Alireza Bayat, PhD, PEng

Area of Study / Keywords

Underground Infrastructure Data-Driven Construction Trenchless Technologies Underground Construction Geotechnical Engineering Sustainable Construction MaterialsRoad and Pavement Engineering

About

Dr. Alireza Bayat is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the University of Alberta Senior Engineering Research Chair in Underground Infrastructure, and the Director of the Canadian Underground Infrastructure Innovation Centre (CUIIC). His research is focused on developing sustainable and resilient solutions for the construction and maintenance of underground infrastructure and road networks, particularly in cold climates. He is a recognized leader in trenchless technologies, data-driven construction, and the use of recycled materials in civil engineering projects.

Education

  Ph.D. 2009, Civil Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

  M.Sc. 2004, Geotechnical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

  B.Sc. 2002, Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Research

Research Focus

Dr. Bayat’s multidisciplinary research addresses the growing challenges of building and maintaining infrastructure in urban environments. His work centers on three key areas:

1. Trenchless Technologies & Risk Management: Leading a major research program to evaluate and mitigate construction risks associated with Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and other trenchless methods. His work aims to reduce project delays and cost overruns by developing advanced risk assessment frameworks and real-time monitoring tools.

2. Sustainable Materials for Road Construction: Pioneering the use of waste and recycled materials, such as Tire Derived Aggregate (TDA) and bottom ash, in road construction. Through the Integrated Road Research Facility (IRRF), his team evaluates the long-term performance of these materials as lightweight fill and pavement insulation, turning waste into a valuable resource.

3. Pavement Performance in Cold Climates: Investigating the complex impacts of environmental factors (like freeze-thaw cycles) and heavy traffic loads on flexible pavements. This research uses data from heavily instrumented test roads to develop durable pavement designs and effective road maintenance policies for cold regions.

Research Leadership & Initiatives

• Canadian Underground Infrastructure Innovation Centre (CUIIC): As Director, Dr. Bayat leads this national hub for research, education, and innovation in underground infrastructure. Established in 2022, CUIIC unifies industry leaders, municipalities, and academic researchers to tackle critical challenges in subsurface construction, from deploying fibre optics to rehabilitating aging pipelines.

• Integrated Road Research Facility (IRRF): Dr. Bayat was instrumental in founding the IRRF, a state-of-the-art facility featuring a multi-million dollar, fully instrumented test road and an advanced pavement materials lab. The IRRF is a unique collaboration between the University of Alberta, Alberta Transportation, and the City of Edmonton, focused on creating resilient and sustainable road infrastructure for cold climates.

• NSERC Industrial Research Chair (2017-2023): Dr. Bayat held the NSERC Associate Industrial Research Chair in Underground Trenchless Construction, a highly successful program that fostered deep collaboration with industry partners to develop innovative design tools and risk management strategies for the trenchless sector.

Selected Journal Publications

2025

• Carvalho, S.H.B., Awan, M.N.U., Hashemian, L., Shafiee, M., and Bayat, A., (2025) “Integrating Dynamic Sensors and Weigh-in-Motion Systems for Pavement Performance Assessment,” Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, Accepted.

2024

• Moharrami, S., Bayat, A., and AbouRizk, S., (2024) “Mechanistic Modeling of Cutterhead-Ground Engagement Influence on Micro-Tunnel Boring Machine Penetration Rate,” ASCE Journal of Pipeline Systems, Accepted.

• Huang, Y., Moghaddam, T., Hashemian, L., Bayat, A., (2024) “Application of the Machine Learning Method to Determine Spring Load Limits and Winter Weight Premium.” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, DOI: 10.1177/03611981241246780.

• Park, I., Kang, C., Bayat, A. (2024) “Challenges with Using Empirically Determined Geotechnical Parameters for Borehole Stability Evaluation in Horizontal Directional Drilling.” Engineering Geology, DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2024.107565.

• Faghih, A., Goertz, B., Bayat, A. (2024) “Stress Analysis of Steel Pipe Installation in Horizontal Directional Drilling Based on Strain Monitoring,” Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, Vol 147.

• Huang, Y., Nojumi, M., Hashemian, L., Bayat, A. (2024) “Integrating Machine Learning for Improved Prediction of Temperature and Moisture in Pavement Granular Layers.” Journal of Testing and Evaluation, 52(4) ASTM International.

