Hamzh Alarifi

Dr. Hamzh Alarifi
PhD (Geotechnical Engineering), MSc (Civil Engineering), BSc. (Civil Engineering)

Lecturer
Civil & Construction Engineering

Contact Details

Telephone: +60 85 630100 Ext. 2436
Location: Skylark 3 (SK3) Room 452
Email: hamzh.a@curtin.edu.my

Research Profile

Google Scholar: Alarifi Hamzh‬ – ‪Google Scholar‬
ResearchGate: Alarifi, Hamzh – ResearchGate profile
SCOPUS: Alarifi, Hamzh – Author details – Scopus Preview
ORCID: Alarifi Hamzh (0000-0001-6701-3816) – ORCID
LinkedIn: Alarifi Hamzh-LinkedIn profile

Background

Dr. Alarifi joined Curtin University Malaysia as a Lecturer in 2025. He has a strong background in Geotechnical Engineering, with extensive expertise in soil mechanics, geotechnical design, and structural monitoring. Dr. Alarifi specializes in integrating advanced technologies, including Distributed Fibre Optic Sensing (DFOS) and numerical modeling (FEM, DEM), for landslide early warning systems and infrastructure monitoring. He has a proven track record of high-impact research, with publications in Q1 and Q2 peer-reviewed journals, and has successfully been involved in competitive research projects. His work focuses on advancing smart and resilient infrastructure through experimental studies, computational modeling, and innovative sensing technologies.

Research Interest

Geotechnical Risk Mitigation in Climate Change
Infrastructure Resilience under Climate Change
Numerical Modeling of Soil-Structure Interaction
Fiber Optic Sensing in Civil Engineering Applications
Landslide Early Warning Systems
Sustainable Geotechnical Solutions
Structural Health Monitoring

Academic History

PhD in Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia (2023)
Master of Civil Engineering (MSc), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Malaysia (2017)
Bachelor of Science (BSc): Civil Engineering, University of Benghazi, Libya (2012)

Professional Experience

2025-present: Lecturer Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Curtin University Malaysia.
2024-2025: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia.
2021-2023: Graduate Research Assistant, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia
2018‐2021: Graduate Assistant (Teaching & Research), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia.
2012‐2015: Civil Engineer (Consultant), Engineering Group Company, Libya.

Awards

Graduate Assistant (2018)
Research Award – UTP Poster Competition (2019)
Graduate Research Assistantship – Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (2021)
MSP Scholarship – IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Netherlands (2023)

Research Projects/Consultancy works

Subsurface CO2 Storage and Fluid Production Intelligent Monitoring System Utilizing Optical Fibre Technology (2022-2027, International, TOTALENERGIES EPMY), Researcher.
SSGP Proof of Concept for Soil Movement Monitoring Scheme (2023-2024, ITP Sdn Bhd – PETRONAS Technical Services), Researcher.
Pipeline Digital Twin – Onshore (2021-2022, ITP Sdn Bhd – PETRONAS Technical Services), Researcher.
Installation of Fibre Optic Sensor on Elevated Pipeline Monitoring at Manjung TNB Power Plant Site (2020, ITP Sdn Bhd – IKRAM), Researcher.
Modelling Of Liquefaction Induced Flow slides and Landslides on Underground Pipeline (2019-2021, International, UNPAR), Researcher.
Smart Integrated Distributed Optical Fiber Sensor for Landslide Induced Pipeline Movement Detection (2018-2021, National, YUTP-FRG), Researcher.
Micro Tunnelling Impact to KTMB Crossing, TNB Pylon, and Jalan Perindustrian Pengkalan (2018, HS Geoconsult – Mangkubumi Construction), Researcher.

Publications

A. Journal Papers

Alarifi Hamzh, H Mohamad, “Optimised Placement of Distributed Fibre Optic Sensors for Accurate Strain Monitoring of Buried Pipelines in Landslide-Prone Areas”, (Q1- Impact Factor 3.6).
Muhammad Farid Ghazali, Hisham Mohamad, Muhammad Yusoff Mohd Nasir, Alarifi Hamzh, Muhammad Aizzuddin Abdullah, Nor Faiqa Abd Aziz, Phromphat Thansirichaisree, Mohd Saiful Dzulkefly Zan “State-of-The-Art application and challenges of optical fibre distributed acoustic sensing in civil engineering”, Optical Fiber Technology, 2024 (Q2: Impact Factor 2.6).
Alarifi Hamzh, Hisham Mohamad, Mohd Fairus Bin Yusof, “The effect of stone column geometry on soft soil bearing capacity”, International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2022 (Q2: Impact Factor 2.1).
Hamzh Alarifi, Hisham Mohamad, Nor Faridah Nordin, Muhammad Yusoff, Aminu Darda’u Rafindadi, Budijanto Widjaja, “A large-scale model of lateral pressure on a buried pipeline in medium dense sand”, Applied Sciences, 2021 (Q2: Impact Factor 2.7).

B. Conference papers/Proceedings

Comparison of the Main Factors of Drowning/Asphyxiation in Construction Projects Using Multi-Decision Criteria, ICONCEES-2021
Comparison of rectangular tunnel with shield jacking support and pipe roof support in finite element method, International Conference on Artificial Intelligence for Smart Community: AISC 2020, 17–18 December, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Malaysia
Estimation of the buried pipeline displacement using distributed fibre optic sensing: An experimental study, The 13th International UNIMAS Engineering Conference 2020 (ENCON 2020)
Numerical modelling of seepage analysis using SEEP/W: A case study for the Kerian River Flood Mitigation Project (Phase 3) in Bandar Baharu, Kedah, The 13th International UNIMAS Engineering Conference 2020 (ENCON 2020)
A Physical modelling of lateral soil displacement and pipeline movement due to landslide, International Conference on “Landslide and Slope Stability

Professional Activities

Reviewer for Heliyon Journal
Reviewer for Journal of Engineering and Applied Science (Cairo)

Professional Affiliation

Graduate Technologist, Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT), GT24120811
Graduate Engineer, Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), Reg. No. G2179158A
Member, Malaysian Geotechnical Society (MGS), MGS147/20
Member, The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM), No: 102222