Hi, Omer here. I am based at the University of Salford, and my educational background is in Civil and Structural Engineering. I have also spent over seven years in industry across both the private and public sectors, focusing on structural design and assessment, and project quality management. My PhD project, “Optimizing Vibration Isolation Systems in Building Design”, aims to contribute to sustainable building design for a better built environment. I feel very lucky to be part of this CDT journey, where the skills I will be learning over the four years go way beyond research and cover a very broad spectrum. I look forward to working alongside students and experts in sound, psycho-acoustics, and vibro-acoustics, solving real-world issues and getting the best from all four partner universities: Salford, Sheffield, Bristol, and Southampton.
Project title: Optimising Vibration Isolation Systems in Building Design
Project Partner: Farrat Isolevel
University: University of Salford
Supervisors: Dr Joshua Meggitt and Dr Levingshan Augusthus Nelson
Briefly, what is your PhD project about?
From machineries and trains, to the earthquakes and strong winds, vibrations surround and controls the Built Environment around us. In some cases, vibrations cause serviceability issues, leading to unfavorable living environments, while sometimes they degrade or even causes structural failure, by contributing to the risk of human life, material & embodied carbon wastage and economical loss. Base Isolation is an innovative method of building design where building floats on a system which resists building from any external vibrations. Optimization of Base Isolation system is thus of essence to further identify key gaps and provide a solution.
Why is it important to do this research?
According to UN Secretary-General António, three-quarters of the infrastructure that will exist in 2050 has yet to be built. This draws attention toward sustainable development and buildings. One of the key constraint remain buildings near to city centers which also often involves underground and on-ground trains, contributing to vibrations in surrounding buildings. Problem can worsen in future with increased rail demand, it being a sustainable transport solution. This very paradox can be addressed by integrating structural resilience into building design i.e., Base Isolation System. Optimization of BIS is of essence to further improve the design and enhance its efficiency which will ultimately promote its further usage, making cities both liveable and accessible.
What drew you to studying this PhD?
The key motivation for me to pursue this PhD is to work towards sustainable building designs that are both robust and comfortable, unlike conventional structures which often have inadequate checks for serviceability and human comfort. Base isolation systems, in particular, have always been a fascinating concept for me ever since I chose this topic for my MSc Dissertation on Base Isolation effect on seismic response of a building structure. Also, the project partner, Farrat, brings real-world experience and key industrial issues into the sector, proving to be a perfect blend for an industrial research project. Additionally, this PhD being part of a CDT brings much more to the table, including lectures on acoustics, physical acoustics, and architectural acoustics. Altogether, these skills are essential for a career in sustainable building design, which requires unconventional and innovative approaches.
What does a Sustainable Sound Future mean to you?
In general, a Sustainable Sound Future is about the segregation and mitigation of ‘bad sound’ such as the noise and vibrations from cars, machinery, and trains from ‘good sound’ like music and human interactions, alongside the complete absence of uncalled-for vibrations in buildings and aeroplanes. The EPSRC CDT in Sustainable Sound Futures provides a phenomenal platform to achieve this very Future. By driving collaboration between the industries facing these modern acoustic challenges and researchers with ambitions toward these very same objectives, the CDT is actively shaping the future of acoustics.
What were you doing before joining the CDT?
Prior to joining the CDT, I spent approximately five years working as a Specialist (Civil Infrastructure) at The Urban Unit under the Government of the Punjab, Pakistan. In this role, I provided critical advisory and consultancy services to the Planning & Development Board across more than 20 diverse development projects, with individual project values sometimes reaching up to PKR 100 billion. My responsibilities included leading civil & structural designs and engineering assessments, alongside managing Monitoring and Third-Party Validation (TPV).
What do you do on a typical PhD day so far?
So far, a typical PhD day is really a little bit of everything. It usually involves staying on top of messages on MS Teams, catching up and debriefing with my research supervisors every week, and attending mandatory PGR training sessions and CDT lectures. At the same time, it is important to manage the PhD with everyday life so as to not burn out in the next four key years.
Tell us a fun acoustic fact!
There’s sound in cosmos, often resembling the sounds on Earth. Whereas sound in spacetime is actually vibrations which are converted to sound.