Milad Roohi

Milad Roohi

Contact Information:

Scott Campus (Omaha)
PKI 103D
(402) 554-6326
milad.roohi@unl.edu
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Personal Links:

• Smart Resilient Infrastructure and Urban Systems (SiRIUS) Lab
• Google Scholar
• ResearchGate
• Researcher ID
• Scopus

Professional Memberships:

• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
• Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI)
• Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI)

Assistant Professor

Academic Degrees

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Risk-Based Community Resilience Planning, Colorado State University, 2021
  • Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Vermont, 2019
  • M.Sc., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tehran, 2014
  • B.Sc., Civil and Environmental Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, 2011

Research, Education, and Outreach at SiRIUS Lab

Visit our Smart Resilient Infrastructure and Urban Systems (SiRIUS) Lab website for more on our research, education, and outreach initiatives.

Experience

Academic and Professional Appointments:
Professional Committee Membership:

Areas of Research and Professional Interest

Our research at the Smart Resilient Infrastructure and Urban Systems (SiRIUS) lab investigates the interplay and connection between multi-disciplinary data, algorithms, computational models, and emerging technologies. Our aim is to enhance the performance, monitoring, and resilience of interconnected civil infrastructure and urban systems against deterioration, natural hazards, and climate change. By leveraging state-of-the-art technology, we strive to make a positive impact on the future of infrastructure engineering and contribute to the development of smart resilient communities.

Our lab's research has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT), Mid-America Transportation Center for Transportation Safety and Equity (MATC-TSE), UNL Grand Challenges Awards, and Durham School Seed Grants.

Our research interests encompass the following interconnected areas: 

  • Multi-hazard risk, reliability and resilience of civil infrastructure and urban systems

  • Structural sensing, data fusion, and health monitoring for cyber-physical systems

  • Technological development, testing, design, and assessment of resilient structures

  • Machine learning and AI applied to natural hazards and civil infrastructure research

  • Bayesian filtering, identification, and control in structural and dynamical systems

  • Structural dynamics and earthquake engineering

Research Profiles:

In the News: Powered by the Nebraska Engineering News

Courses Taught

About Milad Roohi

Milad Roohi is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). He is also the director of the Smart Resilient Infrastructure and Urban Systems (SiRIUS) lab.

Before joining UNL, he worked as a Senior Scientist at Aon, the world's largest reinsurance intermediary, in the Impact Forecasting Catastrophe Modeling Research and Development Center of Excellence. He completed his Postdoctoral Fellowship at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Risk-Based Community Resilience Planning. He received his Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Vermont.

His expertise lies in structural engineering and mechanics, infrastructure sensing and monitoring, and risk, reliability, and resilience engineering. His research has been funded by NSF, NIST, NDOT, HUD, Mid-America Transportation Center for Transportation Safety and Equity, as well as Aon Service Corporation. He has authored over 40 scholarly works, including peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters, with publications in reputable journals by ASCE, Wiley, Elsevier, and Springer. He has presented his research at esteemed national and international conferences, where he has also chaired and co-chaired sessions, and has been invited to deliver seminars at prominent international conferences and leading institutions across the United States. He actively participates as a voting member in the ASCE Structural Control and Health Monitoring, ASCE Objective Resilience and ASCE Dynamics technical committees. He is Inaugural Member of International Association for Multidisciplinary Resilience (IAMDR) and a member of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering's Task Group on Design Requirements for Infrastructure Resilience. 

He was awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NHERI NCO to participate in the inaugural NHERI-NIED/E-Defense meeting in Japan (January 2025), aimed at advancing U.S.-Japan earthquake engineering and resilience research. He is also a recipient of prestigious honors, including the NSF Primary Travel Award (2024), the Joyce R. Jeffries New Faculty Scholar Award (2023), the UNL Research Development Fellows Program Award (2023), and recognition for teaching excellence (2023).

As an educator, he is passionate about sharing his knowledge and expertise with students. He is a Teaching Fellow at UNL and teaches several undegraduate- and graduate-level courses including Engineering Statics, Masonry and Timber Design and Reliability of Structures. He has developed a new course on Infrastructure and Community Resilience, aiming to provide students with a strong foundation in engineering principles and prepare them for the challenges of designing resilient and sustainable infrastructure.

