Mehdi Heidari

I am a licensed engineer in Ontario with a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering and over 14 years of experience in academic research, teaching, and the building industry. As a professor, I have a strong background in Building Information Modeling (BIM) and have developed comprehensive course content for various BIM programs at both college and university levels in Ontario. I have developed course outlines and created comprehensive course contents for a variety of courses with a focus on both practical and theoretical aspects of BIM, including BIM Technology, Building Energy Modeling, and BIM Software Integration. In addition to my teaching experience, I have extensive knowledge in implementing BIM concepts into a variety of projects across Ontario in different fields of the building industry. My research focuses on developing an Automated Building Design Plugin for Revit, BIM-centric web-based tools for geostructural design, and a Geo-Structural nonlinear analysis program. I actively review scientific journals and present my research findings at international conferences. I am committed to promoting student engagement and ensuring that course content is up-to-date and relevant to industry demands. I am dedicated to fostering a collaborative and inclusive learning environment, and I am driven to equip students with the essential tools and knowledge to thrive in their future professions.

Limited-Duties Assistant Professor | Jan. 2020 - Present

Western University, London, Canada

• Taught a graduate-level course on BIM to MSc and PhD students covering theoretical and practical concepts related to the use of BIM in AEC sector, with a focus on the roles of structural and civil engineers.
• Developed a course outline and plan for a Building Information Modelling (BIM) course, which involved creating various BIM technologies and processes using BIM-enabled software. 
• Integrated industry-led projects into the curriculum, designed a capstone project, created a BIM Execution Plan template, and provided instructions for collaborative modeling of a building for the capstone group project, all to provide students with hands-on experience. 
• Collaborated with a colleague to co-teach the BIM course in 2020, working together to enhance the course content and develop/revise course materials. 
• Encouraged active student participation and engagement in BIM concepts and practices, emphasizing their importance in the design and construction industries.
• Provided training to BIM program learners on using visual programming tools like Dynamo for parametric building and structure design, enabling them to work with new technologies.

Adjunct Professor | Jan. 2018 - Present

Fanshawe College, London, Canada

• Taught courses in the postgraduate BIM & Integrated Practice program at Fanshawe College, including BIM Technology, Building Energy Modeling, BIM Software Integration, Practical Implementation of BIM, and BIM Management, both face-to-face and online.
• Developed a course outline and plan for Autodesk Navisworks software, which involved creating comprehensive content covering various program applications such Model Integration, Communications, Clash Detection, Construction Sequencing, and 4D Simulation. 
• Developed a course outline and plan for Autodesk Revit software, which involved creating comprehensive content covering various program applications such as Architectural Modeling, Schedule and Quantity Take-offs, View Templates, Parametric Family Elements, Site and Topography, Structural Modeling, and collaboration within the BIM environment using linked models and worksets.
• Developed a course outline and plan for a Building Energy Modeling course, which included a comprehensive range of analyses such as Solar Study, Lighting Analysis, and Heating/Cooling Load Calculation. Additionally, the course covered energy optimization and management software such as RETScreen® Clean Energy Management Software and Autodesk® Green Building Studio (GBS) using an openBIM format.
• Integrated various software programs, such as RETScreen, Better, GBS, and HOT2000 into the course final project and assignments, to enhance students' understanding of energy efficiency optimization and sustainable design for high-performance buildings.
• Organized guest speaker presentations by industry experts from organizations such as RETScreen, Jonson Controls, and Berkeley Lab to discuss the latest developments and technologies related to sustainability and life cycle assessment.
• Utilized real project examples to demonstrate the benefits of BIM, showcasing various collaboration techniques such as worksets and linked models. Emphasized the critical role of collaboration and communication among project stakeholders in utilizing BIM to its full potential.
• Encouraged students to actively engage with BIM principles and practices through group discussions and interactive activities. Emphasized the critical role of collaboration and communication among project stakeholders in maximizing the benefits of BIM.
• Offered constructive feedback and assessments on student works to enhance their skills and knowledge in BIM software and methodologies.
• Instructed learners from diverse academic backgrounds, including architects, mechanical engineers, and civil engineers.

Faculty | Sep. 2009 - Jan. 2015

Azad University-Sarvestan Branch, Sarvestan, Fars, Iran

• Coordinated the Civil Engineering Department and was responsible for developing, monitoring, and evaluating the department's activities to ensure that the highest possible standards of excellence were achieved.
• Improved course plans through effective communication and relationship building with faculty members, adjunct lecturers, and students.
• Delivered a range of undergraduate and graduate courses in the fields of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
   

President and lead Engineer | Jan. 2020 – Present

GSPrimo Design Inc., London, Ontario, Canada

• Founded and developed a highly successful engineering firm with diverse expertise in Civil, Geotechnical, and Structural Engineering, achieving annual revenue of $350k+.
• Collaborated effectively with all team members to successfully complete over 150 small to large-scale projects across Ontario. Projects included Geotechnical Investigation, Functional Servicing and Stormwater Management, Site Grading, Slope Stability Assessment, Temporary Shoring Design, and Structural Design.
• Provided mentorship and guidance to junior engineers on the implementation of BIM concepts in projects and provided technical issue resolutions.
•  Utilized BIM concepts to improve work efficiency and project quality by creating templates and Revit object families, which helped streamline the design process. 
• Applied sustainable building design principles to various residential and commercial projects. Utilized BIM-enabled software for solar study, lighting analysis, and energy modeling.
• Collaborated with a diverse group of professionals, including architects, municipal staff, engineers, and contractors, in preparing design drawings and specifications from the preconsultation phase to the detailed design and construction phases.
• Collaborated with Cestar College of Business, Health & Technology to provide hands-on training in the building industry for summer co-op students. 

