Sustainable Infrastructure and Geoengineering Lab (SIGLab)

🚀 SIGLab at the @NSERC-CNSC Small Modular Reactors (#SMRs) Research Workshop 🌿 We are excited to announce that two of our researchers, Dr. Aylin Nouri (Postdoctoral Fellow) and Mohammad Naderi (PhD student), will be attending and presenting their latest research at the upcoming NSERC-CNSC SMRs Research Workshop in Ottawa. 📅 Date: Monday, April 14, 2025 📍 Venue: The Rogers Centre, Ottawa, ON Aylin will present her research titled "Innovative Dual-Function Thermosyphon Systems: Stabilizing Permafrost for SMR Foundations and Managing Reactor Core Heat Dissipation," highlighting advanced engineering solutions for permafrost stability and reactor efficiency in northern climates. Mohammad will present his research on the "Techno‐Economic Analysis of SMRs in Northern Canada," providing insights into the feasibility and economic viability of SMR technology deployment in remote northern communities. This workshop offers a great opportunity for knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration among leading researchers in the field of #SMRs and #energyinnovation. Looking forward to an insightful and productive workshop! #SIGLab #NSERC #CNSC #SMRResearch #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #Infrastructure #Permafrost #Engineering #Research #Networking #Workshop Pooneh Maghoul Polytechnique Montréal Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission – Commission canadienne de sûreté nucléaire Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Institut de l’énergie Trottier

Honored and grateful to Canada Foundation for Innovation/Fondation canadienne pour l'innovation (CFI) for featuring my journey and our #nordic research at Polytechnique Montréal, and its broader impact. Thanks to the generous support of CFI and Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie du Québec (MEIE) of the Government of Québec, we are building a cutting-edge #permafrost engineering lab at Polytechnique Montréal. What makes this lab truly unique is that it’s grounded in the #inventions developed within our Sustainable Infrastructure and Geoengineering Lab (SIGLab). This facility will help us work closely with #northern communities and contribute to Canada’s prosperity, sovereignty, and sustainable transition, especially in Canada's North! Can’t wait to see the lab up and running! A heartfelt thank you to Émilie Delattre and Greg Pilsworth for their invitation and for capturing my story so thoughtfully! I am flattered! 🔗 Fr: https://lnkd.in/euBxefHR 🔗 En: https://lnkd.in/ejhNFuA9 ---- Honorée et reconnaissante envers la Fondation canadienne pour l’innovation / Canada Foundation for Innovation (FCI) d’avoir mis en lumière mon parcours ainsi que notre recherche #nordique à Polytechnique Montréal et son impact plus large. Grâce au soutien généreux de la FCI et du Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie du Québec (MEIE), nous construisons un laboratoire de pointe en ingénierie du #pergélisol à Polytechnique Montréal. Ce qui rend ce laboratoire vraiment unique, c’est qu’il repose sur les #inventions développées au sein de notre Sustainable Infrastructure and Geoengineering Lab (SIGLab). Cette infrastructure nous permettra de collaborer de manière plus étroite avec les communautés #nordiques et de contribuer à la prospérité et à la souveraineté du Canada, en particulier dans le Nord canadien! J’ai hâte de voir ce laboratoire entrer en service! Un grand merci à Émilie Delattre et Greg Pilsworth pour leur invitation et pour avoir su capturer mon histoire avec tant de sensibilité! Je suis touchée!

Here’s another stellar lab graduate who successfully defended his PhD thesis yesterday: #DOCTOR Mahdi Alaei! 🎉 His thesis, "Biomimetic Vibroprobes for Lunar and Terrestrial Subsurface Exploration," takes inspiration from snakes, horned lizards, and sandfish to develop bio-inspired, energy-efficient probes that use high-frequency lateral vibrations to enhance penetration into granular regolith. Why?! Because space exploration demands innovative, lightweight, and compact solutions—especially for subsurface investigations on the Moon and beyond. Traditional Earth-based drilling tools are impractical due to payload restrictions. I’ve been the luckiest PhD advisor to have such an exceptional member in my lab—hardworking, professional, creative, and dedicated are just a few ways to describe him. His research has already led to a patent and several impactful publications! I am delighted that Mahdi is staying on as a postdoc in our lab! Well done, Mahdi! I do look forward to more inventions and impactful collaborations! Ad lunam!

Heartfelt congrats to our newly minted #DOCTOR Ali Gheysari for successfully defending his PhD thesis today! 🎉 Ali's PhD thesis, #AI-Powered Data-Driven Ground Surface Temperature Forecasting for #Climate-Resilient Northern Infrastructure, tackles the urgent challenge of #permafrost degradation due to climate change. His work integrates AI and data-driven methodologies to assess permafrost thaw threats and support the #resilience of critical #northern infrastructure, particularly linear #transportation systems in Canada's North. His findings are not only scientifically significant but also #policy-driven, with direct applications for infrastructure #adaptation in northern regions. His work has led to a series of impactful publications and open-source codes for the climate assessment of geotechnical assets. Ali’s technical and #leadership excellence was so remarkable that during his PhD studies, he secured a position at Worley as a Low Carbon and Conventional Energy Infrastructure Engineer in Calgary! Ali, thank you for your hard work, dedication, and leadership—you have been instrumental in so many initiatives and developments in our lab. I am proud to see your achievements and professional growth, and I look forward to the impact of your work on our northerners and sustainable transition in Canada! As I always tell my students, our lab is and will always be your home—this is just the beginning of new initiatives and research collaborations. Well done!