Honors and Awards

  • 2024 - Awarded by National Science Foundation (NSF) and NHERI NCO to attend the inaugural NHERI-NIED/E-Defense Research Collaboration Meeting, Japan, January 2025, to advance U.S.-Japan earthquake engineering and resilience research.
  • 2024 - National Science Foundation (NSF) Primary Travel Award Recipient to join Natural Hazards Research Summit, May 14-15, 2024, in College Park, MD
  • 2023 - Recipient of 2022 Joyce R. Jeffries New Faculty Scholar Awards, Office of Research and Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 2023 - Received UNL Research Development Fellows Program (RDFP) Award from the Prem S. Paul New Faculty Scholar Award Fund 
  • 2023 - Recognized for excellence in teaching during the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering Excellence in Teaching Reception
  • 2022 - Selected as one of six University of Nebraska College of Engineering Research Fellows
  • 2018 - Awarded University of Vermont Graduate College Grants to attend the ASCE EMI Conference, MIT, Boston, MA 
  • 2015 - Awarded Full Graduate Research Assistantship for entire Ph.D. studies (2015-2019) from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Vermont 

Funding

  • $75,000 (Co-PI) - National Science Foundation (NSF) (10/01/2024 - 03/31/2025)
  • $68,166 (PI) - Mid-America Transportation Center for Transportation Safety and Equity (MATC-TSE) (11/15/2024 - 12/31/2025)
  • $147,436 (Co-PI) - Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) (07/01/2023 - 05/31/2025)
  • $75,000 (Lead PI) -  UNL Grand Challenges Catalyst competition (01/08/2024-31/03/2025)
  • $74,906 (Co-PI) - UNL Grand Challenges Catalyst competition (01/08/2024-31/03/2025)
  • $50,000 (Lead PI) - UNL Durham School Seed Grants (10/1/2023-10/1/2025)
  • $50,000 (Co-PI) - UNL Durham School Seed Grants (10/1/2023-10/1/2025)

Selected Publications

Ph.D. Dissertation:

Roohi, M. (2019). Performance-Based Seismic Monitoring of Instrumented Buildings. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Vermont, Graduate College Dissertations and Theses. 1140. [Link: https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/1140]

Book Chapters:
  1. Roohi, M., Behnam, B., Farahani, S., Shojaeian, A. (2023). Seismic Multi-hazard Risk and Resilience Modeling of Networked Infrastructure Systems (Chapter 18). Automation in Construction Toward Resilience: Robotics, Smart Materials & Intelligent Systems, Taylor & Francis, London, UK.
  2. Roohi, M., Hernandez, E. M., Rosowsky, D. (2019). Nonlinear Seismic Response Reconstruction in Minimally Instrumented Buildings Validation using NEESWood. Structural Health Monitoring 2019, Enabling Intelligent Life-cycle Health Management for Industry Internet of Things (NOT). [DOI: https://www.dpi-proceedings.com/index.php/shm2019/article/view/32390]
Refereed Journal Papers:

  1. Roohi, M., Ghasemi, S., Sediek, O., Jeon, H., van de Lindt, J. W., Shields, M., Hamide, S., Cutler, H. (2024). Multi-Disciplinary Seismic Resilience Modeling and Community Engagement for Developing Mitigation Policies. Resilient Cities and Structures. [CiteScore: 3.2; DOI: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2772741624000309]

  2. Sediek, O. A., Roohi, M., and van de Lindt, J. W. (2024). A Genetic Algorithm Framework for Seismic Retrofit of Building Portfolios to Enhance Community Resilience. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 104570. [Impact Factor: 5; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2024.104570] 

