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Irfan Karim

Lifelong Learner

Hi! I'm a graduate student in Environmental Engineering in Cornell University and currently engaged with research in Dr. April Gu's Lab. I graduated from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, BUET (class of 2023).

My undergrad research interest focused on Climate Resilience, Resilient Infrastructures, Network Science, Vulnerability Analysis and Data Science. With my newfound identity as a Cornell grad student, I'm currently diving deep in wastewater treatment systems, resource recovery, process optimization and automation with Artificial Intelligence and remote sensors.

I wish to contribute (through my academic and professional career) in work that aims towards sustainable development and sustainability in general. I believe that co-operation, in addition to relevant knowledge and technology, is essential to create a world that welcomes diversity and inclusion and tries to ensure equity for all.

Interests

  • Water Treatment Systems, Nutrients Recovery and Automation
  • Climate Resilience, Sustainable Infrastructures and Vulnerabilitiy Analysis
  • Air Quality and Water Pollution
  • Accident Risk Assessment and Intelligent Transportation Systems
  • Disaster Risk Assessment, Flood Hazard mapping and Remote Sensing with GIS
  • Liquid and Solid Waste Managment and Life-cycle assessment
  • Data driven approaches in research with a focus on Machine Learning and Data Science



Professional Experience

Junior Project Engineer

Bureau of Research, Testing and Consultation, BRTC-BUET
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
September, 2023 - July, 2024.

The position "Research Assistant" is renamed to "Junior Project Engineer" for extensive Involvement in projects

  • Assisting in the Top Supervision Project for Construction of U-loop Interchange in Paduar Bazaar
  • Inception Report for the Construction of Flyover (with Cloverleaf Interchange) near Chowmuhani bazaar to alleviate traffic congestion
  • Preparation of the Feasibility Report for the Construction of Grade Separated Intersection in Feni-Noakhali National Highway to facilitate smooth traffic flow

Research Assistant

Bureau of Research, Testing and Consultation, BRTC-BUET
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
June, 2023 - September, 2023.

  • Actively participated in Traffic Volume Surveys involving categorized vehicle counts and spot speed and average speed measurements
  • Facilitated project meetings: documenting key points and delegating relevant tasks
  • Prepared the layout plan and various structural components of an overpass using AutoCAD




Research Experience

Multi-Criteria Assessment of Vulnerability of Road Network due to Flooding Events

Undergraduate Thesis

Supervised by Dr. Sheikh Mokhlesur Rahman

  • Assessed the Vulnerability of road network of two districts of Bangladesh (Sylhet and Mymensingh) to Flooding Events
  • Network Science based approach (using python libraries) to analyze the network and ArcGIS Pro to visualize the results
  • Utilized Flood Inundation Maps of three return periods: 25 years, 50 years and 100 years
  • Quantified the vulnerability in three metrics: Topological features (Active road lengh), Centrality measures (Node betweenness centrality) and Accessibility (Service Area)


Publication and Grants




Relevant Coursework

Course Teacher Courses
Dr. Sheikh Mokhlesur Rahman Environmental Pollution Management (Water pollution), Engineering Materials, Surveying
Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Ali Environmental Pollution Management (Air pollution), Environmental Engineering II, Enviromental Engineering Laboratory
Dr. Tanvir Ahmed Basic Environmental Management, Environmental Engineering I, Numerical Methods
Dr. A.B.M. Badruzzaman Environmental Engineering II, Enviromental Engineering Laboratory, Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Course Teacher Courses
Dr. M. Neaz Murshed Transportation Engineering V (Urban Transportation Planning and Management), Transportation Engineering IV (Airport), Surveying
Dr. Md. Hadiuzzaman Transportation Engineering V (Urban Transportation Planning and Management), Transportation Engineering II (Flexible Pavement Design), Applied Mathematics for Engineers (Probability and Statistical Analysis)
Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman Project Planning and Construction Management, Transportation Engineering IV (Drainage)
Dr. Md. Shamsul Hoque Transportation Engineering II (Rigid Pavement Design), Transportation Engineering I (Traffic Engineering)



Academic Projects

 
 
 
 
 

Modernization of BUET Palashi Market

Capstone Project

Worked as the Team Leader in this final undergraduate project that encompasses and interconnects all the sectors of civil engineering and tests us if we're competent enough to be working as professional civil engineers.

With only cursory help from our respected teachers, we, as a team of 7 (seven) members, have completed the project of modernizing an existing market from scratch. Starting from problem identification and demand analysis with the data collected from the stakeholders through surveys and meetings, we have procured the inception report, analyzed the alternate solutions (reviewed by our teachers) and provided the feasibility report after conducting relevant assessments (SIA, EIA, TIA) and analyses (financial and economic feasiblity analysis). In addition to drafting relevant drawings (layout plans and components), we have also made a 3D model of the modernized market for better visualization. As this was a 4.5 credit project, we presented our final presentation to a panel of judges that included a combination of civil engineers and architects.

Project Files

Professional Projects

 
 
 
 
 

Top Supervision Project for Construction of U-loop Interchange in Paduar Bazaar

Assisting in this project as a junior project engineer. Contributions include:

  • Facilitating project meetings: documenting key points and delegating relevant tasks.
  • Editing and compiling all reports after inputs from project consultants and panel of experts
  • Site visits to identify core problems, to assess the feasiblity of the project and to supervise the traffic surveys, topographic surveys, environmental surveys etc. to ensure the authenticity and credibility of the collected data.

 
 
 
 
 

Construction of a Flyover (with cloverleaf interchange) near Chowmuhani Bazaar to alleviate Traffic Congestion

As a junior project engineer, my contributions to this project are the same as previously stated. Additionally, I, with one other JPE, compiled the Inception Report for the project which was then reviewed by the team of consultants and finalized.

 
 
 
 
 

Construction of a Grade Seperated Intersection in Feni-Noakhali Highway

As a junior project engineer, my contributions to this project are the same as stated in the "Top Supervision Project". Additionaly, I actively participated in traffic volume survey of this project, which, in addition to categorized vehicle counts, also included spot speed and average speed measurements for the vehicles. I also prepared the layout plan of the flyover and drafted some of the structural components using the software AutoCAD. Moreover, we (the JPEs) edited and compiled the Feasibility Report for this project.




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Achievements




Extra Curricular

  • CPD Course on BNBN-2020
  • Founding Assistant Secretary, BUET Innovation and Design Club
  • Executive member, ASCE BUET Student Chapter
  • Volunteer: Eccentric Civil Festival at BUET, 2018
  • Member, BUET Entrepreneurship Development Club
  • Executive member, BUET Drama Society



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