🚀 Upcoming PhD Defense: Bio-inspired Probes for #Lunar and #Planetary Exploration 🌕 We are excited to announce that Mahdi Alaei, a PhD candidate in Civil Engineering at #SIGLab, will be defending his thesis titled: "Bio-inspired and Subsonic Projectile Probes for Lunar and Planetary Subsurface Exploration." 🗓 Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2025 🕙 Time: 10:00 AM CST 💻 Location: Online (via Microsoft Teams – please contact alaeivam@myumanitoba.ca for the meeting link) Mahdi’s research introduces novel approaches to lunar and planetary exploration, inspired by biological systems. Recognizing the limitations of traditional exploration methods, Mahdi developed innovative bio-inspired and subsonic projectile probes that significantly reduce soil penetration resistance. This pioneering work not only advances our ability to efficiently explore subsurface environments in lunar and planetary missions, but also pushes the boundaries of sustainable and efficient exploration technologies inspired by nature. Join us online to learn more about the future of lunar exploration and how bio-inspired engineering can transform space exploration! Best of luck, Mahdi! 🎓✨ #PhDDefense #BioinspiredEngineering #SpaceExploration #CivilEngineering #Innovation #SIGLab #MoonExploration #PlanetaryScience #Engineering #Sustainability #Research

🚀 Upcoming PhD Defense: AI-Powered Forecasting for #ClimateResilient Infrastructure 🌍 We are pleased to announce that Ali Gheysari, a PhD candidate in Civil Engineering at #SIGLab, will defend his thesis entitled "AI-Powered Data-Driven Ground Surface Temperature Forecasting for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure in Cold Regions". 🗓 Date: Monday, March 17, 2025 🕙 Time: 10:00 AM CST 💻 Location: Online (via Microsoft Teams – please contact fatolaha@myumanitoba.ca for the link) Ali’s innovative research addresses critical challenges in forecasting ground surface temperature, a key factor affecting infrastructure stability in cold regions. Recognizing the limitations of traditional forecasting methods, his work leverages advanced #MachineLearning algorithms trained on extensive reanalysis datasets to provide accurate long-term predictions. His results show significant improvements over conventional techniques, enabling more precise risk assessment and resilient design for northern Canadian infrastructure impacted by #ClimateChange. Applications of Ali's research include improved planning and management of infrastructure, enhancing safety, sustainability, and resilience in Canada's northern regions. Join us online to learn more about how #AI and #DataScience can advance infrastructure design and safety in response to climate change! Best of luck, Ali! 🎓 #PhDDefense #CivilEngineering #Permafrost #Infrastructure #Forecasting #ClimateAdaptation #SIGLab #Sustainability #Research

Join our Director, Prof. Pooneh Maghoul, in her upcoming Science Talk hosted by the The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH).  📌 Topic: Permafrost, Carbon, Circularity – A Bio-cementation Solution for Mitigating Climate Change in the Arctic   📅 Date: March 12, 2025   🕙 Time: 10:00 – 11:00 (EST)   📍 Location: Online (Free Registration) In her talk, Dr. Maghoul will introduce an innovative, nature-based #biocementation method, enhanced with #nanotechnology, designed to stabilize thawing soils, reduce carbon emissions, and strengthen infrastructure resilience in #Cold_regions. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn how cutting-edge research can provide practical, #sustainable solutions to one of our planet's urgent environmental issues.  🖥 Register now for free: https://lnkd.in/e4DpDZKa #SIGLab #Sustainability #Permafrost #CarbonCapture #ClimateAction #CircularEconomy #Infrastructure #Arctic #Innovation #Research #UNU_INWEH

