Newcastle University in Singapore

Staff Profile

Dr Mohammed Abdul Hannan

Assistant Professor & Degree Programme Director (Marine Technology, UG)

Background

I received my BSc degree (first class honours) in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Mar 2009) and later obtained my Ph.D. from the National University of Singapore in Nov 2014. Before joining Newcastle University as a lecturer in Aug 2016, I was working as a Research Fellow at National University of Singapore. My research activities involve Sustainable Engineering & Design, Renewable Energy, Design and Control of Marine Vehicle, Fluid Mechanics, Application of AI and Machine Learning in Ocean Engineering. 

Roles and Responsibilities:

Teaching and Learning, Research and Innovation, Outreach/public Engagement, Administration and Management.

Qualifications:

Ph.D., National University of Singapore (NUS) [Nov 2014]
BSc in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) [Mar 2009]
Associate Fellow, Higher Education Academy, UK [Dec 2017]

Previous Positions:

Research Fellow, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore [Dec 2014 - Jul 2016] 
Research Engineer, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore [Aug 2013 - Nov 2014]
Lecturer, Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology [April 2009 - July 2009]

Professional Affiliations:

Associate Member, The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (AMRINA) [Since 2006]
Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) [Since 2016]
Member, The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (MIEB) [Since 2012]
Member, SouthEast Asia Petroleum Exploration Society (SEAPEX) [2011]

Languages:

Bengali (Mother tongue)
English (Fluent)

Research

My research interests mainly cover the design of floating structures, fluid mechanics, machine learning/automation and sustainability in engineering design. These research efforts can broadly be subdivided into two main categories - Computational and Experimental. Computational works involve the development of efficient numerical tools to perform computational simulation in the above research areas and at the same time use of these tools as the driver of highly sophisticated computationally expensive simulations to provide an accurate description/solution of the relevant physical phenomena. While developing numerical tools are mostly related to academic track research; application/modification of existing tools or commercial software on the other hand, generally involve solving industry-focused problems. The experimental analysis in this regard serves as a bridge between the industry and academia, most of the cases by investigating the simplified setup of a complex system to understand the fundamental physics and mechanism associated with it, and by performing prototype model testing to address the challenges related to the real-life applications.

Research Area:

Renewable energy & sustainable development
Wave interaction with fixed or floating structures
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Data analytics and Artificial Intelligence in fluid mechanics
Ice structure interactions
Ship/Marine system design/optimization 
Sustainability in Engineering design 

Research Supervision/Co-Supervision:

MSc: 
- Decision making in station keeping for Geotechnical Drilling Vessel [M Ramasamy, AY19/20] 
- Design and optimisation of floating sub-structure for offshore wind turbines, [R Deshmukh, AY17/18]
- Multi-objective optimization for a sustainable ship design approach [N Z Tun, AY16/17]
- Development of analytical formulation based on a truly coupled ice-floater interaction [A A Maruf, AY16/17]

Ph.D.:
- Safety Risk Analysis and Ergonomic Risks Assessment of User Driver In-vehicle Interface Systems and Related Components [R A Halek, AY18/19 - present]

Esteem Indicators:

Reviewer: Several international journals and conferences including, Energies, Ocean Engineering, JMSA, OMAE, OTC.
Organizing Committee: Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) Asia, 2018, 2020
Scientific Committee: Intl Conference on Advances in Civil Infrastructure and Construction Materials (CICM), 2015
Management Committee: Joint Br. of RINA and IMarEST, Singapore, 2017-2020
Management Committee: Institution of Engineers Bangladesh, Singapore, 2012-2020
Focus Group: Invited to participate in several industry-academic focus groups on tackling recent engineering challenges. 

