Faculty
“Dr. Arvin” Ebrahimkhanlou, PhD, PE
Dr. Arvin Ebrahimkhanlou is an Assistant Professor in the Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering (CAEE) Department at Drexel University with a courtesy appointment in the Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics (MEM) Department. He has received his Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin, where also completed his postdoc. Dr. Arvin’s research is in the area of robotic-based and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based assessment of civil infrastructures as well as mechanical and aerospace structures. Dr. Arvin is specialized in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analysis, signal processing, robotics, uncertainty quantification, computer vision, and wave propagation. Dr. Arvin also has a keen passion for teaching and supervising student activity.
PhD Students/Candidates
Mr. Mitesh Arora
Ph.D. Student in the Civil Engineering Department at Drexel University, with over four years of experience in artificial intelligence. His research focuses on generative AI, particularly diffusion-based models (DDPM), to generate high-fidelity architectural and structural data and build scalable AI systems for data-driven engineering applications such as life cycle assessment, material quantification, and infrastructure analytics. He is broadly interested in generative AI, deep learning, and large-scale data-driven systems, with an emphasis on developing intelligent models for simulation, prediction, and automated interpretation of complex engineering data. His goal is to advance scalable and robust AI solutions for next-generation infrastructure systems and smart built environments.
Mr. Pranav Chougule
Ph.D. student at Drexel University in the Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering Department, where his research focuses on AI-enabled robotic multimodal nondestructive evaluation (NDE) for additive construction process control and deconstructed material reuse. Prior to this, he received his Master’s degree in Robotics and Autonomous Systems from Arizona State University and his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Mumbai. Currently, Pranav is working on robotic CO₂ sequestration in cementitious materials using automated robotic systems together with multimodal analysis methods such as laser profiling, acoustic emission, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. He is also developing robotic inspection systems for deconstructed construction materials using Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) testing, vision-language models (VLMs), and vision-language-action (VLA) frameworks. In addition, his work includes hyperspectral imaging for earthen material 3D printing and ROS-based rover control with SLAM for bridge inspection. His broader goal is to develop intelligent robotic systems for sustainable construction, infrastructure monitoring, and material reuse.
Mr. Derrick Appiah Osei
Ph.D. Student in the Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics Department at Drexel University, where his research focuses on developing artificial intelligence and computer vision methods for nondestructive evaluation. His work centers on ultrasonic imaging, including the development of diffusion-based generative models for synthetic data generation and convolutional neural networks for distinguishing between real and AI-generated signals. He is particularly interested in building intelligent perception systems that improve the reliability, efficiency, and trustworthiness of inspection technologies, with broader applications in autonomous systems and robotics.
Master Students
Mr. Achyut Lnu
Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering at Drexel University, focusing on Design and Manufacturing. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and has two years of industry experience as an Associate Sourcing Leader at GE Healthcare.
Undergraduate students
Timothy Mooney
tm3479@drexel.edu
Majoring in Engineering Technology at Drexel University with co-op experience in a research lab.
Alumni
Dr. Pedram Bazrafshan, PhD
Pedram completed his Ph.D. at Drexel University, Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering Department. He started his studies in Jan 2023. Prior to that, Pedram received his bachelor’s degree from K. N. Toosi University of Technology in 2016 and his Master’s degree from Amirkabir University of Technology in 2019. Currently, Pedram is working on a concrete crack quantification project. The over-arching goal of Pedram’s dissertation is to automate the visual inspection process from data acquisition to a decision support system. He aims to employ graph theory to present brand-new features for Structural Health Monitoring and Nondestructive Evaluation of concrete structures, specifically, reinforced concrete shear walls.
Dr. Ali Ghadimzadeh Alamdari, PhD
Ali completed his Ph.D. in the Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics Department at Drexel University, where his research focused on integrating robotics into infrastructure monitoring. He has a keen interest in developing innovative solutions to address challenges in the field of civil engineering, particularly in the area of structural health monitoring using robotic techniques for detailed defect reconstruction with structure geometry. His research aims to leverage advances in robotics and automation to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and safety of infrastructure monitoring and maintenance, ultimately contributing to the sustainability and resilience of our built environment.