Mr. Joel Adams | Automation | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Joel Adams | Automation | Best Researcher Award 

Mr. Joel Adams, Florida International University, United States

Joel Adams is a robotics researcher and Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Florida International University, specializing in autonomous mobile and manipulator systems. With extensive experience in radiological surveillance, autonomous mission planning, and multi-robot coordination, he has developed innovative solutions integrating sensor technologies such as LiDAR, depth cameras, and IMUs. His expertise includes robotics middleware (ROS1, ROS2), simulation tools (Gazebo, PyBullet), and advanced programming in C++, Python, and MATLAB. As a Research Assistant at the Applied Research Center since 2019, he has contributed to cutting-edge projects in autonomous system development, multi-robot collaboration, and real-world testing of robotic platforms.

Professional Profile:

ORCID

Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award

Joel Adams appears to be a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award, particularly if the award recognizes contributions in robotics, autonomous systems, and applied research in radiological surveillance. His work aligns well with advanced robotics, AI-driven mission planning, and real-world applications in nuclear site monitoring.

🎓 Education

  • Florida International University
    • Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (Expected Summer 2025) 🎯 (GPA: 3.87)
    • Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Summer 2024) 🛠️ (GPA: 3.87)
    • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Honors College) (Fall 2019) 🏅 (GPA: 3.72)
  • Miami Dade College
    • Associate in Arts Degree (Highest Honors) (Summer 2015) 🏆 (GPA: 3.95)

💼 Work Experience

  • Applied Research Center, Florida International University (March 2019 – Present)
    Research Assistant
    • 🚀 Developed autonomous systems for radiological surveillance in nuclear sites, integrating LiDAR, depth cameras, and IMUs.
    • 🧠 Designed multi-robot mission planning solutions using network bridges and behavior-tree-based task allocation.
    • 🛠️ Conducted testing in simulation (Gazebo, PyBullet) and real-world robotic platforms for validation.

🏆 Achievements, Awards & Honors

  • 🎖️ Highest Honors Graduate – Miami Dade College
  • 🏅 Honors College Graduate – Florida International University
  • 🤖 Developed autonomous systems for radiological surveillance, enhancing safety in nuclear environments
  • 🏆 Contributed to multi-robot coordination research, advancing mission planning strategies in robotics
  • 🏅 Published research contributions in robotics intelligence and autonomous system optimization

Publication Top Notes:

A Behavioral Robotics Approach to Radiation Mapping Using Adaptive Sampling

Mr. Foad Zahedi | Digital Twin Awards | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Foad Zahedi | Digital Twin Awards | Best Researcher Award 

Mr. Foad Zahedi, Washington State University, Iran

Foad Zahedi is a seasoned Procurement Director with over 18 years of comprehensive experience in procurement management, technical management, and contract management across a diverse range of projects, including multipurpose complexes, dams, roads, tunnels, and industrial structures. Based in Tehran, Iran, he has successfully led procurement and purchase engineering efforts to ensure optimal logistics, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Foad’s expertise encompasses tender management, contract oversight, and project management, where he skillfully navigates the complexities of EPC, PC, and E projects from both the employer and contractor perspectives. He holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering (Construction Management) and another Master’s in Civil Engineering (Marine Structures Engineering) from Islamic Azad University, along with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Professional Engineer, Foad is proficient in areas such as cost estimation, value engineering, and building information modeling. His strategic insights and consultancy roles for boards and CEOs have been pivotal in aligning project goals with organizational objectives.

Professional Profile:

GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Research for Best Researcher Award – Foad Zahedi

Profile Overview: Foad Zahedi has over 18 years of extensive experience in procurement and project management across a variety of large-scale civil engineering projects, including multipurpose complexes, dams, and tunnels. His diverse skill set encompasses technical management, contract management, and procurement engineering, showcasing his ability to lead complex projects effectively.

Education 🎓

  • M.S. Civil Engineering (Construction Management)
    Islamic Azad University of Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, IR
    GPA: 3.53 | Year: 2020
  • M.S. Civil Engineering (Marine Structures Engineering)
    Islamic Azad University of Science and Research Branch, Tehran, IR
    GPA: 3.72 | Year: 2016
  • B.S. Civil Engineering
    Islamic Azad University of Shahr-e-kord Branch, Shahrekord, IR
    Year: 2004

Work Experience 💼

  • Procurement Director
    Iran Mall, Tehran, Iran
    Years: 20XX – Present

    • Led procurement and purchase engineering management for various complex projects, ensuring high quality and timely logistics support.
    • Managed the technical office, handling invoices, quantity surveying, and as-built drawings in EPC, PC, and E projects.
    • Conducted national and international tenders, preparing comprehensive technical and financial submissions.
    • Oversaw contract management in diverse roles (Employer, Contractor, Consultant) for EPC, PC, and E projects.
    • Provided consultancy to boards and CEOs, developing strategic plans to achieve project goals.

