Mateus Dias
Graduate Student CIVE-PhD Lincoln Structural Engineering-Advisor: Richard Wood University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Contact
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mdias2@huskers.unl.edu
Mateus Dias is a Ph.D. student in Structural Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), which he joined in June 2025. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Brazil (2016), and completed his master’s degree in Structural Engineering at the Federal University of Goiás, Brazil, in 2025.
His research focuses on leveraging unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for high-resolution image acquisition and 3D point cloud reconstruction of structural systems, with an emphasis on railroad track environments as a case study. His work aims to utilize machine learning-based methods for automated defect identification and structural condition assessment, integrating computer vision and data-driven approaches within the broader field of structural engineering. Outside of research, Mateus is an enthusiastic follower of college football and a proud supporter of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Go Huskers!
Education
· M.S. in Structural Engineering, Federal University of Goias (UFG), Brazil (2025).
· MBA in Design, Sizing, and Modeling of Structures and Foundations, Institute of Postgraduate and Graduate Studies (IPOG), Brazil (2021).
· B.S. in Civil Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Goias (PUC-GO), Brazil (2016).
Employment History
· University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Graduate Research Assistant (06/2025-present).
· Federal University of Goias, Graduate Research Assistant (03/2023-03/2025).
· Cerrado Art Gallery, Site Engineer (10/2022-05/2023).
· Brasal Incorporations, Site Engineer (05/2021-10/2022).
· BNGL Management and Consulting, Site Engineer (09/2020-05/2021).
· Qualymulti Corporate Solutions, Site Engineer (03/2018-11/2018).
· Merzian Construction and Development, Engineering Intern (09/2014-03/2017).
Area of Research and Professional Interest
· Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Engineering.
· Structural Health Monitoring (SHM).
· Computer vision and UAS Applications.
· Nonlinear Structural Analysis.
Research Experience
· Next Generation of Railroaders: Attracting and Retaining Talent by Leveraging Emerging Technologies, Federal Railroad Administration Agreement (CRISI), 06/2025-present.
Publications and Presentations
· Dias, M., Albuquerque, A., Benedetti, K. (2024). Nonlinear Analysis of Static and Dynamic Stability of Space Truss Structures Using the Positional Finite Element Method. XLV Ibero-Latin American Congress on Computational Methods in Engineering.
Service
· Member, UNL College of Engineering’s Graduate Student Advisory Board (GeSAB), 09/2025-present.
Honors and Awards
· Othmer Fellowship (2025-present).
· CAPES Graduate Fellowship (2023-2024).