![Ali Khudhair BSc, MSc, PhD](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/4042?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Ali Khudhair
(he/him)
BSc, MSc, PhD
Teams and roles for Ali Khudhair
Research Associate
Overview
Ali Khudhair
PhD, MSc, BSc | Structural Engineer & BIM Specialist
I am a Research Associate and Structural Engineer at Cardiff University, specialising in Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital twins, and semantic data interoperability. My work bridges engineering and digital innovation, with a focus on implementing ISO 19650-compliant openBIM workflows within infrastructure and environmental domains.
With a PhD in BIM and data processing, I have contributed to national and international projects across the maritime, transport, and energy sectors, developing semantic frameworks, digital compliance tools, and real-time digital twin systems.
In addition to engineering and semantic modelling, I have experience in software development, particularly using Docker, Django, and React. These tools support the deployment of web-based digital twin interfaces, BIM data services, and automation pipelines for infrastructure asset management.
My research supports the digital transformation of the built environment by integrating BIM data schemas (IFC), semantic modelling (OWL/RDF), and decision-support tools to enhance lifecycle information management and infrastructure resilience.
Publication
2026
- Rawdin, A. , Khudhair, A. and Li, H. 2026. BIM and ISO 19650 implementation in the Welsh construction industry: a case study of bottom-up governance in a non-mandated region. Journal of Information Technology in Construction 31 , pp.461-476. (10.36680/j.itcon.2026.021)
2025
- Li, K. et al. 2025. An end-to-end and high accuracy solution of cable catenary using dual-parameter optimized physics-informed neural networks. Presented at: The 32nd EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering Glasgow, UK 1-3 July 2025. Published in: Moreno-Rangel, A. and Kimar, B. eds. Proceedings of EG-ICE 2025. Glasgow, UK: , pp.93245. (10.17868/strath.00093245)
- Khudhair, A. et al. 2025. Digital twin and multimodal neural networks for automated coastal railway bridge maintenance. Presented at: EG-ICE 2025 Glasgow, UK 1-3 July 2025. Published in: Moreno-Rangel, A. and Kumar, B. eds. EG-ICE 2025. Glasgow: University of Strathclyde Publishing. (10.17868/strath.00093263)
- Liu, J. , Li, H. and Khudhair, A. 2025. Semantic Gaussian splatting-enhanced facility management within the framework of IFC-graph. Presented at: EG-ICE 2025: International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering Glasgow, UK 1-3 July 2025. Published in: Moreno-Rangel, A. and Kumar, B. eds. EG-ICE 2025. Glasgow: University of Strathclyde Publishing. , pp.1-7.
- Sun, S. , Li, H. and Khudhair, A. 2025. A comprehensive literature review of personalised indoor comfort: artificial intelligence approaches and applications. Presented at: International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering, The 32nd EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering Glasgow, UK 1-4 July 2025. Published in: Moreno-Rangel, A. and Kumar, B. eds. EG-ICE 2025: AI-Driven Collaboration for Sustainable and Resilient Built Environments Conference Proceedings. Glasgow: University of Strathclyde. (10.17868/strath.00093251)
- Deng, H. et al., 2025. Real-time bridge disaster management: Enabling technology and application framework. Automation in Construction 174 106150. (10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106150)
- Li, K. et al. 2025. Efficient generation of digital rock CT images using LoRA-enhanced stable diffusion models. Intelligent Geoengineering 2 (2), pp.96-108. (10.1016/j.ige.2025.06.002)
- Ren, G. et al., 2025. Leveraging BIM data schema for data interoperability in ports and waterways: A semantic alignment framework for openBIM workflows. Buildings 15 (12) 2007. (10.3390/buildings15122007)
2024
- Li, Z. , Khudhair, A. and Li, H. 2024. Holistic decision-making for optimal siting of urban earthquake emergency shelters: an integrated ontology and fuzzy-AHP approach. International Journal of Fuzzy Systems (10.1007/s40815-024-01889-8)
- Jiang, Y. et al. 2024. Physics-informed knowledge-driven decision-making framework for holistic bridge maintenance. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 150 (9) 0402410. (10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-13593)
- Zhu, X. et al. 2024. Automatic bridge maintenance strategy generation framework based on multimodal neural networks. Presented at: GNI Symposium & Expo on Artificial Intelligence for the Built World Munich, Germany 10-12 September 2024.
