Research
As a Structural Engineer I am deeply interested in conserving the existing built heritage. My work involves the inspection, diagnosis, intervention design and monitoring of buildings and bridges with historical and cultural value. I am also engaged in the study of vernacular and sustainable architecture. as well as the exploration of the mechanical properties and structural behavior of masonry, earthen, and bamboo structures. I have applied non-destructive experimental testing, specialized constitutive models and advanced non-linear numerical simulations. My research also involves studying the robustness and resilience of the built environment. Additionally, I am interested in the development and implementation of new technologies in the architecture, engineering, construction, management, operation, and conservation (AECMO&C) industry. These include artificial intelligence, the internet of things, structural health monitoring, bridge/building information modelling and digital twins. Through my research, I aim to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 11, as adopted by the United Nations and with the objectives of the European Green Deal.
After securing internal University funding, I worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, for two years. The research project I participated in focused on studying the structural behavior of masonry using a non-standard limit analysis method implemented through the ALMA 2.0 program. The project also involved the development and extension of this software.
I then was the recipient of a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowship (MSCA-IF) and worked as the Experienced Researcher of the DTADD project at Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway. This project was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101066739. I also held a distinguished ICCROM Fellowship with the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), Italy, and participated as Visiting Researcher at Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.
Currently, I work as Lecturer in Structural Engineering at the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, UK.
Throughout my career, I have developed key leadership skills including effective communication, task prioritization, time management, attention to detail, problem-solving, relationship building, conflict resolution, and delegation.
Publications
Title: Industry 5.0, Towards an Enhanced Built Cultural Heritage Conservation Practice
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Margarita L. Petrou, Rafael Ramirez, Vagelis Plevris, and Maria Nogal
Journal: Journal of Building Engineering
Year: 2024
Title: Explainable ensemble learning framework for estimating corrosion rate in suspension bridge main cables
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Mohamed El Amine Ben Seghier, Vagelis Plevris, and Jian Dai
Journal: Results in Engineering
Year: 2024
Title: Structural Analysis of the Sympathetic Restoration and Conservation of the Gopinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
Authors: Andres Arce, Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Igor Tomic, and David Biggs
Journal: Heritage
Year: 2024
Title: Industry 5.0 concepts and enabling technologies, towards an enhanced conservation practice: systematic literature review protocol
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Margarita L. Petrou, Rafael Ramirez, Vagelis Plevris and Maria Nogal
Journal: Open Research Europe
Year: 2024
Title: Editorial: Methods and Applications in Computational Methods in Structural Engineering
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Manolis S. Georgioudakis, Yang Song and Samuel Ruiz-Capel
Journal: Frontiers in Built Environment
Year: 2023
Title: Chatbots Put to the Test in Math and Logic Problems: A Comparison and Assessment of ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, and Google Bard
Authors: Vagelis Plevris, George Papazafeiropoulos and Alejandro Jiménez Rios
Journal: AI
Year: 2023
DOI: 10.3390/ai4040048
Title: Learning from the Past: Parametric Analysis of Cob Walls
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios
Journal: Applied Sciences
Year: 2023
DOI: 10.3390/app13159045
Title: Parametric analysis of masonry arches following a limit analysis approach: Influence of joint friction, pier texture, and arch shallowness
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Bledian Nela, Marco Pingaro, Emanuele Reccia and Patrizia Trovalusci
Journal: Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids
Year: 2023
Title: Computational methods applied to earthen historical structures
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Samuel Ruiz-Capel, Vagelis Plevris and Maria Nogal
Journal: Frontiers in Built Environment
Year: 2023
Title: Bridge management through digital twin-based anomaly detection systems: A systematic review
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Vagelis Plevris and Maria Nogal
Journal: Frontiers in Built Environment
Year: 2023
Title: Masonry arches simulations using cohesion parameter as code enrichment for limit analysis approach
Authors: Bledian Nela, Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Marco Pingaro, Emanuele Reccia and Patrizia Trovalusci
Journal: International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation
Year: 2023
Title: Limit analysis of locally reinforced masonry arches
Authors: Bledian Nela, Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Marco Pingaro, Emanuele Reccia and Patrizia Trovalusci
Journal: Engineering Structures
Year: 2022
Title: Rotation and sliding collapse mechanisms for in plane masonry pointed arches: statistical parametric assessment
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Bledian Nela, Marco Pingaro, Emanuele Reccia and Patrizia Trovalusci
Journal: Engineering Structures
Year: 2022
Title: Statistical Assessment of In-Plane Masonry Panels Using Limit Analysis with Sliding Mechanism
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Marco Pingaro, Emanuele Reccia and Patrizia Trovalusci
Journal: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Year: 2022
Title: Experimental validation for the application of the flat jack test in cob walls
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios and Dermot O'Dwyer
Journal: Construction and Building Materials
Year: 2020
Title: Data collected from the experimental validation for the application of flat jack tests in cob walls
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios and Dermot O'Dwyer
Journal: Data in Brief
Year: 2020
Title: Adaptations of the flat jack test for its application in cob walls
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios and Dermot O'Dwyer
Journal: MethodsX
Year: 2020
Title: Numerical Modeling of Cob's Nonlinear Monotonic Structural Behavior
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios and Dermot O'Dwyer
Journal: International Journal of Computational Methods
Year: 2020
Title: First findings on the mechanical analysis of cob using a Discontinuity Layout Optimization (DLO) approach.
