Applied research expertise
At the forefront of acoustic infrastructure monitoring for more than 30 years.
Our experts have an established track record in partnering government officials, NGOs and the private sector to deliver far-reaching economic and social impact.
Dr Alister Smith
Reader in Geotechnics
Alister is a Chartered Civil Engineer and previous EPSRC Fellow. He pioneered the ‘Listening to Infrastructure’ research programme to develop innovations in geotechnical monitoring and co-invented the Slope ALARMS and Community Slope SAFE acoustic emission (AE) landslide early warning systems. Co-Investigator and Research Theme Lead of the EPSRC Programme Grant, ACHILLES, investigating the impacts of climate change on geotechnical infrastructure. He is Programme Leader for Civil Engineering and Director of the National Engineered Slope Simulator (NESS) research facility. He has received multiple awards for his research and innovation activities, including the Philip Leverhulme Prize in Engineering, Hawley Award for Engineering Innovation, and the ICE Telford Premium.
Professor Neil Dixon
Professor of Geotechnical Engineering
Neil retired in 2023. He has more than 35 years of experience in geotechnical engineering research and practice. He has worked on funded projects and published over 190 refereed publications in the areas of slope failure mechanisms, in situ measurement of soil/waste properties, slope stability assessment, instrumentation development, slope process modelling, landfill barrier design guidance and impacts of climate change studies. Professor Dixon led development of the acoustic emission landslide monitoring method using Slope ALARMS sensors, and he was also part of the Assessment, Costing and enHancement of long lIfe, Long Linear assEtS (ACHILLES) research consortia investigating impacts of climate change on earthworks. He has received multiple awards for his publications and impact.
