Lecturer in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Centre for Infrastructure Engineering and Safety (CIES)

Dr. Ulrike Dackermann is a lecturer in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UNSW and a member of the Centre for Infrastructure, Engineering and Safety (CIES). She joined UNSW in 2017 after serving as a lecturer at UTS from 2014. Her expertise includes Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), Non-Destructive Testing & Evaluation (NDT&E), Hybrid Timber Structures, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Signal Processing, Timber Engineering, Modal Analysis, Guided Wave Analysis and Human-Induced Vibrations. She is currently Deputy Editor of the Australian Journal of Civil Engineering.

A key research focus of Dr. Dackermann is the advancement of smart SHM systems through the integration of cutting-edge sensing technologies with AI, advanced signal processing, and data fusion techniques to enhance the safety, reliability, and sustainability of civil infrastructure. She has contributed to high-profile projects, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, where she developed novel damage assessment methods using AI-driven analysis of vibration measurements from the bridge’s sensor network. In a current research project, she is exploring crowd monitoring and human-structure interaction by leveraging advanced sensing technologies and AI-based data fusion to develop more effective methods for assessing and managing pedestrian bridges. Her expertise in AI has also been applied in the energy sector, where she collaborated with AusGrid on an ARC Linkage grant to develop a screening tool that helps pole inspectors distinguish healthy timber poles from deteriorated ones using wave-based detection and AI algorithms.

Another key area of Dr. Dackermann’s research is hybrid timber structures, where she investigates their dynamic behavior, long-term performance, and response to pedestrian-induced vibrations. She is further dedicated to the development of AI-integrated NDT&E techniques, including guided waves, ultrasound and ground-penetrating radar (GPR), to improve the detection and assessment of damage in timber structures.

Beyond her academic and research commitments, Dr. Dackermann is deeply committed to practical, hands-on engineering solutions with real-world impact. This is exemplified by her international volunteer work with Engineers Without Borders in Nepal and Tanzania, where she designed and implemented energy-efficient stoves using locally sourced materials. These initiatives have helped improve health outcomes and reduce environmental degradation in local communities. Her dedication to applying engineering for social good reflects her down-to-earth, hands-on approach to balancing her role as a researcher, educator, and global engineer.

Education

• PhD in Civil Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Australia, 2010
• MSc (Dipl.-Ing. Univ.) in Civil Engineering, Technical University Munich (TUM), Germany, 2003 

Teaching

• CVEN4308  Structural Dynamics
• CVEN4309  Sustainable Timber Engineering
• CVEN2303  Structural Analysis and Modelling
• CVEN9818  Bridge Engineering
• ENGG1000  Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation

Research Interests

• Structural Health Monitoring (SHM): Development and application of advanced SHM techniques for improved infrastructure safety and longevity.
• Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation (NDT&E): Innovative NDT&E methods for assessing structural integrity and detecting damage in timber and other materials.
• Hybrid Timber Structures: Performance evaluation, dynamic characterisation and long-term behaviour of timber in combination with other materials.
• Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Signal Processing and Data Fusion: AI-driven approaches for structural assessment, predictive maintenance, and intelligent data integration.
• Dynamic Behaviour and Modal Analysis: Characterisation of structural vibrations, pedestrian-induced loads, and experimental modal testing for civil infrastructure.
• Guided Wave Analysis: Development of guided wave techniques for damage detection and condition assessment in timber structures.

Professional Organisations / Affiliations

• Australian Network of Structural Health Monitoring (ANSHM), Executive Committee, Member
• Australian Journal of Civil Engineering (AJCE), Deputy Editor
• InCREased Service Life of Innovative TIMber Building Systems Consortium (CRESTIMB), UNSW Deputy, Member
• International Association for Bridge Maintenance and Safety (IABMAS), Member
• Resilient and Intelligent Infrastructure Systems (RIIS) Hub, Associate Member
• International Society for Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure (ISHMII), Member
• International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures (RILEM), Member
• Concrete Institute of Australia, Member

• Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Member

• Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Non-Destructive Testing Division, Germany, Visiting Fellow, 2013
• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Visiting Fellow, 2008
• Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology (Norsk Treteknisk Institutt), Oslo, Norway, Visiting Fellow, 2002/2003
• Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens Vegvesen), Oslo, Norway, Visiting Fellow, 2002/2003

Current UNSW Service Roles

• Teaching and Learning Committee, UNSW, Member
• Academic Advisor (Year 1), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW

Publications

• https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=qs2X8x8AAAAJ&hl=en