Jonghoek Kim | Environmental Engineering | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Civil Engineering Awards

Prof. Jonghoek Kim | Environmental Engineering | Research Excellence Award

Professor | Sejong University | South Korea

Prof. Jonghoek Kim is an established researcher in robotics, autonomous systems, and intelligent sensing, with extensive contributions to robot path planning, target tracking, multi-agent systems, and optimal control. His research addresses complex environments such as underwater, aerial, and obstacle-rich domains, emphasizing robust localization, estimation, and cooperative control under uncertainty and non-line-of-sight conditions. A significant portion of his work focuses on sonar-based sensing, autonomous underwater vehicles, and distributed robotic networks, advancing both theoretical frameworks and practical algorithms. His publications span leading journals in robotics, control systems, signal processing, and marine engineering, reflecting sustained research productivity and interdisciplinary impact. Current research efforts include target tracking in challenging environments using sensor networks and maximum-range information. Through a combination of analytical modeling, algorithm development, and system-level validation, his work contributes to the advancement of resilient autonomous systems applicable to robotics, marine exploration, and intelligent transportation systems.

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Documents 124

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Damao Xu | Environmental Science and Engineering | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Civil Engineering Awards

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Damao Xu | Environmental Science and Engineering | Research Excellence Award

Deputy director | China University of Mining and Technology | China

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Damao Xu is an active researcher in the field of environmental and earth sciences, with a strong emphasis on soil and groundwater pollution, contaminant migration, and sustainable remediation technologies. The research portfolio centers on understanding the geochemical behaviors, environmental availability, and health risks of potentially toxic elements in contaminated soils, sediments, and industrial solid wastes. A significant body of work investigates the coupled effects of environmental processes such as freeze–thaw cycles, acidification, dry–wet alternation, and mineral–organic matter interactions on pollutant mobility and fate. Research contributions demonstrate advanced integration of mineralogical, geochemical, and environmental chemistry approaches to elucidate the mechanisms governing heavy metal release, bioaccessibility, and stabilization in smelter-impacted soils and solid waste dumping sites. Particular attention is given to lead, zinc, cadmium, arsenic, and multi-metal systems, providing mechanistic insights that support risk assessment and remediation decision-making. The work also extends to soil interface chemistry, ecological toxicity, environmental health effects, and the development and evaluation of functional materials for pollution control.

Majdi Benamara | Environmental Engineering | Breakthrough Research Award

Published on by Civil Engineering Awards

Dr. Majdi Benamara | Environmental Engineering | Breakthrough Research Award

Postdoc | University of Minho | Portugal

Dr. Majdi Benamara is a dedicated researcher in physics whose work spans advanced functional materials, nanostructured oxides, and energy‐related applications. With a publication record of 22 peer-reviewed articles, his contributions demonstrate strong expertise in semiconductor metal oxides, ferroelectric thin films, photocatalysts, and gas-sensing materials. His research consistently integrates experimental synthesis, structural and electrical characterization, and application-driven performance evaluation. Over the years, he has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams across Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, and Tunisia, contributing to internationally relevant projects focused on sustainable materials and next-generation electronic devices. His recent appointment as a researcher at EMPA – Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology reflects his growing impact in advanced materials engineering, particularly in building energy materials and hybrid oxide systems. Previous research experience at the University of Minho involved ferroelectricity in binary oxide thin films for high-performance capacitors, further solidifying his expertise in electronic materials and thin-film technologies. Earlier roles and internships at Materia Nova (Belgium), the University of Aveiro (Portugal), and the University of Sevilla (Spain) contributed to his strong technical foundation in sol–gel chemistry, supercritical drying, spark plasma sintering, pulsed laser deposition, and ion-beam sputtering. Dr. Benamara’s work has generated advances in gas sensors for environmental monitoring, visible-light photocatalysts for pollutant degradation, and doped oxide systems for electronic and dielectric applications. His collaborations with leading researchers and laboratories have strengthened his scientific visibility and enabled the development of innovative materials addressing global challenges in air quality, environmental remediation, and sustainable energy technologies. Through his consistent scholarly output and broad experimental capabilities, he continues to contribute significantly to the progress of materials science and applied physics on an international scale.

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Publications

1. Bembibre, A., Benamara, M., Hjiri, M., Gómez, E., Alamri, H. R., Dhahri, R., & others. (2022). Visible-light driven sonophotocatalytic removal of tetracycline using Ca-doped ZnO nanoparticles. Chemical Engineering Journal, 427, 132006.

2. Jaballah, S., Benamara, M., Dahman, H., Ly, A., Lahem, D., Debliquy, M., & El Mir, L. (2020). Effect of Mg-doping ZnO nanoparticles on detection of low ethanol concentrations. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 255, 123643.

3. Jaballah, S., Benamara, M., Dahman, H., Lahem, D., Debliquy, M., & El Mir, L. (2020). Formaldehyde sensing characteristics of calcium-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles-based gas sensor. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 31(11), 8230–8239.

4. Benamara, M., Gómez, E., Dhahri, R., & Serrà, A. (2021). Enhanced photocatalytic removal of cyanotoxins by Al-doped ZnO nanoparticles with visible-LED irradiation. Toxins, 13(1), 66.

5. Benamara, M., Massoudi, J., Dahman, H., Dhahri, E., El Mir, L., Ly, A., & others. (2020). High response to sub-ppm level of NO₂ with 50% RH of ZnO sensor obtained by an auto-combustion method. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 31(17), 14249–14260.