Aftab Mufti
Encyclopedia
Aftab Mufti is an engineer
in Canada
.
at the University of Manitoba
and President of ISIS Canada. He was born in Pakistan in 1940. He graduated from the NED Engineering College, Karachi, in February 1962 and worked as a Structural Engineer
for the Karachi Port Trust for one year. In September 1963 he was admitted to McGill University
, Montreal, Quebec and graduated with an Masters of Engineering in 1965 and a Ph.D.
in 1969. During this time he also worked on the Canadian Theme Pavilions for Expo 67 as a Structural Engineer for deStien and Associates of Montreal.
In 2010 Dr. Mufti was awarded the Order of Canada
, “For his contributions to and leadership in the field of civil engineering, notably for researching the use of advanced composite materials and fibre optic sensors in the construction and monitoring of bridges and other infrastructures.”
-the Award of Merit from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of Manitoba, March, 2005;
In addition to being Program leader and President of ISIS Canada, a Network of Centers of Excellence, Mufti has also served at McGill, Acadia, and Dalhousie University as a Professor and Academic Administrator. As immediate past President of ISHMII (International Society for Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructures), he is also a Fellow of several associations including the International Association of Bridges and Structures (2006); the International Institute for FRP in Construction (2004); the Canadian Academy of Engineering (2000); the American Society for Civil Engineering (1995); the Engineering Institute of Canada (1985); the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering
(1984); and the Royal Society of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (1980).
Mufti also introduced the multi-disciplinary concept of civionics, which involves the integration of electro-photonic sensing technology into civil engineering structures. This is an important advancement in achieving safe, economical and innovative structures. By employing a structural health monitoring (SHM) system, the second-generation steel-free deck slab can be made smart, so that it can be monitored both in the field and the lab. SHM will facilitate a timely and economical maintenance and repair program. The design of a SHM system for steel-free bridge deck performance has led to the development of a weigh-in-motion (WIM) concept using the same SHM system. This system will make it possible to assess live loads on bridges and the response of the bridges to live loads.
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Early years and career
Aftab Mufti is a professor of Civil EngineeringCivil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
and President of ISIS Canada. He was born in Pakistan in 1940. He graduated from the NED Engineering College, Karachi, in February 1962 and worked as a Structural Engineer
Structural engineer
Structural engineers analyze, design, plan, and research structural components and structural systems to achieve design goals and ensure the safety and comfort of users or occupants...
for the Karachi Port Trust for one year. In September 1963 he was admitted to McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, Montreal, Quebec and graduated with an Masters of Engineering in 1965 and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1969. During this time he also worked on the Canadian Theme Pavilions for Expo 67 as a Structural Engineer for deStien and Associates of Montreal.
In 2010 Dr. Mufti was awarded the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, “For his contributions to and leadership in the field of civil engineering, notably for researching the use of advanced composite materials and fibre optic sensors in the construction and monitoring of bridges and other infrastructures.”
Awards and fellowships
Other awards that Mufti has received include:- the Pratley Award for best paper by the Canadian Society for Civil EngineeringCanadian Society for Civil EngineeringThe Canadian Society for Civil Engineering was founded in 1887 as the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, renamed in 1918 as the Engineering Institute of Canada , and re-established in June 1972 as member society of the EIC under the slightly different but current name...
in 2007; -the IIFC Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of FRP composites for construction, presented at the CICE 2006 conference in December 2006;
- the A.B. Sanderson Award for outstanding contributions to the development and practice of structural engineering in Canada - presented by the CSCE, May 25, 2006;
- the NSERC Synergy Award - recognizing outstanding university-industry research and development partnerships, October 2005 (received on behalf of the ISIS Canada Research Network with the partner organization, Vector Construction Group, also receiving an award);
- the Mirko-Ros Gold Medal (one of the highest awards for engineering excellence given by the Swiss Federal Laboratories) for outstanding lifelong work in research and education, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials, Testing and Research (EMPA), Dubendorf, Switzerland, June 2005;
-the Award of Merit from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of Manitoba, March, 2005;
- an Award of Appreciation for services rendered to the ISIS Canada Research Network from ISIS Colleagues, April, 2004;
- an Award of Merit from the Consulting Engineers of Manitoba Inc. presented to Earth Tech (Canada) Inc., JMBT Structural Research, Inc., MB Transportation & Government Services for the Red River Bridge on PTH. No. 101, Steel-Free Deck Span and Integrated Monitoring, April, 2004;
- the Consulting Engineers of Manitoba, Award of Merit presented to Wardrop Engineering Inc.Wardrop Engineering Inc.-Company profile:Les Wardrop started Wardrop Engineering Inc. in 1955 with the founding principle to establish an enterprise that valued its people above everything else. In fact, Les guaranteed his first group of employees a job for a year and put his own money on the line to form the first...
and ISIS Canada for Innovation in the Design of the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) System - Provencher Pedestrian Bridge, April 9, 2003;
- the Consulting Engineers of Manitoba, Award of Excellence presented to Dillon Consulting and ISIS Canada for Innovation in the Golden Boy Conservation Project, April 9, 2003;
- Recognition and Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions in Education, Research and Industry-University Partnerships – Dalhousie UniversityDalhousie UniversityDalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
, September 2001;
- Finalist, ACI Structural Engineering Award, for a paper in the ACI Publication SP 190, “CFRC Permanent Formwork for the Steel Free Bridge Deck”, September 2001;
- Best Applied Research Paper for 2000, ASCE/CI Journal of Composites in Construction, presented by the Construction Institute, American Society of Civil EngineersAmerican Society of Civil EngineersThe American Society of Civil Engineers is a professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. It is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. ASCE's vision is to have engineers positioned as global leaders who strive toward...
