Ishini Saparamadu | Civil Engineering | Young Innovator Award

Posted on by Academic achievements

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.

 

Weichung Yeih | Civil Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by Academic achievements

Prof.Weichung Yeih | Civil Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Professor at national Taiwan ocean university, Taiwan

Weichung Yeih is a prominent academic in the field of civil engineering with a focus on structural materials and concrete durability. He currently serves as a professor in the Department of Harbor and River Engineering at National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU). With over three decades of professional experience in academia and industry, Dr. Yeih has made substantial contributions to the advancement of civil engineering, particularly in the areas of new construction materials, repair materials, corrosion prevention, and concrete durability. He is also known for his work in computational techniques for nonlinear problems and inverse problems, having made significant strides in numerical and meshless methods. Dr. Yeih’s academic leadership is reflected in his roles as a director, guest editor, and reviewer for several prestigious journals.

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Education:

Dr. Yeih’s educational journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from National Taiwan University in 1987. His academic pursuit led him to Northwestern University in the United States, where he earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering in 1991. This strong academic foundation laid the groundwork for his extensive career in both teaching and research, shaping his expertise in concrete technologies, corrosion prevention, and computational methods.

Experience:

Dr. Yeih’s professional experience spans both academia and industry. He started his career at SIEMENS LIMITED in Taiwan as an engineer (1991–1992) before moving to National Taiwan Ocean University. He joined NTOU as an associate professor in 1992, later rising to the rank of professor in 1998. His leadership roles include serving as the Director of the Center for Computation and Simulation in the Engineering College at NTOU from 2009 to 2012, and again from 2025 onwards. His editorial contributions are vast; he served as an assistant editor for the Journal of Marine Science and Technology (2011–2013), an editor for the Journal of Applied Mathematics (2012–2013), and a guest editor for various special issues, including one for Applied Sciences on advanced concrete technology (2024 and 2025). He has also led significant research projects, including his role as the principal investigator for a project focused on the development of a reciprocal implantable left ventricular assist device (2010–2014).

Research Interests:

Dr. Yeih’s research interests are diverse and span various facets of civil engineering, particularly those related to construction materials and structural integrity. His main areas of interest include the development of new and repair materials for construction, the durability of concrete, corrosion prevention, and electrochemical techniques. Additionally, he is deeply engaged in the study of pervious concrete, alkali-activated slag concrete, and numerical methods for solving nonlinear problems. His work also explores soft computation and meshless methods, contributing to advances in computational mechanics. Furthermore, Dr. Yeih is dedicated to the study of inverse problems and their applications in civil engineering, making substantial contributions to the field’s theoretical and practical knowledge.

Awards:

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Yeih has received several accolades in recognition of his exceptional contributions to civil engineering research and education. His work has been recognized by numerous international conferences and academic institutions. His scholarly impact is also evident in his long-term involvement in editorial and leadership roles within academic journals, contributing significantly to the field’s growth. He continues to be a respected figure in his field, fostering innovation in materials science and computational methods.

Publications:

Dr. Yeih’s research output includes several significant publications in high-impact journals. His contributions to the field of civil engineering have been widely cited. Below is a list of some of his notable publications:

  1. Yeih, W., Koya, T., & Mura, T. (1993). “An Inverse Problem in Elasticity with Partially Overprescribed Boundary Conditions, Part I: Theoretical Approach.” Transactions of the ASME, Journal of Applied Mechanics, 60, 595-600.

  2. Koya, T., Yeih, W., & Mura, T. (1993). “An Inverse Problem in Elasticity with Partially Overprescribed Boundary Conditions, Part II: Numerical Details.” Transactions of ASME, Journal of Applied Mechanics, 60, 601-606.

  3. Huang, R., Yeih, W. D., Chang, J. J., & Yang, C. C. (1994). “The Use of AC and DC Methods for Corrosion Monitoring of Reinforced Concrete Members in Marine Environment.” Journal of Marine Science and Technology, 2(1), 53-59.

  4. Yeih, W. D., Huang, R., & Chang, J. J. (1994). “A Study of Chloride Diffusion Properties of Concrete at Early Age.” Journal of Marine Science and Technology, 2(1), 61-67.

  5. Huang, R., Chang, J. J., & Yeih, W. (1995). “Engineering Properties and Application of Cement-Based Fly Ash Blocks.” Journal of Marine Science and Technology, 3(1), 43-50.

  6. Yang, C. C., Huang, R., Yeih, W., & Sue, I. C. (1995). “Aggregate Effect on Elastic Moduli of Cement-Based Composite Materials.” Journal of Marine Science and Technology, 3(1), 5-10.

  7. Yang, C. C., Huang, R., & Yeih, W. (1995). “Theoretical Approximate Elastic Moduli of Concrete Material.” The Chinese Journal of Mechanics, 11(1), 47-53.

These publications have not only enriched the academic literature but also contributed to the practical applications in the field of marine construction and materials science.

Conclusion:

Dr. Weichung Yeih’s career is a testament to his dedication to advancing the field of civil engineering. Through his research on new materials, durability, and corrosion prevention, he has significantly impacted both academia and industry. His contributions to the development of computational methods in engineering problems further solidify his reputation as an expert in his field. With over 30 years of experience and numerous scholarly achievements, Dr. Yeih continues to inspire the next generation of engineers through his work at National Taiwan Ocean University. His leadership in research and education, along with his commitment to innovation, ensures that his impact will be felt for many years to come.