Industry award for AUT engineer
AUT Senior Lecturer Shahab Ramhormozian is the 2023 recipient of the Heavy Engineering Research Association (HERA’s) INNOV8 Research Impact award.
The award celebrates work that has positive social, environmental, economic, cultural or economic outcomes and is focused on focused on intergenerational wellbeing.
Dr Ramhormozian, from AUT’s School of Future Environments, is known for his innovative work in structural and earthquake engineering - specifically the development of sustainable seismic resistance systems for buildings.
When implemented, these systems ensure buildings suffer no structural damage during severe earthquakes, therefore significantly reducing the cost of earthquakes on the built environment.
One of these systems, known as the Optimised Sliding Hinge Joint (OSHJ), was developed by Dr Ramhormozian in his PhD research. This has already been used in several new buildings across New Zealand.
The system is relatively affordable, and its concept can be used across a range of building types - including to strengthen pre-existing structures.
Dr Ramhormozian is developing these systems in collaboration with Charles Clifton (University of Auckland) and Gregory MacRae (University of Canterbury), as well as his national and international collaborators from academia and industry.
In 2022, Dr Ramhormozian received an $8.2 million grant for the five-year research programme, ‘Sustainable Earthquake Resilient Buildings for a Better Future,’ from the New Zealand Government's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund.
The HERA industry awards are held every two years to recognise members whose research significantly contributes to the engineering industry’s success.
Dr Ramhormozian says he is humbled and honoured to receive such a prestigious industry award from HERA.
“As Isaac Newton once said, ‘If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.’ I share this award with all of the mentors and collaborators from academia and industry that I have worked with, both nationally and internationally. Their trust and support has been invaluable.”