Ishini Saparamadu | Civil Engineering | Young Innovator Award

Ms. Ishini Saparamadu | Civil Engineering | Young Innovator Award

Ms. Ishini Saparamadu | Civil Engineering – Research Assistant at University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

P V Ishini Nimasha Saparamadu is a dynamic and forward-thinking research assistant and enterprise AI solutions engineer whose work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence and construction management. With a passion for bridging academia and industry, she is recognized for her trailblazing innovations in automating construction processes through AI and natural language processing (NLP). As the founder of Concolabs (Pvt) Ltd, Ishini has pioneered a suite of intelligent tools aimed at digitizing traditional construction workflows, from contract interpretation to progress payments, setting a new standard for smart infrastructure and compliance technologies. Her contributions have rapidly positioned her as one of the emerging voices in digital transformation within the construction sector, and she is highly regarded for her ability to translate complex research into functional, real-world applications that enhance industry efficiency, accuracy, and regulatory alignment.

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🎓 Education:

Ishini graduated with top honors in Quantity Surveying from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, maintaining a stellar GPA of 4.02 out of 4.2. Her academic background equipped her with a solid foundation in cost management, construction law, and project administration—fields she would later revolutionize with AI-driven approaches. She was an active participant in academic competitions and research activities during her undergraduate years, often leading interdisciplinary efforts to bring cutting-edge digital methods to traditional construction problems.

💼 Experience:

Combining research with entrepreneurship, Ishini currently serves as both a research assistant at the University of Moratuwa and the lead solutions engineer at Intelligent Label Solutions. Through her start-up Concolabs, she has designed and launched several practical tech products, including Roboclause, a construction law chatbot that interprets standard bidding documents, and MeasureonAir, a mobile application that automates on-site measurements and generates interim payment applications. Her industry contributions are enhanced by consultancy-based tools such as BuildMarketLK, an AI-driven market prediction model for construction prices, and Bimverse, a chatbot that interfaces with Building Information Models (BIM) through natural language. Her ability to seamlessly integrate theoretical frameworks with functional prototypes reflects her maturity as both a researcher and a tech innovator.

🔬 Research Interest:

Her primary research interests include artificial intelligence in construction, NLP-powered contract automation, regulatory compliance in construction law, and BIM-based digital interfaces. She is particularly focused on how Large Language Models (LLMs) and vector databases can be optimized for interpreting and managing legal and contractual documents in construction projects. Her research aims to streamline document-heavy administrative tasks, thereby minimizing human error, reducing project delays, and enabling smarter decision-making environments in construction management.

🏆 Awards:

Ishini has received multiple accolades that validate her academic excellence and innovative potential. Among these are the prestigious Vidyajyothi Award for Most Outstanding Graduate, the Robin Jones Award, and the Best Undergraduate Research Award. Her paper on construction law automation also received the Best Paper Award at the World Construction Symposium, and she was a semi-finalist for the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Student Scholarship, which recognizes emerging leaders in global construction innovation.

📚 Publications:

  • “Optimising Contract Interpretations with Large Language Models: A Comparative Evaluation of a Vector Database-Powered Chatbot vs. ChatGPT” 📚 Buildings, Volume 15, Issue 7, Article 1144🗓️ Published: 2025👥 Authors: P Saparamadu, S Sepasgozar, RND Guruge, HS Jayasena, A Darejeh, et al.🔗 Cited by: 11 articles🧠 Focus: Comparative analysis of ChatGPT and vector database-powered chatbots for interpreting construction contracts.
  • “Blueprint for a Natural Language Processing Powered Nexus for Regulatory and Legal Landscape in Construction”📘 Proceedings of the 12th World Construction Symposium, Page 307🗓️ Published: 2024👥 Authors: P Saparamadu, HS Jayasena, BAI Eranga🔗 Cited by: 7 articles🏗️ Focus: NLP-based framework for harmonizing construction regulatory and legal data.

🔚 Conclusion:

Ishini Nimasha Saparamadu exemplifies the essence of a Young Innovator, seamlessly blending technical ingenuity, academic rigor, and entrepreneurial execution to address some of the most complex and bureaucratic challenges in the construction industry. Her contributions extend beyond academia into tools that are already being piloted and applied in real-world projects. With a clear trajectory of impactful work, she continues to influence the evolution of construction law automation and digital project management. Her unique blend of research, product innovation, and industry implementation makes her a deserving nominee for the Young Innovator Award.

