Assoc. Prof. Jiwei Wen

Visiting Scholar, Trenchless Technology Center (TTC), 

Louisiana Tech University, USA

Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, China

Biography: Jiwei Wen, Doctor of Engineering, Postdoctoral Fellow, Associate Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, Master's Supervisor, Visiting Scholar of Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) of Louisiana Tech University, Corresponding Expert of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Expert of the National Expert Pool of Assessment and Monitoring of Postgraduate Education, Overseas Overseas Talent of Higher Level Study in Sichuan Province, Science and Technology Specialist of Hebei Province, First Youth Editorial Board Member of the well-known academic journal Coalfield Geology and Exploration, First and Second Youth Editorial Board Member of Drilling Engineering. He is also a member of the first youth editorial board of Coalfield Geology and Exploration, a well-known academic journal in the industry, and a member of the first and second youth editorial board of Drilling Engineering. He has presided over 2 projects of National Natural Science Foundation of China, top-level projects of Hebei Provincial Natural Science Foundation, applied basic research projects (free exploration type) of Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Department, demonstration projects of Sichuan Provincial Scientific and Technological Achievements Transformation, key projects of Natural Science of Sichuan Provincial Education Department, and open funds of key laboratories at national, provincial and ministerial levels; he has been granted more than 50 patents, and has declared 1 PCT U.S. patent for invention. Currently, he is the author of Journal of Cleaner Production, Energy, Petroleum Science, Journal of Central South University, Materials and Structures, Scientific Reprots, Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, Iranian Journal of Science and Technology-Transactions of Mechanical He is also a reviewer for international SCI journals such as Engineering and Journal of Marine Engineering and Technology, and domestic core journals such as Coalfield Geology and Exploration, Journal of Underground Space and Engineering, Drilling Engineering, and Journal of Three Gorges University (Natural Science Edition). He was awarded the third prize in the second and third national underground space innovation competition, and the second prize in the seventh national university lecture competition for young teachers specializing in urban underground space engineering. He has supervised undergraduates to get two national and two provincial undergraduate innovation and entrepreneurship training programs approved and completed.

Speech title: Analysis of the Interaction Mechanism between the Pipe Section and Soil During Trenchless Pipe Jacking Construction Urban Underground Infrastructure and the Representative Engineering Cases

Prof. Zakiah Ahmad

Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Biography: Professor Dr. Zakiah Ahmad is a distinguished expert in timber engineering, specializing in tropical hardwoods, at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). Her research encompasses the structural aspects of timber construction, focusing on solid timber and engineered wood products. She has conducted comprehensive studies on various timber species, examining their mechanical properties, bondability, durability, and fire resistance. Her work has led to the development of design manuals for roof trusses made from glued laminated timber (glulam) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL), aligning with Eurocode 5 standards. Notably, she published the first manufacturing guideline for LVL, with its strength data incorporated into Malaysian Standard 544 Part 12. Her research has also resulted in new strength classes for glulam, registered with the European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA), facilitating CE Marking for Malaysian timber exports. Beyond academia, Professor Zakiah has been instrumental in the design and construction of notable glulam buildings, including the Glulam Gallery in Johor Bahru and the Crops for the Future Research Centre in Selangor. Her collaborations with international institutions have produced new design charring rate values for tropical hardwoods, contributing valuable data to ISO and Malaysian Standards. Her efforts have significantly enhanced the value of Malaysian timber in the export market and increased the use of timber structures in construction, thereby boosting the Malaysian economy. Her current interest is on structural bamboo in Malaysia focuses on exploring its potential as a sustainable and high-performance construction material. She has investigated the mechanical properties, durability, and bonding characteristics of local bamboo species, such as Gigantochloa Scorthechiniii, Bambusa Vulgaris, Gigantochloa levis, Dendraculumus Asper and Bambusa blumeana, for structural applications. Efforts have also been made to standardize bamboo construction techniques, improve fire resistance, and develop design guidelines aligned with international standards. The research aims to promote bamboo as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional building materials in Malaysia’s green construction industry.

Speech title: Bamboo as a Resilient Construction Material: Insights into Structural Behavior and Sustainability

Assoc. Prof.Nor Atiah Ismail

Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Biography: 

LAr. Dr. Nor Atiah Ismail is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia. She graduated with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Master of Science in Landscape Architecture from the same university and obtained her PhD in Landscape Architecture from the Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand. She was the Head of Landscape Architecture Department, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia from 2011-2014. She teaches Landscape Planning Studios, Planting Design Studio and Landscape Architecture Professional Practice for both undergraduate and post graduate studies. Her research specialization is in the field of Cultural and Heritage Landscape. She is passionate in translating her research expertise into Islamic Design, Community Participatory Design and Sustainable Cultural Heritage Tourism.She is currently leading five research projects amounting RM 235,400.00 and a member of 10 research projects from 2011-2015. She has contributed as one of the pioneer researchers in WARIS Research Group, FRSB. Three of her research projects won the Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards (MLAA 2012, 2013 and 2015). To date, she has two Master Science students graduated under her supervision. She is currently supervising four Master and two PhD students. She is also co-supervising ten Master and four PhD students. Her passion for cultural landscape is widely known as she is actively involved in organizing Cultural and Heritage Conferences around the Asia Pacific Region. She has published 125 journal papers to date. She was also appointed as the Key-note Speakers in three International Cultural and Heritage Conferences in Ukraine, 2014 in Iran and 2015 in Indonesia & 2016 in Indonesia and Norway. She is as the Chair of Cultural Landscape Committee for the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) Asia-Pacific Region (2012-2018). She is currently the Honorary Secretary of the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM) and the permanent Malaysia Delegate to the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA).

Speech title: Nature Based Solutions for the Flood Mitigation in Landscape Architecture