors and the Deep Foundation Institute) in developing a new design guide for the use of Support Fluids in deep foundation construction.
Qualifications and expertise
- Civil Engineer, 30 years experience in academia and consultancy
Professional and scholarly affiliations
- British Geotechnical Association (BGA), UK
- Deep Foundations Institute (DFI), USA
- Institution of Civil Engineers, UK
As the acting School Director of Learning and Teaching, I am responsible for (a) Providing leadership, strategic direction and oversight of learning, teaching and assessment in the School, (b) Assisting in the Head of School with the management and operational activities of the School, (c) Leading the development of the School's taught programmes.
As a departmental examinations and assessment tutor, I am responsible for:
- (a) monitoring the assessment schedule for all modules, to avoid bunching of coursework submission deadlines.
- (b) working with the Head of Department (HoD) in the implementation of the School's assessment policies.
- (c) monitoring the timely release of marks and feedback to students.
- (d) liaising with external examiners, allocating modules to them and preparing their schedules of work.
- (e) working with module leaders to ensure that materials for moderation are availed to external examiners promptly.
- (f) obtaining module summary reports from external examiners
- (g) monitoring of setting of camera-ready examination papers and internal moderation.
- (h) collating coursework performance data in all modules, for discussing key performance indices (KPIs) and retention/ progression metrics.
- (j) chairing academic misconduct hearings, and reviewing mitigating circumstances regulations.
- (k) managing the reassessment process and support given to students, to maximise progression.
Publications
A new methodology to inform maintenance decisions and budget requirements for bridges
Omer, Joshua, Haroglu, Hasan and Zafari, Behrouz, 2025, International Journal of Sustainable Engineering (18), 1, Published
Effects of structural irregularities on the seismic response of a steel structure
Omer, Joshua and Almazan, Zoe, 2025, Building Engineering (3), 2, Published
Three-dimensional finite element analyses of ground settlement and structural damage caused by irrigation of desert landscapes overlying collapsible soil strata
Vandanapu, Ramesh, Omer, Joshua R. and Attom, Mousa F., 2022, International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering (16), 1pp 90-102, Published
Tests on model piled rafts in sand: measured settlements compared with finite element predictions
Haroglu, Hasan and Omer, Joshua, 2021, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering (39)pp 3271-3283, Published
Laboratory simulation of the influence of groundwater rise and drip irrigation on the settlement of a sample of collapsible desert soil
Vandanapu, Ramesh, Omer, Joshua and Attom, Mousa F., 2021, International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering (15), 6pp 760-766, Published
Infrastructure damage due to dewatering without considering land use history
Vandanapu, Ramesh and Omer, Joshua, 2020, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering (38), 5pp 5623-5632, Published
Predicting the stress-strain behaviour of zeolite-cemented sand based on the unconfined compression test using GMDH type neural network
MolaAbasi, Hossein, Saberian, Mohammad, Kordnaeij, Afshin, Omer, Jousha, Li, Jie and Kharazmi, Parisa, 2019, Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology (33), 9pp 945-962, Published
Numerical analysis of road pavement response
Omer, JR and Eghan, Ben A, 2018, Advancements in Civil Engineering & Technology (2), 2, Published
Sustainable unfired bricks manufacturing from construction and demolition wastes
Seco, A., Omer, J., Marcelino, S., Espuelas, S. and Prieto, E., 2018, Construction and Building Materials (167)pp 154-165, Published
3D finite element assessment of the effects of energy loops on the load capacity and settlement of bored piles installed in sand
Omer, Joshua and Rokni, Sadegh, 2018, International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering (12), 5pp 472-483, Published
Finite element analysis of an underground collector installed by pipe-jacking method
Omer, Joshua, Diaz-Diaz, Luis Maria and Arias, Daniel, 2018, International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering (12), 1pp 66-75, Published