, for the paper “Canadian Bridge Design Code Provisions for Fiber-Reinforced Structures”, 2000; -the NOVA Award, presented by the Construction Innovation Forum as Innovator of the Steel-Free Concrete Bridge Deck Slabs, 2000;
- an Award of Excellence, presented by Canadian Consulting Engineers for the Hall’s Harbour Wharf Project in Nova ScotiaNova ScotiaNova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, 2000;
- American Concrete InstituteAmerican Concrete InstituteThe American Concrete Institute is a non-profit technical society and standard developing organization . ACI was founded in 1904 and its headquarters are currently located in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA.- ACI History :1904-1929:...
(ACI), Atlantic Chapter, Design Award, for the Salmon River Bridge, Halifax, Nova ScotiaNova ScotiaNova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, 1998;
- the IRF Best Technical Paper Award, International Road Federation 13th World Meeting, TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, 1997;
- the Lt. Governor of Nova Scotia Award: Excellence in Engineering, for the Salmon River Bridge, 1997;
- Finalist for the CERF Charles Pankow Award, 1996;
- an Award of Merit, presented by the Canadian Consulting Engineer Magazine, Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada, 1996;
- an Engineering Award, Achievement of Distinction in the Practice of Engineering, presented by the Association of Professional Engineers of Nova Scotia (APENS), 1996;
- a Canadian Achievement Award, for Outstanding Contributions to Further Advance Composite Materials, presented by the Advanced Composite Materials in Bridges and Structures Network of Canada (ACMBS), 2nd International Conference, 1996;
- the Pratley Award, for the best paper in the field of Bridge Engineering, presented by the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, 1993;
- the E. Whitman Wright Award, for Excellence in Computer-Aided Design, presented by the Canadian Society for Civil EngineeringCanadian Society for Civil EngineeringThe Canadian Society for Civil Engineering was founded in 1887 as the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, renamed in 1918 as the Engineering Institute of Canada , and re-established in June 1972 as member society of the EIC under the slightly different but current name...
, 1990;
- a Certificate of Appreciation, for contribution as National Tour Lecturer on behalf of the Computer Applications Division, Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, 1989; and
- the Phelps Johnson Prize, presented by the Engineering Institute of Canada for the paper, “Matrix Analysis of Shells Using Finite Elements,” 1969.
In addition to being Program leader and President of ISIS Canada, a Network of Centers of Excellence, Mufti has also served at McGill, Acadia, and Dalhousie University as a Professor and Academic Administrator. As immediate past President of ISHMII (International Society for Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructures), he is also a Fellow of several associations including the International Association of Bridges and Structures (2006); the International Institute for FRP in Construction (2004); the Canadian Academy of Engineering (2000); the American Society for Civil Engineering (1995); the Engineering Institute of Canada (1985); the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering
Canadian Society for Civil Engineering
The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering was founded in 1887 as the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, renamed in 1918 as the Engineering Institute of Canada , and re-established in June 1972 as member society of the EIC under the slightly different but current name...
(1984); and the Royal Society of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (1980).
Innovations and publications
Mufti is the principal developer of the Steel-Free Bridge Deck Slab Concept, which has led to the development of an economical, highly durable, and novel steel-free deck slab. These decks do not require embedded steel tensile reinforcement and are therefore corrosion-free. The result is a significant reduction in the amount of on-going maintenance. During the past 15 years, many large-scale models of the steel reinforcement-free deck slabs have been tested. This research led to the construction, in 1995, of the world’s first such cast-in place deck slab on the Trans-Canada Highway over the Salmon River in Nova Scotia. Since then, other Canadian bridges now incorporate steel reinforcement-free concrete bridge deck slabs. A pre-cast slab has also been used in the reconstruction of a wharf structure in Hall’s Harbour, Nova Scotia and a forestry bridge in British Columbia. In the second generation of steel free deck slabs, GFRP bars have been included in order to reduce the size of crack widths. In 2003, the first second generation steel-free deck slab was constructed on the Red River bridge on Winnipeg's Perimeter Highway. Also in 2004, the first American steel-free deck slab was constructed in Tama County, Iowa. These economical and corrosion-free deck slabs are restrained externally by steel straps and contain nominal GFRP bars for temperature crack control. The concept of a steel-free deck slab has been patented and the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CHBDC) specifies a method for designing these slabs. This invention has prompted complementary research in other universities including Osaka and Akita universities in Japan, the University of Sheffield in the UK, and Iowa State University and the University of California, San Diego, in the USA.Mufti also introduced the multi-disciplinary concept of civionics, which involves the integration of electro-photonic sensing technology into civil engineering structures. This is an important advancement in achieving safe, economical and innovative structures. By employing a structural health monitoring (SHM) system, the second-generation steel-free deck slab can be made smart, so that it can be monitored both in the field and the lab. SHM will facilitate a timely and economical maintenance and repair program. The design of a SHM system for steel-free bridge deck performance has led to the development of a weigh-in-motion (WIM) concept using the same SHM system. This system will make it possible to assess live loads on bridges and the response of the bridges to live loads.
External links
- http://www.isiscanada.com/
- http://www.ishmii.org/
- http://umanitoba.ca/