Omar Swei

Dr. Omar Swei is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC), affiliated with the Faculty of Applied Science. His primary research focuses on applying operations research methods to enhance infrastructure systems' design, maintenance, and sustainability. He holds a strong academic background from MIT and has been recognized with prestigious awards including the 2020 TRB Best Poster Award and the 2015 ASCE Best Paper Award.

Dr. Swei's expertise spans Asset Management, Life Cycle Modeling, Optimization Methods, and Sustainable Infrastructure Management. He teaches courses such as CIVL 300 (Construction Engineering and Management), CIVL 519 (Risk and Decision Analysis for Infrastructure Management), and CIVL 522 (Project and Construction Economics). His work emphasizes developing optimal infrastructure policies under uncertainty and improving economic and environmental performance through innovative analytical frameworks.

Recent research trends in his publications highlight sustainable infrastructure design, climate change mitigation strategies for pavements, and probabilistic models for infrastructure resilience. He has pioneered the integration of reinforcement learning and deep learning techniques to address complex infrastructure management challenges. His interdisciplinary approach bridges engineering, economics, and environmental science to create actionable solutions for global infrastructure sustainability.

• Education:
  • M.S./Ph.D., Civil & Environmental Engineering, MIT
  • Fulbright Scholar (2016–2017)
• Awards:
  • 2020 TRB Best Poster Award (2nd Place)
  • 2015 ASCE Workshop Best Paper Award

Dr. Swei collaborates with industry and governmental agencies to translate research into practical tools for infrastructure decision-making. He leads UBC’s Master of Engineering Leadership in Integrated Water Management program, fostering innovation in water resource systems.