Laboratory simulation of irrigation-induced settlement of collapsible desert soils under constant surcharge
Omer, Joshua R, Vandanapu, Ramesh and Attom, Mousa F, 2017, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering (35), 6pp 2827-2840, Published
Magnesium oxide as alternative binder for unfired clay bricks manufacturing
Espuelas, Sandra, Omer, Joshua, Marcelino, Sara, Echeverria, Angel Maria and Seco, Andres, 2017, Applied Clay Science (146)pp 23-26, Published
Geotechnical case studies: emphasis on collapsible soil cases
Vandanapu, R, Omer, J. R. and Attom, M F, 2016, Institution of Civil Engineers : Proceedings : Forensic Engineering (169), 3pp 103-110, Published
Use of granulated blast furnace slag and lime in cement-bentonite slurry wall construction
Talefirouz, D., Çokça, E. and Omer, J., 2016, International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering (10), 1pp 81-85, Published
Toughness performance of recycled aggregates for use in road pavement
Omer, Joshua, Limbachiya, Mukesh, Ayan, Vahid and Khavandi, Alireza, 2016, International Journal of Transportation Engineering (3), 3pp 171-180, Published
CPT-based evaluation of blast densification (BD) performance in loose deposits with settlement and resistance considerations
Eslami, Abolfazl, Pirouzi, Arash, Omer, J.R. and Shakeran, Mahdi, 2015, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering (33), 5pp 1279-1293, Published
Evaluation of Finite Element, Finite Difference and Elasticity Methods for Hypothetical Raft Foundations Installed on Layered Strata
Omer, J. R. and Arbabi, A, 2015, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering (33), 4pp 1129-1140, Published
A Study of Train Vibration Response and Cumulative Deformation of Double Arch Tunnel in Kast Foundation
Lei, M and Omer, J. R., 2015, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering (33), 3pp 549-558, Published
Computerised processing of ground investigation data and use in predicting the load-settlement behaviour of piled foundations
Omer, J.R., 2015, Western Journal of Nursing Research (10), 3pp 223-233, Published
Water absorption studies in recycled aggregates for pavement materials
Ayan, Vahid, Omer, Joshua, Azadani, Sayed, Limbachiya, Mukesh and Khavandi, Alireza, 2014, Open Access Library Journal (1), e605pp 1-10, Published
Compaction assessment of recycled aggregates for use in unbound subbase applications
Omer, J. R., Masoud, S, Azadani, N, Ayan, V. and Limbachiya, M.C., 2014, Journal of Civil Engineering and Management (20), 2pp 169-174, Published
Water absorption and frost heaving of recycled aggregates
Omer, Joshua R., Limbachiya, Mukesh C., Ayan, Vahid and Azadani, Seyed Masoud Nasr, 2012, Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers: Construction Materials, Published
Integrating finite element and load-transfer analyses in modelling the effects of dewatering on pile settlement behaviour
Omer, Joshua R., 2012, Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy (49), 5pp 512-521, Published
Investigation of Compaction in Recycled Aggregates for Application in Subbase Layer of Highway
Ayan, Vahid, Limbachiya, Mukesh, Nasr Azadani, Seyed Masoud and Omer, Joshua R., 2012, International Mathematics Research Notices (38), 2pp 92-102, Published
An empirical method of analysis of load transfer and settlement behaviour of single piles
Omer, J. R., Delpak, R and Robinson, R. B., 2010, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering (28), 4pp 483-501, Published
Full-scale pile tests in sand and development of a computer program for predicting load capacity
Robinson, R B, Jones, C D, Shih, J K C, Omer, J R and Delpak, R, 2007, Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering (34), 10pp 1222-1236, Published
Analysis of drilled cast in-situ single piles in axial loading
Omer, Joshua R. and Delpak, Ray, 2007, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering - ASCE (12), A, Published
A new computer program for pile capacity prediction using CPT data
Omer, J. R., Delpak, R and Robinson, R. B., 2006, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering (24), 2pp 399-426, Published
Large scale pile tests in Mercia mudstone: data analysis and evaluation of current design methods
Omer, J. R., Robinson, R. B., Delpak, R. and Shih, J. K. C., 2003, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering (21), 3pp 167-200, Published
Instrumented load tests in mudstone: pile capacity and settlement prediction