Project Engineer | Sep. 2019 – Jan. 2021

A&A Environmental Consultant Inc., Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

• Conducted geotechnical/hydrogeological/environmental investigations for various residential and commercial projects across Ontario, producing well-written reports and collaborating effectively with other engineers.
• Supervised drilling programs, including Standard Penetration Test (SPT) testing and monitoring well installation for Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and geotechnical and hydrogeological studies.
• Developed and presented a comprehensive guideline to technicians for conducting initial assessments of geotechnical works, performing geotechnical drilling, recording soil information during In-Situ testing program, selecting samples for lab analysis, and preparing borehole logs. 

Geo-Structural Engineer | Mar. 2014 – Jul. 2015

AmoudSazan Sadid, Shiraz, Fars, Iran

• Reviewed and approved design drawings and specifications before construction commenced to ensure compliance with local regulations and codes.
• Provided professional advice on project planning and management by conducting advanced analysis and identifying the most cost-effective construction options.
• Trained a group of drafters based on my hands-on experience in AutoCAD to independently understand and convert designs of engineers into technical drawings, while also providing ongoing support and feedback to ensure accuracy and adherence to project specifications

Structural Engineer | Jul. 2012 - Feb. 2015

Building Design Office No. 1539, Shiraz, Fars, Iran 

• Designed and obtained building permits for over 40 reinforced concrete and steel structures as a licensed engineer in Fars province, Iran. Prepared detailed drawings based on design codes (ASCE and ACI) and produced written reports.
• Monitored construction operations and activities as a municipality construction inspector for several buildings to ensure compliance with design codes and standards.
• Interpreted data from geotechnical reports to create designs for temporary shoring systems and supervised the installation process. Provided recommendations to contractors to ensure the proper implementation of the designs.
• Managed the design and construction of several projects from the conceptual design phase to completion, including overseeing the construction process and ensuring adherence to project timelines and budget constraints. 
• Supervised daily project progress and ensured compliance with safety standards and planned schedules by leading a team of junior engineers.
   

Adjunct Professor | Jan. 2018 – Present

Fanshawe College, London, Canada

• Collaborated with an industrial partner (Orbit Engineering Ltd.), Fanshawe College's Centre for Research and Innovation (CRI), and a team of researchers to secure a $114,000 fund from Canadian Bio-Cleantech Applied Research Network (CBARN) as a research associate to develop a web-based tool for slope stability assessment.
• Received Fanshawe Research Fund (FRF) as a research associate to develop a Plugin software for Autodesk® Revit, aimed at automating building design based on geotechnical investigation data. The project was titled “Proof-of-Concept for Automated Building Design Software.”.
• Received a Fanshawe Research Fund (FRF) as a research associate for the project "Application of BIM for advanced energy modeling of Net Zero Energy home". The project focused on studying the potential for deep energy retrofit of ninety-six low-rise building units at the Kestrel Court residential complex located in London, Ontario, Canada.
• Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team as a research assistant to prepare a proposal for a $2.8 million project titled "Net Zero Energy Ready Retrofit Housing Demonstration" to NRCan's Energy Efficient Buildings RD&D Program.
• Created instructions for solar analysis and provided guidance to learners to conduct research on the reliability of BIM-enabled tools for estimating PV panel energy using measured data from PV panels installed on a Fanshawe College building.

Postdoctoral Associate | Sep. 2015 – Mar. 2018

Western University, London, Canada

• Developed a Geo-Structural Nonlinear Analysis Program (GSNAP) with a graphical user interface software for analyzing structures that are supported by pile foundations under various loading conditions.
• Prepared a proposal and authored reports for a Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) funded project titled “Model for Lateral Resistance of Piles”, which proposed an advanced design method for bridges supported by pile foundations.
• Provided continuous educational support to graduate students (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) with programming, software, and modeling questions to resolve conflicts in their work.
• Developed analytical formulations and guidelines for performance-based design of bridge structures supported by extended pile shafts and published the findings in the Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE, and Journal of Ocean Engineering, Elsevier.
• Assisted faculty researchers and collaborated with multi-disciplinary teams in planning and designing experiments, recommending schedules, and producing scientific materials.
• Consulted with S-FRAME Company's team to assess and improve the capabilities of a newly released version of S-FOUNDATION.
• Attended international conferences annually to present and disseminate research findings to the global scientific community.
• Served as a reviewer for various scientific journals, including the Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Bridge Engineering Journal of ASCE, Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, Géotechnique Letters, Sustainable Civil Infrastructures Journal, Journal of Structures, and the American Society of Civil Engineers, providing expert evaluation and feedback on submitted research manuscripts.