Achievements 🌟

  • Successfully managed procurement for multiple large-scale projects, including multipurpose complexes, dams, and industrial structures.
  • Developed effective strategies for cost estimation and value engineering, resulting in significant savings for projects.
  • Implemented advanced Building Information Modelling (BIM) and soil-structure interaction modelling techniques to enhance project outcomes.

Awards and Honors 🏆

  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
    Licensure #: 3203610 | Year: 2022
  • Professional Engineer (Grade 2: Supervision)
    Licensure #: 17-31-12174 | Year: 2014
  • Professional Engineer (Grade 1: Construction)

Publication Top Notes:

Global BIM Adoption Movements and Challenges: An Extensive Literature Review
Development of a BIM Implementation Roadmap: The Case of Iran
Robot-BIM integration for underground canals life-cycle management
Digital Twins in the Sustainable Construction Industry
BIM Implementation for PMBOK Enhancement in the Construction Industry

Mr. Xi Zhou | Information Technology Awards | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Xi Zhou | Information Technology Awards | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Xi Zhou, Jiyang College, Zhejiang A&F University, China

Xi Zhou is an accomplished Associate Professor at Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University in Zhejiang, China, where he has been a faculty member since 2013. He earned his Ph.D. from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications in 2021, specializing in financial risk management. With a strong commitment to research and scholarship, Zhou has published over 60 articles and two books, contributing significantly to his field. His work has garnered recognition, earning him several prestigious awards, including the third prize for excellent achievements from the Chinese Society of Technology and Economics and the Shaoxing Philosophy and Social Sciences Outstanding Achievement Award. Additionally, he has received first and second prizes for excellent academic papers in natural sciences in Zhuji City. Zhou also serves as the director of the Zhejiang Society of Business Economics, further exemplifying his leadership and dedication to advancing knowledge in his discipline.

Professional Profile:

SCOPUS

Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award: Xi Zhou

Xi Zhou is a distinguished Associate Professor at Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, with a robust academic background and significant contributions to the field of financial risk management. His research is particularly relevant to the Best Researcher Award, as he has explored critical issues, such as the impact of natural resource depletion on energy security risks, as highlighted in the article “How does natural resource depletion affect energy security risk? New insights from major energy-consuming countries,” co-authored with renowned researchers including Pang, L., Liu, L., and Ullah, S.

Education 🎓:

  • Ph.D. in Communications Engineering
    • Institution: Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China
    • Year: 2021

Work Experience 💼:

  • Associate Professor
    • Institution: Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhejiang, China
    • Duration: Since 2013

Research Interests 🔍:

  • Financial Risk Management

Achievements 📚:

  • Publications:
    • More than 60 articles
    • 2 books

Professional Leadership 👔:

  • Director of the Zhejiang Society of Business Economics

Awards and Honors 🏆:

  • Third Prize for Excellent Achievements
    • Awarded by the Chinese Society of Technology and Economics
  • Shaoxing Philosophy and Social Sciences Outstanding Achievement Award
  • First and Second Prizes for Excellent Academic Papers
    • Awarded in Natural Sciences in Zhuji City

Publication Top Notes:

How does natural resource depletion affect energy security risk? New insights from major energy-consuming countries

Semantic Progressive Guidance Network for RGB-D Mirror Segmentation

Ripple-Spreading Network of China’s Systemic Financial Risk Contagion: New Evidence from the Regime-Switching Model

Credit Risk Evaluation of Forest Farmers under Internet Crowdfunding Mode: The Case of China’s Collective Forest Regions

Boundary-aware pyramid attention network for detecting salient objects in RGB-D images

Multi-layer fusion network for blind stereoscopic 3D visual quality prediction

 

Prof. Xiaoji Niu | Sensor Fusion Awards | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Xiaoji Niu | Sensor Fusion Awards | Best Researcher Award 