2023
- Khudhair, A. , Li, H. and Ren, G. 2023. Knowledge-based OpenBIM data exchange for building design. Automation in Construction 156 105144. (10.1016/j.autcon.2023.105144)
2022
- Khudhair, A. et al. 2022. A theoretical holistic decision-making framework supporting collaborative design based on common data analysis (CDA) method. Journal of Building Engineering 46 103686. (10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103686)
- Khudhair, A. 2022. Knowledge-based automatic OpenBIM data exchanging framework supporting holistic building design. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
2021
- Ren, G. et al. 2021. Aligning BIM and ontology for information retrieve and reasoning in value for money assessment. Automation in Construction 124 103565. (10.1016/j.autcon.2021.103565)
- Khudhair, A. et al. 2021. Towards future BIM technology innovations: a bibliometric analysis of the literature. Applied Sciences 11 (3) 1232. (10.3390/app11031232)
2020
- Khudhair, A. and Li, H. 2020. Knowledge-driven holistic decision making supporting multi-objective innovative design. Presented at: 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Smart Manufacturing Manchester, United Kingdom 9-11 April, 2019. Published in: Jorge da Silva Bartolo, P. et al., Industry 4.0 – Shaping The Future of The Digital World. London: CRC Press. , pp.216-221. (10.1201/9780367823085-39)
Articles
- Rawdin, A. , Khudhair, A. and Li, H. 2026. BIM and ISO 19650 implementation in the Welsh construction industry: a case study of bottom-up governance in a non-mandated region. Journal of Information Technology in Construction 31 , pp.461-476. (10.36680/j.itcon.2026.021)
- Deng, H. et al., 2025. Real-time bridge disaster management: Enabling technology and application framework. Automation in Construction 174 106150. (10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106150)
- Li, K. et al. 2025. Efficient generation of digital rock CT images using LoRA-enhanced stable diffusion models. Intelligent Geoengineering 2 (2), pp.96-108. (10.1016/j.ige.2025.06.002)
- Ren, G. et al., 2025. Leveraging BIM data schema for data interoperability in ports and waterways: A semantic alignment framework for openBIM workflows. Buildings 15 (12) 2007. (10.3390/buildings15122007)
- Li, Z. , Khudhair, A. and Li, H. 2024. Holistic decision-making for optimal siting of urban earthquake emergency shelters: an integrated ontology and fuzzy-AHP approach. International Journal of Fuzzy Systems (10.1007/s40815-024-01889-8)
- Jiang, Y. et al. 2024. Physics-informed knowledge-driven decision-making framework for holistic bridge maintenance. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 150 (9) 0402410. (10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-13593)
- Khudhair, A. , Li, H. and Ren, G. 2023. Knowledge-based OpenBIM data exchange for building design. Automation in Construction 156 105144. (10.1016/j.autcon.2023.105144)
- Khudhair, A. et al. 2022. A theoretical holistic decision-making framework supporting collaborative design based on common data analysis (CDA) method. Journal of Building Engineering 46 103686. (10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103686)
- Ren, G. et al. 2021. Aligning BIM and ontology for information retrieve and reasoning in value for money assessment. Automation in Construction 124 103565. (10.1016/j.autcon.2021.103565)
- Khudhair, A. et al. 2021. Towards future BIM technology innovations: a bibliometric analysis of the literature. Applied Sciences 11 (3) 1232. (10.3390/app11031232)
Conferences
- Li, K. et al. 2025. An end-to-end and high accuracy solution of cable catenary using dual-parameter optimized physics-informed neural networks. Presented at: The 32nd EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering Glasgow, UK 1-3 July 2025. Published in: Moreno-Rangel, A. and Kimar, B. eds. Proceedings of EG-ICE 2025. Glasgow, UK: , pp.93245. (10.17868/strath.00093245)
- Khudhair, A. et al. 2025. Digital twin and multimodal neural networks for automated coastal railway bridge maintenance. Presented at: EG-ICE 2025 Glasgow, UK 1-3 July 2025. Published in: Moreno-Rangel, A. and Kumar, B. eds. EG-ICE 2025. Glasgow: University of Strathclyde Publishing. (10.17868/strath.00093263)
- Liu, J. , Li, H. and Khudhair, A. 2025. Semantic Gaussian splatting-enhanced facility management within the framework of IFC-graph. Presented at: EG-ICE 2025: International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering Glasgow, UK 1-3 July 2025. Published in: Moreno-Rangel, A. and Kumar, B. eds. EG-ICE 2025. Glasgow: University of Strathclyde Publishing. , pp.1-7.
