Dr Ali Khudhair

(he/him)

PhD, MSc, BSc

Publication

• Date
• Type

Research

My research connects structural engineering, Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital twins, semantic interoperability, and artificial intelligence to improve infrastructure asset management. I develop approaches that help engineers integrate information from different systems and use it in practical decision-making.

Rail-AI: AI-enabled railway asset management

As a KTP Associate on Rail-AI, a Knowledge Transfer Partnership between Cardiff University and Centregreat Rail Ltd, I am developing an AI-enabled platform for railway asset management. My work focuses on software architecture, interoperable middleware and semantic data integration, large language model-based decision support, and interactive 3D visualisation. I work with industry engineers and academic colleagues to translate railway engineering requirements into digital tools and workflows.

openBIM, interoperability and information compliance

My research uses IFC, OWL/RDF, ontology alignment, knowledge graphs, and ISO 19650-based workflows to improve information exchange. My interests include retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and the integration of engineering data within digital twin environments.

Previous work includes BIM and IFC interoperability for immersed tunnels; IFC standards and use-case development for ports and waterways with buildingSMART International; and BIMComply, a platform for automating information compliance checks against BS EN ISO 19650. My development experience includes Python, Django, React, Docker, relational databases, and semantic web technologies.

Digital twins and infrastructure resilience

I have investigated digital twins for low-carbon rail electrification using the Ebbw Valley Railway as a case study, and coastal railway bridge maintenance within the Marine Energy Engineering Centre of Excellence (MEECE) partnership. This work has explored BIM, real-time sensing, sustainability metrics, corrosion monitoring, and predictive maintenance.

My wider collaborative work has included an Asset Information Management system linking image processing and CNN-based damage assessment with IFC models, and ontology-guided multi-criteria decision frameworks for infrastructure planning, including earthquake emergency shelter siting.

I welcome collaboration on AI, open standards, and digital engineering for practical infrastructure asset management.

Teaching

Postgraduate BIM teaching

I supported the MSc subject BIM Computing and Information Processing at Cardiff University as a demonstrator during February-May 2021, October 2021-January 2022, and October 2023-May 2024. The double-semester module was attended by approximately 120 students annually.

I led practical tutorials in Autodesk Revit, BIM data processing, and ISO 19650-based information management. I guided small groups in collaborative modelling, BIM documentation, and automated compliance checking, supported the preparation of teaching materials, and assessed final group presentations with structured feedback.

Undergraduate structural engineering teaching

From October 2020 to January 2021, I supported Design Studies and Structures as a teaching assistant. I delivered tutorials and problem-solving sessions in structural analysis and design, helping students apply equilibrium, compatibility, and internal force calculations to statically determinate structures.

Relevant training

I have completed the BSI Training Academy course in Building Information Modelling (BIM) ISO 19650 Part 2: Project Delivery.

Biography

Since September 2026, I have worked as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate on Rail-AI, a partnership between Cardiff University and Centregreat Rail Ltd. Employed by Cardiff University and based primarily with the industry partner, I lead development of the platform’s software, decision-support, and visualisation components.

From September 2024 to August 2026, I worked as a Research Associate at Cardiff University, investigating BIM and IFC interoperability for infrastructure, particularly immersed tunnels and openBIM standards. My work included semantic modelling, ontology alignment, and the exploration of large language models and retrieval-augmented generation for engineering decision support.

My earlier Cardiff projects included BIMComply, which addressed automated information compliance against BS EN ISO 19650; the buildingSMART International IFC for Ports & Waterways initiative; digital twins for low-carbon rail electrification; and digital approaches to coastal railway bridge maintenance.

Alongside research, I supported postgraduate teaching in BIM Computing and Information Processing and undergraduate teaching in Design Studies and Structures. I have also represented Cardiff University on buildingSMART International’s Maritime Domain Steering Committee.

I completed my PhD in Building Information Modelling and Data Processing at Cardiff University in 2022, following an MSc in Structural Engineering in 2017. My doctoral research examined knowledge-based automatic openBIM data exchange to support holistic building design.

Academic positions

• September 2026-present: Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate - Rail-AI, Cardiff University, in partnership with Centregreat Rail Ltd.
• September 2024-August 2026: Research Associate, Cardiff University - BIM and IFC interoperability for infrastructure.
• February-August 2024: Contributing Author, BIMComply project, Cardiff University (part-time).
• October 2023-January 2024: Associate Researcher, Cardiff University - digital twins for low-carbon rail electrification.
• February-July 2023: Research Associate, Cardiff University - coastal railway bridge maintenance within the MEECE partnership.
• January 2023-April 2024: Contributing Author, IFC for Ports & Waterways initiative, Cardiff University (part-time).
• February 2021-May 2024: Demonstrator, Cardiff University - BIM Computing and Information Processing (intermittent teaching periods: February-May 2021; October 2021-January 2022; October 2023-May 2024).
• October 2020-January 2021: Teaching Assistant, Cardiff University - Design Studies and Structures.

Committees and reviewing

I have represented Cardiff University on buildingSMART International’s Maritime Domain Steering Committee, contributing to international collaboration on openBIM for maritime infrastructure.