  3. Sediek, O., Roohi, M., and van de Lindt, J. W. (2024). A Decision Support Methodology for Seismic Design Requirements of Buildings to Achieve Community- 2024 Level Resilience Metrics. ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, Part A: Civil Engineering. [Impact Factor: 3.084; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1061/AJRUA6.RUENG-1213]
  4. Makhoul, N., Roohi, M., van de Lindt, J. W., Sousa, H., Oliveira Santos, L., Argyroudis, S., Barbosa, A., Derras, B., Gardoni, P., Sung Lee, J., Mitoulis, S., Moffett, B., Navarro, C., Padgett, J., Rincon, R., Schmidt, F., Shaban, N., Stefanidou, S., Tubaldi, E., Xenidis, Y., Zmigrodzki. (2024). Seismic resilience modelling of interdependent built environment for integrating SHM and emerging technologies in decision-making.  Structural Engineering International. [Impact Factor: 1.292; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10168664.2023.2295901]
  5. Farahani, S., Shojaeian, A., Behnam, B., Roohi, M. (2023). Probabilistic Seismic Multi-hazard Risk and Restoration Modeling for Resilience-informed Decision Making in Railway Networks. Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure. [Impact Factor: 3.94; DOI: 10.1080/23789689.2023.2170090]
  6. Cheraghzade, M., Roohi, M. (2022). Deep learning for seismic structural monitoring by accounting for mechanics-based model uncertainty. Journal of Building Engineering, 104837.  [Impact Factor: 7.144; DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104837]
  7. Roohi, M., Erazo, K., Rosowsky, D., Hernandez, E. M. (2021). An extended model-based observer for state estimation in nonlinear hysteretic structural systems. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 146, 107015. [Impact Factor: 8.934; DOI: 10.1016/j.ymssp.2020.107015 ]
  8. Roohi, M., Hernandez, E. M., Rosowsky, D. (2021). Reconstructing Element-by-Element Dissipated Hysteretic Energy in Instrumented Buildings: Application to the Van Nuys Hotel Testbed. Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 147(1), 04020141. [Impact Factor: 2.895; DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EM.1943-7889.0001864]
  9. Roohi, M., van de Lindt, J. W., Rosenheim, N., Hu, Y., Cutler, H. (2020). Implication of building inventory accuracy on physical and socio-economic resilience metrics for informed decision-making in natural hazards. Structure and infrastructure engineering, 17(4), 534-554. [Impact Factor: 3.659; DOI: 10.1080/15732479.2020.1845753]
  10. Roohi, M., Hernandez, E. M. (2020). Performance-based post-earthquake decision making for instrumented buildings. Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring, 10(5), 775-792. [Impact Factor: 3.338; DOI: 10.1007/s13349-020-00416-1]
  11. Anajafi, H., Poursadr, K., Roohi, M., Santini-Bell, E. (2020). Effectiveness of seismic isolation for long-period structures subject to far-field and near-field excitations. Frontiers in Built Environment, 6, 24. [DOI: 10.3389/fubil.2020.00024]
  12. Roohi, M., Hernandez, E. M., Rosowsky, D. (2019). Nonlinear seismic response reconstruction and performance assessment of instrumented wood-frame buildings—Validation using NEESWood Capstone full-scale tests. Structural Control and Health Monitoring, 26(9), e2373. [Impact Factor: 6.058; DOI: 10.1002/stc.2373]
  13. Roohi, M., Hernandez, E., Rosowsky, D. (2018). Estimation of element-by-element demand-to-capacity ratios in instrumented SMRF buildings using measured seismic response. Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics, 47(12), 2561-2578. [Impact Factor: 4.060; DOI: 10.1002/eqe.3099]
Refereed Conference Papers:
  1. Ullah, A., Roohi, M. (2024). Model Class and Parameter Selection for Bayesian Filtering with Application to a Modular Active Spring-Damper System: Round-Robin Challenge. Proceedings of the IMAC-XLII, A Conference and Exposition on Structural Dynamics, Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM) Series, Orlando, FL, 2024.

  2. Roohi, M., Cheraghzade, M. (2023). Optimal Sensor Placement and Probabilistic Engineering Demand Parameter Reconstruction for Seismic Monitoring and Risk Modeling. Canadian Conference - Pacific Conference on Earthquake Engineering 2023, Vancouver, British Columbia, June 25-30 2023.

  3. Roohi, M., Hernandez, E. M., Rosowsky, D. (2023).  Nonlinear Model-Data Fusion with Minimal Sensing for Performance-Based Seismic Monitoring of Instrumented Buildings. 14th International Conference on Applications of Statistics and Probability in Civil Engineering, (ICASP14), Dublin, Ireland, July 9-13, 2023.

  4. Roohi, M., Nguyen, T., van de Lindt, J., Shields, M., Cutler, H., Jeon, H. (2023). Multi-Disciplinary Resilience Modeling for Developing Mitigation Policies in Seismic-prone Communities: Application to Salt Lake City, Utah. 14th International Conference on Applications of Statistics and Probability in Civil Engineering, (ICASP14), Dublin, Ireland, July 9-13, 2023.

  5. Shields, M., Cutler, H., Jeon, H., Roohi, M., Nguyen, T., van de Lindt, J. (2023). Integrating Stochastic Engineering with Economic Models to Evaluate Earthquake Mitigation Strategies in Salt Lake City, Utah. 14th International Conference on Applications of Statistics and Probability in Civil Engineering (ICASP14), Dublin, Ireland, July 9-13, 2023.

  6. Roohi, M., Hernandez, E. M., Rosowsky, D. (2023). Dissipated Hysteretic Energy Reconstruction for High-resolution Seismic Monitoring of Instrumented Buildings. Eighth International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering (IALCCE 2023), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy, July 2-6, 2023.

  7. Roohi, M., Li, J., van de Lindt, J. (2023). Integrating Life-Cycle Analysis into Civil Infrastructure Resilience Decision Making: Illustrative Application to Seismic Resilience Modeling of US Communities. Eighth International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering (IALCCE 2023), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy, July 2-6, 2023.

  8. Bahmani, P., Hayes, B., van de Lindt, J., Koliou, M., Line, P., Roohi, M. (2023). Seismic Performance of Balloon-framed Mass Timber Multi-family Buildings. World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE), Oslo, Norway, 2023.