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios
Conference: 2nd RILEM International Conference on Earthen Construction (ICEC)
Year: 2024
Title: Human role in existing bridge digital twin frameworks, towards Industry 5.0.
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Vagelis Plevris and Maria Nogal
Conference: 12th International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety and Management (IABMAS)
Year: 2024
Title: Advanced framework for degradation modelling of operating structures.
Authors: Mohamed El Amine Ben Seghier Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Vagelis Plevris and Jian Dai
Conference: 12th International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety and Management (IABMAS)
Year: 2024
Title: Uncertainties in the synthetic data generation for the creation of bridge digital twins.
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Vagelis Plevris and Maria Nogal
Conference: 5th International Conference on Uncertainty Quantification in Computational Science and Engineering (UNCECOMP)
Year: 2023
Title: Synthetic data generation for the creation of bridge digital twins what-if scenarios.
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Vagelis Plevris and Maria Nogal
Conference: 9th International Conference on Computational Methods in Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering (COMPDYN)
Year: 2023
Title: Experimental Campaign on the Use of the Flat Jack Test in Cob Walls
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Michael Grimes and Dermot O'Dwyer
Conference: 12th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions (SAHC)
Year: 2021
Title: Masonry Simulations Using Cohesion Parameter as Code Enrichment for a Non-standard Limit Analysis Approach
Authors: Bledian Nela, Marco Pingaro, Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Emanuele Reccia and Patrizia Trovalusci
Conference: 7th International Conference on Mechanics of Masonry Structures Strengthened With Composite Materials (MuRiCo)
Year: 2021
Title: External Post-tensioning System for the Strengthening of Historical Stone Masonry Bridges
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios and Dermot O'Dwyer
Conference: 11th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions (SAHC)
Year: 2019
Title: FEM non-linear modelling of cob using ANSYS
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios and Dermot O'Dwyer
Conference: 9th International Conference on Computational Methods (ICCM)
Year: 2018
Title: Earthen buildings in Ireland
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios and Dermot O'Dwyer
Conference: 6th Sixth International Congress on Construction History (ICCH)
Year: 2018
Title: A limit analysis approach to the assessment of masonry arch structures under the influence of fundamental parameters
Authors: Bledian Nela, Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Marco Pingaro, Emanuele Reccia and Patrizia Trovalusci
Conference: 11th International Civil Engineering, Infrastructure and Environment Conference (IC-CEIE)
Year: 2022
Title: Limit analysis for masonry arches: influence of pier texture, arch shallowness and joint friction
Authors: Bledian Nela, Marco Pingaro, Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Emanuele Reccia and Patrizia Trovalusci
Conference: XXV Convegno AIMETA
Year: 2022
Title: Newtownbutler Craft Training and Sustainability Research Centre
Author: Alejandro Jiménez Rios
Event: International Summer School: Conservation Without Frontiers, Survival and Revival of Living Towns and Villages in Cavan and Fermanagh
Year: 2019
Title: Bibliographic Dataset for the Systematic Literature Review on Industry 5.0 Concepts and Enabling Technologies, Towards an Enhanced Conservation Practice
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Margarita L. Petrou, Rafael Ramirez, Vagelis Plevris, and Maria Nogal
Year: 2024 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10671411
Title: Dataset of the study: "Chatbots put to the test in math and logic problems: A preliminary comparison and assessment of ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, and Google Bard"
Authors: Vagelis Plevris, George Papazafeiropoulos and Alejandro Jiménez Rios
Year: 2023 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7940781
Title: Bibliographic Data from the Computational Methods Applied to Earthen Historical Structures Review
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Samuel Ruiz-Capel, Vagelis Plevris and Maria Nogal
Year: 2023 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7907457
Title: Bibliographic Data from the Digital Twin Anomaly Detection Decision-Making for Bridge Management Systematic Review
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios Vagelis Plevris and Maria Nogal
Year: 2022 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7548017
Title: Data from the parametric analysis of masonry buttressed arches with limit analysis subjected to vertical self-weight plus a proportional horizontal live load
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios Bledian Nela, Marco Pingaro, Emanuele Reccia and Patrizia Trovalusci
Year: 2022 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6811858
Title: Data from the parametric analysis of masonry buttressed arches with limit analysis subjected to vertical self-weight plus a proportional concentrated vertical live load applied at mid-span
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios Bledian Nela, Marco Pingaro, Emanuele Reccia and Patrizia Trovalusci