• Huang, Y., Nojumi, M., Ansari, S., Hashemian, L., Bayat, A. (2024). “Multi-depth Temperature Prediction Using Machine Learning for Pavement Sections,” Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, 18(01).

2023

• Amaral, L., Roshan, A. and Bayat, A. (2023) “Automatic Detection and Classification of Underground Objects in Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR),” Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice, Manuscript accepted.

• Huang, Y., Molavi Nojumi, Hashemian, L., and Bayat., A. (2023) “Evaluation of a Machine Learning Approach for Temperature Prediction in Pavement Base and Subgrade Layers in Alberta, Canada,” Journal of Transportation Engineering Part B, Pavements, Volume 149, Issue 1.

• Huang, Y., Molavi Nojumi, M., Ansari, S., Hashemian, L., and Bayat., A. (2023) “Evaluating the use of machine learning for moisture content prediction in base and subgrade layers,” Road Materials and Pavement Design.

• Huang, Y., Molavi Nojumi, M., Ansari, S., Hashemian, L., and Bayat., A. (2023) “Evaluation of machine learning approach for base and subgrade layer temperature prediction at various depths in the presence of insulation layers,” International Journal of Pavement Engineering, Volume 24, Issue 1.

• Huang, Y., Baghaee Moghaddam, T., Hashemian, L., and Bayat, A. (2023) “Structural Capacity of Sections Constructed with Different Waste and Recycled Embankment and Insulation Materials at the IRRF Test Road after Five Years of Operation,” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board.

2022

• Park, I., Kang, C., and Bayat, A. (2022) “Determination of Geotechnical Parameters for Underground Trenchless Construction Design,” Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, Volume 82, Issue 9.

• Faghih, A., and Bayat, A. (2022) “Accuracy of Pull Force Estimation for Steel Pipe Installation using Horizontal Directional Drilling: Review of 200 Case Studies,” Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice, Volume 13, Issue 3.

• Kamran, F., Ghasemirad, A., Baghaee Moghaddam, T., Bayat, A., and Hashemian, L. (2022) “Performance Evaluation of High Modulus Asphalt Concrete (HMAC) Prepared using Asphaltenes-Modified Binders,” Journal of Testing and Evaluation, Volume 50, No. 5.

• Amaral, L., Roshan, A. and Bayat, A. (2022) “Review of Machine Learning Algorithms for Automatic Detection of Underground Objects in GPR Images,” Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice, Volume 13 No. 2.

• Zhou, Y., Kang, C. and Bayat, A. (2022) “Impact of Beater Shape in Mixing Test to Determine Clogging Potential,” Journal of Testing and Evaluation, Volume 50, no. 1, pp. 727–742.

• Moharrami, S., Bayat, A., and AbouRizk, S., (2022) “Modeling micro-tunnel boring machine penetration rate using a mechanistic approach,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Volume 148, Issue 11.

• Monfared, Z., Nojumi, M., and Bayat, A. (2022) “A Review of Water Quality Factors in Water Main Failure Prediction Models,” Water Practice and Technology, 17(1): 60-74.

  
  

Teaching

Dr. Bayat is committed to training the next generation of civil engineers through innovative coursework and hands-on learning. He developed the university's first graduate-level course in Underground Trenchless Construction and has created advanced courses on pavement materials and design. He is also a leader in professional education, having organized and taught over 25 specialized workshops and training courses that have reached more than 1,000 industry professionals across North America.

CIV E 609 - Underground Trenchless Construction

Introduction to underground pipeline infrastructure. Focus on pipeline condition assessment. New construction such as horizontal directional drilling, pilot tube microtunneling, pipe bursting, and pipe jacking. Rehabilitation methods such as cured in place pipe lining, geotechnical consideration. Risk considerations for underground projects.

ENV E 251 - Properties of Environmental Engineering Materials

Study of materials used in environmental engineering including traditional engineering materials such as soil and rock, concrete, steel, and wood but extending the coverage to man made materials such as plastics, textiles, membranes, composites, resins, and polymers. Prerequisite: EAS 210 and CIV E 270. Corequisite: STAT 235. Credit cannot be obtained for both ENV E 351 ad ENV E 251.

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