- Sun, S. , Li, H. and Khudhair, A. 2025. A comprehensive literature review of personalised indoor comfort: artificial intelligence approaches and applications. Presented at: International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering, The 32nd EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering Glasgow, UK 1-4 July 2025. Published in: Moreno-Rangel, A. and Kumar, B. eds. EG-ICE 2025: AI-Driven Collaboration for Sustainable and Resilient Built Environments Conference Proceedings. Glasgow: University of Strathclyde. (10.17868/strath.00093251)
- Zhu, X. et al. 2024. Automatic bridge maintenance strategy generation framework based on multimodal neural networks. Presented at: GNI Symposium & Expo on Artificial Intelligence for the Built World Munich, Germany 10-12 September 2024.
- Khudhair, A. and Li, H. 2020. Knowledge-driven holistic decision making supporting multi-objective innovative design. Presented at: 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Smart Manufacturing Manchester, United Kingdom 9-11 April, 2019. Published in: Jorge da Silva Bartolo, P. et al., Industry 4.0 – Shaping The Future of The Digital World. London: CRC Press. , pp.216-221. (10.1201/9780367823085-39)
Thesis
- Khudhair, A. 2022. Knowledge-based automatic OpenBIM data exchanging framework supporting holistic building design. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
Research
My research focuses on enabling digital transformation in the built environment through BIM, digital twins, and semantic data integration. I specialise in developing ISO 19650-compliant openBIM workflows, ontology-based data models, and AI-driven tools to support infrastructure resilience, lifecycle asset management, and compliance automation.
I am a certified BIM Practitioner, having completed training on ISO 19650 Part 2 (Project Delivery) and Part 4 (Information Exchange) through the BSI Training Academy. This formal qualification complements my academic research and supports the practical implementation of openBIM standards in real-world infrastructure projects.
A core part of my work involves semantic modelling using IFC, OWL/RDF, and rule-based reasoning to improve data interoperability and decision-making across infrastructure domains. I have contributed to national and international projects in the maritime, transport, and energy sectors, developing digital compliance platforms, environmental integration frameworks, and federated BIM models.
A recent collaborative research involved the development of an Asset Information Management (AIM) system for predictive bridge maintenance. The system combines image processing and CNN-based models to detect structural damage and generate repair suggestions, which are integrated into IFC-based BIM models. Users can upload IFC files, select components, and apply maintenance predictions, creating a link between real-world condition monitoring and digital asset updates.
I also work on ontology-guided multi-criteria decision frameworks, such as fuzzy-AHP, to support complex planning tasks like optimal siting of urban earthquake emergency shelters. These models enhance decision support by capturing expert judgment, spatial data, and performance metrics in a unified semantic framework.
Through applied research, tool development, and collaboration with initiatives like buildingSMART International, my work aims to advance open, intelligent, and sustainable digital solutions for infrastructure and the built environment.