Research Grants:

[2020 Apr] Safety Envelope for Ship Recycling Practices in Bangladesh: Hazard Identification and Risk Evaluation, by Lloyds Register and Royal Academy of Engineering, UK.
[2020 Oct] AI-assisted Ship Manoeuvring Simulator with Improved, Collision Avoidance Model, UTM Encouragement Research Grant, Malaysia.
[2020 Nov] Investigation on Drag Forces of a Hull Cleaning ROV System, by C-Leanship, Denmark.
[2020 Dec] Machine Learning based GUI for modelling and forecasting energy demand and generation, QR SPF funding by Research England, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Industrial Relevance:

[2013-2014] Worked for an industry-academic project on 'Low-cost Decentralized Sanitary System for Treatment, Water and Resource Recovery. Funder by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USA]
[2014-2016] Worked for the industry-academic collaboration 'Keppel-NUS corporate lab', Funded by Keppel Corporation (Keppel) and National Research Foundation (NRF), Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore.

Knowledge Exchange & Impact Activities:

[2020 Jul] Talk on 'Collaboration: A Step Towards Successful Research Careers', at Green University of Bangladesh.
[2020] Supervised Student Team Secured 3rd Place in International Ferry Design Competition.
[2019] Supervised Student Team Secured 1st Place in the International Ferry Design Competition.
[2018 Dec] Talk on 'Understanding the Mysteries of Fluid, Part I', at Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology.
[2018] Supervised Student Team Secured 8th Place in International Ferry Design Competition.
[2017 Jul] Presentation at Seminar organized by 'The institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (Singapore Chapter)'.
[2017 May] Talk on 'Engineering Inspired by Nature: In the Context of Fluid Dynamics', at Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology.
[2016 Apr] Presentation at Seminar organized by 'The institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (Singapore Chapter)'.
[2016 Apr] Talk on 'Research and Development at Offshore: Towards a Sustainable Future', at Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology.

Professional Activities as a Session Organizer/Chairman/Co-Chairman:

[2019 Jun] International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OMAE), Scotland.
[2018 Jun] International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OMAE), Spain.
[2018 Apr] Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) Asia, Malaysia. 

Teaching

Study of fluids, hydrodynamics, numerical algorithms and similar other topics are often considered full of boring equations and mathematical theories by the students. Therefore, my teaching is primarily motivated by the desire to spark the ‘interest-driven learning’ inside the students’ minds which will help them to rethink these fields of engineering as an interactive and colourful realm ready for their exploration. One approach to doing so might be, correlating the classical theories of fluids with real-life phenomena and incorporating the aids of modern visualization techniques to explain the recent progress in this area. These always help to convey the scientific concepts in a simple and appealing way and to develop an intuitive understanding (part of interest-driven learning) of a student. The ‘interest-driven learning’ attitude helps the student to become an enthusiastic, independent and creative learner. Thus, at the end of the course, the student not only assimilates the basics of that specific course but also continues to evolve as a critical and analytical thinker.

Postgraduate Teaching:

MAR8227 Advanced Marine Design* (80%)
MAR8228 Advanced Offshore Technology* (50%) 
MAR8270 Mooring Riser and Drilling Systems (50%)
* I lead the module 

Undergraduate Teaching:

MAR2108/MNO2111 Naval Architecture II* (Full module, from AY16-17)
MAR3111/MNO3104 Drilling Engineering* (Full module, from AY 17-18)
MAR3127 Future Marine Projects* (Partial from AY 16-17 to AY 17-18)
MAR3134/MNO3112 Ship Design* (Full module, from AY 16-17)
MAR3136/ MNO3109 Advanced Ship and Offshore Hydrodynamics (Partial, from AY 16-17)
MAR3143 Project and Report in Marine Engineering (Supervision of Final Year Projects, from AY 16-17 to AY 17-18)
MAR3144 Project and Report in Naval Architecture (Supervision of Final Year Projects, from AY 16-17 to AY 17-18)
MAR3145 Project and Report in Offshore Engineering (Supervision of Final Year Projects, from AY 16-17 to AY 17-18)
MNO3101 Integrated Work-Study Program (Industry Attachment Supervision, from AY 18-19)
MNO3114 Capstone Project & Report (Supervision of Final Year Projects, from AY 18-19)
* I lead the module 

Previous Teaching:

Fluid Mechanics, Statics and Mechanics of Materials, Computer-Aided Engineering Design, Hydraulics Lab


Publications