Omer, J R, Delpak, R and Robinson, R B, 2002, Canadian Geotechnical Journal (39), 6pp 1254-1272, Published
Load-settlement prediction for large diameter bored piles in Mercia mudstone
Delpak, R, Omer, J. R. and Robinson, R. B., 2000, Proceedings of the ICE - Geotechnical Engineering (143), 4pp 201-224, Published
Optimisation of bridge maintenance strategy and cost considering whole life costs and carbon emissions
Omer, Joshua (2025). Zurich, Switzerland:pp 230-237 [Published]
Model tests on piled rafts-measured settlement compared with predictions from finite element and empirical methods
Omer, Joshua R. (2018). In: Muhannad, Suleiman T, Lemnitzer, Anne, Stuedlin, Armin W, (eds.), 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191, United States of America: [Published]
Semi-analytical solutions for vertically loaded piles in clay/weak rocks
Omer, J. R., Delpak, R. and Robinson, R. B. (2002). In: Pande, G N., Pietruszczak, S, (eds.)pp 493-499 [Published]
Advanced remote structural and geotechnical assessment of sheet pile walls using drone-mounted laser doppler vibrometry and high-resolution aerial imaging coupled with COMSOL multiphysics modelling
Omer, Joshua(2025). [Published]
Application of laboratory test data and finite element method to simulate the integrity of a tunnel support system
Omer, Joshua(2025). [Published]
Optimisation of bridge maintenance strategy and cost considering whole life costs and carbon emissions
Omer, Joshua(2025). [Published]
Lecture 8: foundation design To Eurocode 7
Omer, Joshua(2024). [Published]
Experimental method for detecting cracked and misaligned shafts
Omer, Joshua(2024). [Published]
Structural health monitoring of foundation structures—integrity testing of piles foundations and detection methods based on ground penetrating radar technology
Omer, Joshua(2024). [Published]
Lecture 5: design of pile foundations - 1
Omer, Joshua(2023). [Published]
Lecture 6: design of pile Foundations - 2
Omer, Joshua(2023). [Published]
Lecture 4: geotechnical aspect of offshore foundations
Omer, Joshua(2023). [Published]
An experimental study of lattice-shaped diaphragm walls with various chamber numbers and installed in soft soil
Omer, Joshua(2023). [Published]
Effects of energy loops on the geotechnical performance of geothermal energy piles
Omer, Joshua(2023). [Published]
The behaviour of laterally loaded piles installed in the sand with enlarged bases
Omer, J. and Haroglu, H.(2022). [Published]
Effects of rainfall on the stability of lateritic soils (Reinforced Red Coffee Soils - RCS)
Omer, Joshua(2020). [Published]
Use of artificial neural networks and CPT data to assess influence zone around pile base
Omer, Joshua(2019). [Published]
Model tests on piled rafts-measured settlement compared with predictions from finite element and empirical methods
Omer, Joshua R.(2018). [Published]
Finite element analysis of an underground collector installed by pipe-jacking method
Diaz-Diaz, Luis Maria, Omer, Joshua, Arias, Daniel and Pando, Luis(2016). [Published]
A review on testing of collapsible soils
Vandanapu, Ramesh, Omer, Joshua and Attom, Mousa(2016). [Published]
The use of polymer support fluids in drilled shafts construction
Omer, Joshua(2011). [Published]
A study into the absorption property of recycled concrete and reclaimed asphalt pavement mixes
Azadani, S.M.N., Omer, J. R., Limbachiya, M.C. and Ayan, V.(2011). [Published]
A study into the absorption properties of recycled concrete and reclaimed asphalt mixes
Ayan, Vahid, Masoud Nasr Azadani, Seyed, Omer, Joshua and Limbachiya, Mukesh C(2011). [Published]
A numerical model for load transfer and settlement of bored cast in-situ piles
Omer, Joshua R.(2010). [Published]
Implementation of approximate and finite element methods to predict negative skin friction and settlement of piles induced by ground water lowering
Omer, J. R.(2010). [Published]
Modelling and analysis of an elastic compound strut in axial compression
Omer, Joshua(2007). [Published]
Semi-analytical solutions for vertically loaded piles in clay/weak rocks
Omer, J. R., Delpak, R. and Robinson, R. B.(2002). [Published]
Numerical analysis of pile test data from instrumented large diameter bored piles formed in Keuper marl (Mercia mudstone)
Omer, J. R. (1998), PhD thesis [Accepted/In press]
Structural strength and performance of cement-stabilised murram
Omer, Joshua Ramogi (1992) [Accepted/In press]