Biography
Dr. Khalid M. A. Al Haj is a Civil Engineering academic and professional with more than 20 years of combined experience in teaching, research, and industry. He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from Imperial College London, an MSc in Civil Engineering (Transportation and Highway Engineering) from Eastern Mediterranean University, and a BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering from the University of Khartoum.
His expertise spans geotechnical and highway engineering, sustainable construction materials, soil mechanics, and infrastructure development. He has extensive research experience on expansive soils, cementitious materials, and sustainable bioconcrete, with numerous publications in internationally recognized journals and conferences, including Géotechnique, the International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, and the FIB International Conference on Concrete Sustainability.
Dr. Al Haj has taught and supervised undergraduate and postgraduate students at leading UK universities including London Metropolitan University, University of East London, University of Greenwich, Cambridge University, and Imperial College London, as well as the University of Khartoum. He has delivered courses in geotechnical engineering, transportation and highway design, engineering mathematics, materials, and project management. He is also experienced in curriculum design, student support, and the supervision of research projects.
In industry, he worked as a Geotechnical Engineer with firms such as GCG LLP and Concept Engineering Consultants (UK), contributing to major projects including the Crossrail Project (London Underground Limited) and foundation system assessments for wind turbines in expansive soils (EPSRC-funded WindAfrica Project). His responsibilities covered geotechnical investigations, groundwater and settlement monitoring, pile design, and advanced laboratory testing.
Dr. Al Haj is a committed educator and researcher, passionate about advancing sustainable civil engineering solutions and promoting innovation in low-carbon construction materials. He is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA, UK) and an active member of professional organizations including the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the British Geotechnical Association (BGA), and the Sudanese Engineering Council.
Publications
- Ali Abbas Khalid Abdalla Thomas Chalklen Laurence de Lussy Kubisa David Tann Davor Ivankovic Liv Andersson Silvia Kazi2 (2025) Bioconcrete as an alternative sustainable construction material Concrete Solutions 2025 9th International Conference on Concrete Repair Durability and Technology Accept in Concrete Solutions 2025 9th International Conference on Concrete Repair Durability and Technology
- Ali Abbas Khalid Abdalla Anish Sigdel (2025) Selfhealing of concrete incorporating seashells as partial cement replacement Concrete Solutions 2025 9th International Conference on Concrete Repair Durability and Technology Concrete Solutions 2025 9th International Conference on Concrete Repair Durability and Technology
- Ali Abbas Khalid Abdalla Gopika Saji (2025) Experimental investigation of seashell concrete with anticorrosion agent enhancement Concrete Solutions 2025 9th International Conference on Concrete Repair Durability and Technology Concrete Solutions 2025 9th International Conference on Concrete Repair Durability and Technology
- Abbas A Abdalla K Tann D Jacob L & Daas V (2024 September) Novel selfhealing concrete with anticorrosion properties for high durability In FIB International Conference on Concrete Sustainability (pp 7077) Cham Springer Nature Switzerland
Abbas A Abdalla K Tann D Joseph B & Daas V (2024 September) Effectiveness of bacteria based selfhealing concrete for enhanced durability In FIB International Conference on Concrete Sustainability (pp 7884) Cham Springer Nature Switzerland - Tiago A V Gaspar et al (2022) Performancebased design of pile foundations for wind turbines in African unsaturated expansive soils Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Sydney 2022
- Al Haj K M A Biscontin G Elshafie MZEB and Osman S (2020) Water retention and characteristic curves representing tropical clay soils from Africa Unsaturated Horizons 4TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON UNSATURATED SOILS 2426 June 2020 E3S Web Conf Volume 195 2020
- Al Haj K M A Biscontin G Elshafie MZEB and Osman S (2019) Soil water retention curves represent tropical clay soils from Africa Proceedings of the 17th African Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Cape Town South Africa ISSMGE 181186
- Al Haj K M A and Sim W W (2016) Effect of time on the evolution of soil behaviour new advanced triaxial creep cell experiments Conference of Geotechnics for Sustainable Infrastructure Development Geotec Hanoi 2016 Phung (edt) ISBN 9786048200138
- Al Haj K M A and Standing J R (2016) SWRCs represent two tropical clay soils from Sudan Géotechnique Volume 66 Issue 1 January 2016 pp 7184 http//dxdoiorg/101680/jgeot15P086 (CITED BY 16)
- Al Haj K M A and Standing J R (2015) Mechanical properties of two expansive clay soils from Sudan Géotechnique 65 No 4 258273 [http//dxdoiorg/101680/geot14P139] (CITED BY8)
- Al Haj A KMA and Standing J R (2014) Prediction and determination of soil water retention curves of highly plastic tropical clay soils 13th BGA Young Geotechnical Engineers Symposium Manchester University UK 30th June to 2nd July 2014
- Al Haj K (2014) Mechanical response of two plastic clay soils from Sudan PhD thesis Imperial College London London UK (CITED BY 6)
- Al Haj KMA and GucbilmezE (2001) Modified Bitumen for Hot Mix Asphalt Pavement Proceeding of National Engineering Conference on Roads 0508 Nov 2001 Khartoum Sudan
- Al Haj K M A(2000) Rubber Modified Bitumen for Hot Mix Asphalt Pavement MS thesis Eastern Mediterranean University