Year: 2022 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6811832
Title: Data from the parametric analysis of masonry buttressed arches with limit analysis subjected to vertical self-weight plus a proportional concentrated vertical live load applied at quarter-span
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios Bledian Nela, Marco Pingaro, Emanuele Reccia and Patrizia Trovalusci
Year: 2022 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6811797
Title: Data from the parametric analysis of masonry pointed arches with limit analysis subjected to vertical self-weight plus a proportional horizontal live load
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios Bledian Nela, Marco Pingaro, Emanuele Reccia and Patrizia Trovalusci
Year: 2021 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5146824
Title: Data from the parametric analysis of masonry pointed arches with limit analysis subjected to vertical self-weight plus a vertical concentrated live load
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios Bledian Nela, Marco Pingaro, Emanuele Reccia and Patrizia Trovalusci
Year: 2021 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5146866
Title: Data from the parametric analysis of masonry panels with limit analysis
Authors: Alejandro Jiménez Rios Marco Pingaro, Patrizia Trovalusci and Emanuele Reccia
Year: 2020 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4320201
Title: Cob wallettes' consolidation data
Author: Alejandro Jiménez Rios
Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17632/twbf86wxtx.1
Title: Industry 5.0 Principles and Enabling Technologies, Towards an Enhanced Conservation Practice: Systematic Literature Review Preprint
Author: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Margarita L. Petrou, Rafael Ramirez, Vagelis Plevris, and Maria Nogal
Hosting: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Title: Industry 5.0 Concepts and Enabling Technologies, Towards an Enhanced Conservation Practice: Systematic Literature Review Search Strategy Checklist
Author: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Margarita L. Petrou, Rafael Ramirez, Vagelis Plevris, and Maria Nogal
Hosting: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Title: Industry 5.0 Concepts and Enabling Technologies, Towards an Enhanced Conservation Practice: Systematic Literature Review Protocol Checklist
Author: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Margarita L. Petrou, Rafael Ramirez, Vagelis Plevris, and Maria Nogal
Hosting: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Title: Structural Analysis in the Sympathetic Restoration and Conservation of the Gopinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
Author: Andres Arce, Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Igor Tomic and David Biggs
Hosting: Preprints.org
Year: 2024
Title: Learning from the Past: Parametric Analysis of Cob Walls
Author: Alejandro Jiménez Rios
Hosting: Preprints.org
Year: 2023
Title: Chatbots put to the test in math and logic problems: A preliminary comparison and assessment of ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, and Google Bard
Author: Vagelis Plevris, George Papazafeiropoulos and Alejandro Jiménez Rios
Hosting: arXiv
Year: 2023
Title: Computational Methods Applied to Earthen Historical Structures Preprint
Author: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Samuel Ruiz-Capel, Vagelis Plevris and Maria Nogal
Hosting: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Title: DTADD Systematic Review Preprint
Author: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Vagelis Plevris and Maria Nogal
Hosting: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Title: DTADD Systematic Review Protocol (amended)
Author: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Vagelis Plevris and Maria Nogal
Hosting: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Title: DTADD Systematic Review Search Strategy (amended)
Author: Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Vagelis Plevris and Maria Nogal
Hosting: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Awarded research funding/fellowhips
Awarded by: Marie Curie Alumni Association.
Years: 2024.
Description: 820 € received to finance my participation in the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) 2024 at Katowice, Poland.
Awarded by: Research Council of Norway.
Years: 2024.
Description: Around 8000 € received to finance my stay during my ICCROM Fellowship in Rome, Italy, for the period from 01 March to 30 April 2024.
Awarded by: ICCROM.
Years: 2024.
Description: Fellowship awarded to conduct a research proposal on “Industry 5.0 Concepts and Enabling Technologies, Towards an Enhanced Conservation Practice”, for the period from 01 February to 30 April 2024.
Awarded by: Research Council of Norway.
Years: 2023.
Description: Around 5000 € received after the successful completion and submission of an European Research Council Starting Grant (ERC StG).
Awarded by: European Commission.
Years: 2022-2024.
Description: Around 227,000 € which cover living allowance, mobility allowance, family allowance, research, training and networking contributions as well as management and indirect contributions.
Awarded by: Sapienza the University of Rome.
Years: 2020-2022.
Description: Around 50,000 € which covered health insurance, travel expenses and a monthly stipend of 1600 €.
Editorial work
Special Issue Title: Advances in Structural Health Monitoring and Industry 5.0 Innovations for Bridge Management and Conservation.
Journal: Infrastructures.
Publisher: MDPI.
