Necati Catbas, a Lockheed Martin St. Laurent Professor at the UCF Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, has been honored with the Aftab Mufti Medal from the Society of Civil Structural Health Monitoring (SCSHM).
This is the second time Catbas has received the honor, having won the award initially in 2015. He will be recognized in September at SHMII’s 13th international conference in Graz, Austria.
Catbas says the accolade is not an individual achievement, but one he shares with all the students and colleagues who have worked diligently alongside him to advance the field. He credits his former student Furkan Luleci, now an assistant professor at Louisiana State University, and Onur Avci, an assistant professor at West Virginia University, for their outstanding collaborative research.
“It is a true honor to receive this award among such distinguished scholars who have also been recognized with it. Also, receiving this award for a second time is both humbling and motivating,” Catbas says. “It reinforces our belief in the importance of the work we’re doing to improve the safety, resilience, and sustainability of civil infrastructure. I’ve always admired Professor Aftab Mufti’s pioneering contributions to structural health monitoring, and to be associated with an award bearing his name is deeply significant.”
Catbas’ research covers the full scope of structural health monitoring, from identifying and monitoring key structural components to designing and deploying sensing and imaging systems. His analyses rely on signal processing, data analytics and modeling for informed decision making.
He likens his work to that of physicians ensuring the wellbeing of their patients. Just as a doctor does for a patient, Catbas monitors the health of critical infrastructure, including bridges, buildings, stadiums, dams and energy facilities.
“It is essential to assess the health and performance of structures to ensure public safety, optimize the use of taxpayer resources by prioritizing repairs for the most critical infrastructure, and enhance economic competitiveness such as through improved roads and bridges for efficient transportation of goods or uninterrupted operation of industrial and energy systems,” he says. “In addition, we are focused on the design and implementation of smart and sustainable structures of the future that will serve communities more effectively and resiliently.”
Catbas came to UCF in 2003, drawn to the university for its vibrant energy, collegiate environment and strategic location.
“I immediately knew I made the right decision since my early years at UCF were truly enriching both professionally and personally, thanks to the support and mentorship of senior faculty,” he says. “I remain especially grateful to several senior colleagues, including emeriti professors Essam Radwan and David Cooper for the significant impact they had on my development.”
Twenty-two years later, Catbas is serving in the formative role of mentor and collaborator, drawing upon his early experiences at UCF. He says he is immensely proud of his students, who thrive after they move on from the university.
He and his student researchers have received numerous awards over the years. Most recently, their work was featured in Transportation Research Record, and they received Best Paper awards from both the ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering and the Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring for different studies.
“These recognitions are a testament to the hard work and dedication of my students and collaborators, and I’m proud that our efforts continue to be acknowledged at such a high level,” he says.
As a two-time Aftab Mufti Medal recipient, Catbas is motivated more than ever to continue his mission of mentoring the next generation of engineers and developing technologies that drive meaningful impact. He says he and his team will continue to share innovations with the profession through publications and presentations, staying active in professional networks and technical committees.
“Our work is truly a team effort, and without their dedication, insight and hard work, these accomplishments would not have been possible,” he says. “Ultimately, this recognition reminds me that we must continue pushing forward to innovate, train the next generation and ensure that our research makes a real impact in practice.”
- Written by Bel Huston