  9. Cheraghzade, M., Roohi, M. (2023). Incorporating Uncertainty in Mechanics-based Synthetic Data Generation for Deep Learning-based Structural
    Monitoring. Proceedings of the IMAC-XLI, A Conference and Exposition on Structural Dynamics, Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM) Series, Austin, TX, 2023.

  10. Roohi, M., Li, J., van de Lindt, J. (2022). Seismic Functionality Analysis of Interdependent Buildings and Electric Power Systems. 12th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering (12NCE), Salt Lake City, UT, June 27-July 1, 2022.

  11. Roohi, M., van de Lindt, J., Rosenheim, N., Cutler, H.  (2019). Multi-dimensional Resilience Modeling and Planning for Interdependent Infrastructure Systems. 17th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (17WCEE), Sendai, Japan, Sep 27 - Oct 2, 2021.

  12. Roohi, M., Hernandez, E. M., Rosowsky, D.  (2019). Nonlinear Seismic Response Reconstruction in Minimally Instrumented Buildings- Validation using NEESWood Capstone Full-Scale Tests. 12th International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring (IWSHM), Stanford University, Stanford, California, Sep. 10-12, 2019.

  13. Roohi, M., Hernandez, E. M., Rosowsky, D. (2018). Element-by-element Seismic Damage Diagnosis & Prognosis in Minimally Instrumented Wood-frame Buildings. ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI) Conference. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), MA, May 29-June 1, 2018.

  14. Roohi, M., Hernandez, E. M., Rosowsky, D. (2017). Element-by-Element Demand-to-Capacity Ratio Estimation from SMRF Building Seismic Records. 7th International Conference on Experimental Vibration Analysis for Civil Eng. Structures (EVACES), University of California San Diego, California, July 12-14, 2017.

Recent Presentations

  1. Roohi, M.. Minimal Sensing and Model-Data Fusion for Performance-based Seismic Monitoring of Instrumented Buildings. Round-Table Workshop On Leveraging Low-Cost Seismic Networks In Building Resilient Cities & Infrastructures, Taipei, Taiwan, 2023.

  2. Roohi, M., Nguyen, T., Navarro, C., van de Lindt, J.. Seismic Resilience Modeling of Salt Lake County. IN-CORE Tech Meeting: Multi-disciplinary Community Resilience. Oct 18, 2022.

  3. Roohi, M., van de Lindt, J., Li, J., Rosenheim, N., Cutler, H.. Multi-Disciplinary Seismic Resilience Modeling. ASCE Convention 2022, Anaheim, California, Oct 23-26, 2022.

  4. Roohi, M., van de Lindt, J., Li, J., Gardoni, P., Rosenheim, N., Cutler, H.. Quantifying the Relationship between Interdependent Infrastructure Data Availability and Estimation Accuracy of Community Resilience Metrics. LifeLines 2021/2022, San Fernando Earthquake Conference, University of California, Los Angles, CA, 7-10, 2021.

  5. Roohi, M., van de Lindt, J.. Multi-Dimensional Resilience Modeling and Planning for Independent infrastructure systems. 17th World Conference in Earthquake Engineering (17WCEE), Special Session on Framework for Infrastructure Systems Resilience: Overview and Illustrative Applications in Japan and U.S., Sendai, Japan, October 1, 2021.

  6. Roohi, M., Sedaghati, F.. Caribbean Earthquake Catastrophe Model Development. Aon Reinsurance Solutions Model Evaluation Meeting, July 26, 2021.

  7. Roohi, M., van de Lindt, J., Li, J., Rosenheim, N., Cutler, H.. Urban-scale Seismic Modeling for Resilience-Informed Decision-Making: The Role of Data and Information Availability. Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference (EMI), Columbia University, NY, May 26-29, 2021.

  8. Roohi, M., Clavin, C, Hamide, S.. Integrating the NIST Community Resilience Planning Playbook with IN-CORE. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Semi-Annual Meeting, Nov 5-6, 2020.

  9. Roohi, M., van de Lindt, J., Koliou, M.. Numerical Analysis for Collapse Assessment of Cross Laminated Timber Buildings. CO-OP Research to Enable Mass Timber Multi-Family Housing Workshop, Denver, CO, Nov 21, 2019.

  10. Roohi, M., Hernandez, E. M., Rosowsky, D.. Nonlinear Seismic Response Reconstruction in Minimally Instrumented Buildings- Validation using NEES Wood Capstone Full-Scale Tests. ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI) Conference, Caltech, Pasadena, CA, June 18-21, 2019.

  11. Roohi, M., Hernandez, E. M., Rosowsky, D.. Element-by-element Seismic Damage Diagnosis & Prognosis in Minimally Instrumented Wood-frame Buildings. ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI) Conference, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, MA, May 29-June 1, 2018.