Co-Editors: Dr. Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Dr. Pier Francesco Giordano, and Dr. Alberto Barontini.
Research Topic Title: Methods and Applications in Computational Methods in Structural Engineering.
Journal: Frontiers in Built Environment.
Publisher: Frontiers.
Co-Editors: Dr. Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Dr. Manolis S. Georgioudakis, Dr. Yang Song, and Samuel Ruiz Capel.
Special Issue Title: Fault Detection, Diagnosis and Maintenance on Intelligent Transportation System.
Journal: Sensors.
Publisher: MDPI.
Co-Editors: Dr. Yang Song, Prof. Dr. Xiaojun Wei and Dr. Alejandro Jiménez Rios.
Journal: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Smart Infrastructure and Construction.
Publisher: ICE.
Book: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Techniques for Civil Engineering.
Publisher: IGI Global.
Special Sessions/Mini-Symposia Organizer and Participation in Conference Committees
Role: Scientific Committee Member
Conference: 2nd International conference on civil infrastructure and construction (CIC).
Conference: 1st International Conference on Net-Zero Built Environment: Innovations in Materials, Structures, and Management Practices (Net-Zero Future 2024).
Special Session: SS11: Computational Methods and Digital Twins in the Engineering of Sustainable Buildings, Cities, and Urban Structures.
Co-Organizers: Vagelis Plevris (Qatar University, Qatar), Awais Amhed (Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway), Mohamed El Amine Ben Seghier (Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway), and Alejandro Jiménez Rios (Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway).
Conference: 9th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering (ECCOMAS 2024).
Mini-Symposia: MS006: Development and Applications of Computational Methods for Digital Twins.
Co-Organizers: Alejandro Jiménez Rios (Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway), Vagelis Plevris (Qatar University, Qatar), and Maria Nogal (Delft Institute of Technology, Netherlands).
Conference: 9th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering (ECCOMAS 2024).
Mini-Symposia: MS066: Latest advancements and trends in multi-physics research for civil engineering applications.
Co-Organizers: Rafael Ramirez (University of Minho, Portugal), Alejandro Jiménez Rios (Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway), and B. Ghiassi (University of Birmingham, United Kingdom).
Conference: 12th International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety and Management (IABMAS 2024).
Special Session: SS35: Digital Twins and Industry 5.0: Towards a Sustainable Bridge Maintenance, Safety, and Management Holistic Approach.
Co-Organizers: Alejandro Jiménez Rios (Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway), Vagelis Plevris (Qatar University, Qatar), and Maria Nogal (Delft Institute of Technology, Netherlands).
Conference: 9th International Conference on Computational Methods in Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering (COMPDYN).
Mini-Symposia: MS23: Novel data-driven approaches in modelling, assessment, inspection, repairing, strengthening and management of structures.
Co-Organizers: Vagelis Plevris (Qatar University, Qatar), Alejandro Jiménez Rios (Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway), German Solorzano (Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway) and Mohamed El Amine Ben Seghier (Institute of Surface Science, Germany).
Conference: 15th International Conference on Evolutionary and Deterministic Methods for Design, Optimization and Control (EUROGEN).
Mini-Symposia: MS3: Advances in soft computing and optimization methods in engineering.
Co-Organizers: Vagelis Plevris (Qatar University, Qatar), German Solorzano (Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway), Sadjad Gharehbaghi (Sharif University of Technology, Iran) and Alejandro Jiménez Rios (Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway).
Others
Association: International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Norge.
Scientific Committee: International Scientific Committee on the Analysis and Restoration of Structures of Architectural Heritage (ISCARSAH).
Association: International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures (RILEM).
Technical Committee: BEC : Bio-stabilised earth-based construction: performance-approach for better resilience.
Technical Committee: MAE : Mechanical performance and durability assessment of earthen elements and structures.
Technical Committee: PEM : Processing of earth-based materials.
Association: International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE).
Task Group: Task Group 5.8: Resilience of existing structures.
Association: International Association for Bridge Maintenance and Safety (IABMAS).
Membership: IMJ64.
Association: International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism (INTBAU).
Membership: Basic.
Event: IDM Colloquium Series 2024.
Presentation: Industry 5.0 and the Built Environment.
Organizers: Deflt University of Technology, Netherlands.
Event: ICCROM Fellowship Talks.
Presentation: Industry 5.0 Concepts and Enabling Technologies, Towards an Enhanced Conservation Practice.
Organizers: International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), Italy.
Event: net+working basehabitat Hybrid Summer School 2021.
Presentation: Mechanical Properties of Existing Cob Walls.
Organizers: BaseHabitat, University of Art and Design Linz, Austria.
Event: Ruins to Riches: Revive, Repurpose, Reimagine Our Traditional Buildings.
Presentation: Conservation of Earthen Buildings.
Organizers: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Department for Communities Historic Environment Division and Ulster Architectural Heritage.