Prof. Xiaoji Niu, Wuhan University, China

Dr. Xiaoji Niu is a distinguished professor at the GNSS Research Center of Wuhan University, where he has been leading a team of approximately 20 researchers since March 2010. His expertise lies in integrated navigation systems, particularly in the integration of Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) with Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Dr. Niu has been pivotal in advancing deep integration technology for high-precision GNSS/INS systems, aimed at enhancing Position and Orientation Systems (POS) for mobile mapping applications. Prior to his current role, he served as a senior scientist at Shanghai SiRF Technology Co., Ltd., where he spearheaded research and development on dead-reckoning technology and played a key role in the production release of inertial-aided GPS firmware. Dr. Niu’s academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Navigation and Control from Tsinghua University, where he focused on micromachined attitude measurement units for satellite TV antenna stabilization, and a B.Sc. with honors in Mechanical Engineering. His contributions to the field are recognized internationally, underscoring his commitment to advancing navigation technologies.

Professional Profile:

SCOPUS

Research for Best Researcher Award: 

Professor Xiaoji Niu, currently at the GNSS Research Center of Wuhan University, is a highly accomplished researcher with a notable record in navigation and integrated systems. His extensive experience and impressive contributions to the field make him a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Navigation and Control
    Institution: Tsinghua University, China
    Department: Department of Precision Instruments
    Duration: Sep 1997 – Dec 2002
    Dissertation: “Micromachined Attitude Measurement Unit with Application in Satellite TV Antenna Stabilization”
    Supervisor: Prof. Zhongyu Gao
  • B.Sc. (with Honors)
    Institution: Tsinghua University, China
    Departments:

    • Department of Precision Instruments (Mechanical Engineering, Major)
    • Department of Automation (Electrical Engineering, Minor)
      Duration: Sep 1992 – Jul 1997

Work Experience

  • Professor
    Institution: GNSS Research Center, Wuhan University
    Duration: Mar 2010 – Present
    Responsibilities:

    • Leading a team of approximately 20 researchers, including 2 postdoctoral researchers.
    • Research on Integrated Navigation Systems (INS and GNSS/INS integration).
    • Deep integration technology for GNSS/INS.
    • Commercializing high-precision GNSS/INS integration techniques for Position and Orientation Systems (POS) for Mobile Mapping Systems (MMS).
    • Developing compact and low-cost MEMS INS for land vehicles and UAV applications.
  • Senior Scientist
    Institution: Shanghai SiRF Technology Co., Ltd
    Department: Advanced Technologies Dept.
    Duration: Feb 2007 – Feb 2010
    Responsibilities:

    • Leading R&D on Dead-Reckoning (DR) technology, including inertial-aided GPS.
    • Technical lead for DR production projects.
    • Started production release of DR firmware in Q2 2008; released to three customers with shipments of over 500k chips, leading to product shipments by two customers.
  • Research Scientist
    Institution: The University of Calgary, Canada
    Department: Mobile Multi-Sensor System (MMSS) Research Group
    Duration: Oct 2005 – Feb 2007
    Responsibilities:

    • Led projects including:
      • Intermap Project (2006-2007): “Assessment of the Intermap Navigation Software and Hardware” (funded by Intermap Technologies Inc.).
      • SiRF Project – Phase II (2005-2006): “Inertial Aided GPS (Phase II)” (funded by SiRF Technology Inc.).
        Supervisor: Dr. Naser El-Sheimy
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
    Institution: The University of Calgary, Canada
    Department: Mobile Multi-Sensor System (MMSS) Research Group
    Duration: Feb 2003 – Sep 2005
    Responsibilities:

    • Led projects including:
      • SiRF Project – Phase I (2005): “Inertial Aided GPS (Phase I)” (funded by SiRF Technology Inc.).
      • MEMS Project (2003-2005): “Next Generation MEMS-Based Navigation System for Vehicles and Personal Location and Navigation” (funded by GEOIDE, Network Center of Excellence).
        Supervisor: Dr. Naser El-Sheimy

Publication top Notes:

Multi-level information fusion enhanced by scene constraint: Key to improve autonomous positioning accuracy in urban underground pipeline using MEMS inertial sensors

Onboard multi-source fusion train positioning method based on railway track irregularity matching

INS-Aided GNSS Pseudo-Range Error Prediction Using Machine Learning for Urban Vehicle Navigation

RANSAC-Based Fault Detection and Exclusion Algorithm for Single-Difference Tightly Coupled GNSS/INS Integration

An Iterative Method for the Distance Constraints in a Multi-Sensor Positioning System