 

Zhenyu Gao | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zhenyu Gao | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zhenyu Gao | Engineering – Associate Professor at Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, China

Zhenyu Gao is a distinguished Associate Professor at the School of Control Engineering, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao. His academic journey is marked by groundbreaking research in control science and engineering, particularly in unmanned systems, autonomous intelligence, and intelligent transportation systems. Gao’s work is recognized globally for its innovative approaches to vehicular platoon control and multi-agent systems, contributing significantly to both theoretical advancements and practical applications in the field. His dedication to academic excellence is reflected in numerous prestigious awards, influential publications, and leadership roles in scientific communities.

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Education:

Zhenyu Gao earned his Ph.D. in Control Science and Engineering from Dalian Maritime University, China, where he developed a strong foundation in advanced control theories. Prior to his doctoral studies, he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Automation at Shandong University of Technology. His educational background reflects a consistent trajectory of academic rigor, equipping him with the analytical skills and technical expertise necessary to excel in complex research areas.

Experience:

Currently serving as an Associate Professor, Gao has played a pivotal role in advancing research in control engineering. His professional journey includes leading several high-impact projects funded by national and provincial research foundations. Gao has also contributed as an Associate Editor for reputable journals and serves as a reviewer for top-tier publications in intelligent transportation systems and vehicular technology. His role as a mentor has guided numerous graduate students, fostering the next generation of researchers in his field.

Research Interests:

Gao’s research interests span unmanned systems, autonomous intelligence, collaborative control, multi-agent systems, and intelligent transportation systems. His work focuses on developing robust control strategies for vehicular platoons, addressing challenges related to actuator nonlinearities, sensor attacks, and real-time system performance. Gao’s innovative approaches have significantly advanced the understanding of dynamic systems and their applications in modern transportation and automation technologies.

Awards 🏆:

  • Wiley Top Downloaded Article Award (2023): Recognizing his highly cited publication in intelligent transportation systems.

  • Excellent Master Thesis Advisor of Northeastern University (2023): Honoring his mentorship and academic guidance.

  • Excellent Master Thesis Advisor of Liaoning Province (2024): Acknowledging his contributions to graduate education and research excellence.

Selected Publications 📚:

  1. Gao, Z., Li, X., Wei, Z., Liu, W., Guo, G., & Wen, S. (2025). Observer-based secure predefined-time control of vehicular platoon systems under attacks in sensors and actuators – IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems 📈 (Cited by 150+)
  2. Gao, Z., Liu, W., Wei, Z., & Guo, G. (2025). Adaptive finite-time prescribed performance control of vehicular platoons with multilevel threshold and asymptotic convergence – IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems 📊 (Cited by 120+)
  3. Gao, Z., Li, X., Wei, Z., Guo, G., Wen, S., Zhao, Y., & Mumtaz, S. (2025). Fixed-time secure control for vehicular platoons under deception attacks on both sensor and actuator via adaptive fixed-time disturbance observer – IEEE Internet of Things Journal 🚗 (Cited by 95+)
  4. Gao, Z., Li, X., Wei, Z., & Guo, G. (2024). Adaptive fuzzy finite-time asymptotic tracking control of vehicular platoons with nonsmooth asymmetric input nonlinearities – IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems 🚀 (Cited by 85+)
  5. Gao, Z., Wei, Z., Liu, W., & Guo, G. (2025). Adaptive finite-time prescribed performance control with small overshoot for uncertain 2-D plane vehicular platoons – IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology 🛰️ (Cited by 80+)
  6. Gao, Z., Sun, Z., & Guo, G. (2024). Adaptive predefined-time tracking control for vehicular platoons with finite-time global prescribed performance independent of initial conditions – IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology 🚦 (Cited by 75+)
  7. Gao, Z., Zhang, Y., & Guo, G. (2023). Adaptive fixed-time sliding mode control of vehicular platoons with asymmetric actuator saturation – IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology 🛣️ (Cited by 60+)

Conclusion:

Zhenyu Gao’s distinguished career reflects an exceptional blend of academic rigor, innovative research, and impactful mentorship. His contributions to control science and engineering, particularly in autonomous systems and intelligent transportation, have set new benchmarks in the field. Gao’s extensive publication record, combined with his leadership in research projects and academic communities, underscores his suitability for the “Best Researcher Award.” His work continues to influence and inspire advancements in control engineering, making him a worthy candidate for this prestigious recognition.