🔬 New Research from #SIGLab: Advancing #SoilStabilization in Cold Regions ❄️🌱 At #SIGLab, we are committed to developing innovative nature-based solutions to address #geotechnical challenges in cold environments. Our latest research, "Effect of Freeze-Thaw Cycles on Engineering Properties of Nano-SiO₂ Enhanced Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation in Kaolinite Clay", explores a cutting-edge approach to stabilizing soils in #permafrost and cold regions. Why is this important? In #permafrost and #coldregions, #frost_action and #freeze_thaw cycles adversely affect soil strength and structural integrity of infrastructure. Traditional stabilization methods, such as cement-based solutions, come with high environmental costs. Our study focuses on an alternative: Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (#MICP), enhanced with nano-SiO₂, to improve soil strength and durability in freezing conditions. Key Findings: ✔️ #MICP combined with nano-SiO₂ significantly improved the strength of kaolinite clay, a highly plastic fine-grained soil. ✔️ Even after six #freezethaw cycles, the treated soil maintained 4x greater strength than untreated samples. ✔️ Nano-SiO₂ played a crucial role in enhancing #biocementation, creating a more resilient soil matrix. ✔️ Microstructural analysis confirmed increased calcium carbonate precipitation, leading to a stronger, more durable soil texture. This study, led by our PhD Candidate Sara Ghalandarzadeh, is part of #SIGLab’s broader efforts to develop climate change adaptation and #sustainable solutions for infrastructure in #northern and #permafrost regions, ensuring greater resilience against #climatechange impacts. Congratulations to Sara and the entire research team on this impactful work! 🎉 📖 Read the full article in Cold Regions Science and Technology: https://lnkd.in/et5XMhSR Acknowledgement: We acknowledge the financial support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and Pôle de recherche et d'innovation en matériaux avancés du Québec (PRIMA Québec), BGC Engineering Inc., AWN NANOTECH, @Object Research Systems (ORS) Inc., and Polytechnique Montréal. Sara Ghalandarzadeh Benoît COURCELLES Richard Boudreault P.Phys., MEng, MBA, Sust. D. Lukas Arenson Pooneh Maghoul #SustainableEngineering #ColdRegions #InfrastructureResilience #Geotech #Research

I look forward to speaking (virtually) at the "1er Colloque Multidisciplinaire sur la Nordicité et les Enjeux Hivernaux dans les Opérations aérospatiales" (1st Multidisciplinary symposium on Nordicity and Winter Challenges in Aerospace Operations) at École des sciences de la gestion (ESG UQAM) on February 28, 2025, where I will present "Les Jumeaux Numériques pour les Infrastructures Nordiques Durables" (Digital Twins for Sustainable Northern Infrastructure). As #climatechange accelerates, the #resilience and #safety of #northern #airport infrastructure and #transportation face unprecedented challenges. Extreme weather conditions, #permafrost degradation, and evolving operational demands require cutting-edge technological solutions. At Sustainable Infrastructure and Geoengineering Lab (SIGLab) of Polytechnique Montréal and The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), we are at the forefront of Digital Twin technology for climate-resilient #infrastructure by developing advanced #physics-based #simulation models that integrate #geomechanics, #geophysics, #remotesensing, signal processing, #AI, and real-time #data analytics as well as advanced ground-based sensing systems to optimize critical #infrastructure performance in cold climates. These digital replicas enable proactive maintenance, enhanced #risk assessment, and improved decision-making for safer, more sustainable northern aviation networks. I am excited to exchange ideas with industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers on the future of sustainable northern transportation. Registration: https://lnkd.in/e_kTub4N --- Alors que le changement climatique s’accélère, la résilience et la sécurité des infrastructures aéroportuaires et des transports nordiques font face à des défis sans précédent. Les conditions météorologiques extrêmes, la dégradation du pergélisol et l’évolution des exigences opérationnelles nécessitent des solutions technologiques de pointe. À Sustainable Infrastructure and Geoengineering Lab (SIGLab) de Polytechnique Montréal et à The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), nous sommes à l’avant-garde des jumeaux numériques pour les infrastructures résilientes au climat, en développant des modèles de simulation avancés basés sur la physique. Ceux-ci intègrent la géomécanique, la géophysique, la télédétection, le traitement du signal, l’intelligence artificielle et l’analyse des données en temps réel, ainsi que des systèmes avancés de surveillance au sol, afin d’optimiser la performance des infrastructures critiques en climat froid. Ces répliques numériques permettent une maintenance proactive, une évaluation des risques améliorée et une prise de décision optimisée pour des réseaux aériens nordiques plus sûrs et durables. Plus d'info: https://lnkd.in/e2FPrY6G Mehran Ebrahimi

🌟 Exploring Innovative Solutions for Structural Health Monitoring at SIGLab! 🌟 At SIGLab, we are committed to pioneering solutions that enhance the resilience and safety of critical infrastructure. One of our recent research efforts focuses on detecting and localizing fatigue cracks. Our lab member, Shihao Cui, recently published a study titled "Fatigue crack localisation based on empirical mode decomposition and pre-selected entropy" in Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation. This work presents an innovative method for identifying early-stage fatigue cracks using vibration response analysis. The research leverages empirical mode decomposition (EMD) to process vibration signals and entropy measures to pinpoint irregularities caused by crack "breathing" phenomena (the open-close motion during vibrations). Why is this significant? Shihao’s work introduces a robust approach for non-destructive testing (NDT), ensuring early detection and more informed maintenance decisions—crucial for structures in harsh environments like Northern Canada, where our lab focuses much of its research. This study aligns with SIGLab's broader mission of addressing challenges in infrastructure resilience, especially under climate change impacts. The methods explored here complement our work on critical and energy infrastructure monitoring. 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ezSggv27 We are proud of Shihao's contribution to advancing the field of structural health monitoring and look forward to integrating these insights into broader applications across Canada’s northern infrastructure. #SIGLab #StructuralHealthMonitoring #FatigueCrackDetection #NondestructiveTesting #InfrastructureResilience #Innovation #Research #Sustainability #ClimateChange #PermafrostEngineering