Rate My Professor Mahdi Miri Disfani

Professor Mahdi Miri Disfani is a Professor in the Department of Infrastructure Engineering at the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology. He leads the Melbourne Granular Geomaterial Laboratory, conducting experimental and field investigations into the micro- and macro-scale behavior of granular geomaterials under mechanical and environmental loads. His research specializations include sustainable geotechnics, behavior of soft-rigid granular mixtures, suffusion and internal soil erosion, discrete element modelling of granular materials, fibre optic sensing for geo-structures, and data-rich element testing. Previously holding positions as Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor at the same institution, Disfani has supervised numerous PhD students and research fellows, many of whom have advanced to senior roles in academia and industry, including Senior Lecturers at Victoria University and Geotechnical Engineers at firms such as AECOM, WSP, and FSG Geotechnics.

Disfani's contributions to sustainable infrastructure are highlighted by his development of permeable pavements using recycled tyre-derived aggregates blended with glass and rock particles. This innovation enables high water infiltration rates to mitigate flash-flooding, captures pollutants, supports urban tree health, and withstands vehicle loads while remaining flexible against ground movement and tree roots. Trialled in Melbourne car parks by Yarra City Council and earlier in South Australia, the technology earned the Excellence in Sustainable and Environmentally Responsible Infrastructure Management award in 2020 at the South Australian Local Government Leadership Excellence Awards. It has been licensed to the University-led startup Porous Lane. Other key projects include soft-rigid bonded granular mixes for field predictions, heat transfer and fluid flow in geomaterials using physics-inspired AI, braced batter micropile groups, recycled material blends for sewer pipes, and field testing of driven spiral footings. His 158 scholarly works, accessible via the University of Melbourne's Find an Expert profile, feature influential publications such as 'Geotechnical and geoenvironmental properties of recycled construction and demolition materials in pavement subbase applications' (2013), 'Physical properties and shear strength responses of recycled construction and demolition materials in unbound pavement base/subbase applications' (2014), 'Recycled crushed glass in road work applications' (2011), 'Laboratory evaluation of the use of cement-treated construction and demolition materials in pavement base and subbase applications' (2015), and 'Compressibility and strength development of geopolymer stabilized soil' (year not specified in sources).