Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
Bridge Structural Health Monitoring
Bridge Scour
Bridge Instrumentation and Performance Monitoring
Bridge Decision Support Systems
Vehicle-Bridge Interaction modeling
Signal Processing
Structural Engineering
Interests
I am a lecturer in Structural Engineering at Queen's University Belfast. I have a number of years experience as a design engineer working primarily on bridge design and assessment and I am member of Engineers Ireland. I have been involved in teaching a number structural design modules within the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering.
Teaching
(past)
CIV 4027 - Design & Communication
CIV 4031 - Architectural Design Studies 4
CIV 1019 – Engineering Drawing and Design
Research Interests
Current research focuses on developing a decision support system for bridge managers. This work involves engaging with stakeholders to identifying what metrics are useful to bridge managers and then trying to develop sensing and data interpretation systems that will deliver these metrics. This work involves applying the latest sensing technologies to the particular challenge of bridge sensing (e.g. absence of power, limitations of data transmission and the difficulty in accessing some parts of the structure). I am also working on relating global bridge measurements to foundation scour.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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R3464NBE: (ARISE) - Assembly and Robotics In Steel Building Erection
McPolin, D. (PI), Hester, D. (CoI) & Rafferty, K. (CoI)
02/11/2022 → …
Project: Research
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R1692NBE: Revolutionising Operational Safety and Economy for High-value Infrastructure using Population-based
Hester, D. (PI), Lydon, M. (CoI), Taylor, S. (CoI) & Woods, R. (CoI)
30/06/2022 → …
Project: Research
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R1798NBE: Advanced Sensors and Modelling for Next-generation Bridge Management
Hester, D. (PI)
25/09/2017 → 11/08/2019
Project: Research
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R3717CIV: Camera-Based Bridge Safety Monitoring
Taylor, S. (PI), Hester, D. (CoI) & Robinson, D. (CoI)
27/08/2015 → 30/06/2019
Project: Research
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Removal of drive-by vehicle components using transfer functions with experimental investigation
Feng, K., Taylor, S., Hester, D., Fayyad, T., Zou, G., Lydon, M. & Early, J., Jan 2025, In: Structures. 71, 14 p., 108025.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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A method to maximise the information obtained from low signal-to-noise acceleration data by optimising SSI-COV input parameters
O'Higgins, C., Hester, D., Ao, W. K. & McGetrick, P., 17 Feb 2024, In: Journal of Sound and Vibration. 571, 118101.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile10 Citations (Scopus)20 Downloads (Pure) -
A systematic approach to filter specification for measuring quasi-static bridge rotation under moving loads using DC accelerometers
Ferguson, A. J., Hester, D. & Woods, R., 01 May 2024, (Early online date) In: IEEE Access. 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)63 Downloads (Pure) -
Bus network based fleet monitoring towards sustainable transport infrastructure
Feng, K., Taylor, S., Hester, D., Fayyad, T., Lydon, M. & Early, J., 08 Nov 2024, In: Procedia Structural Integrity. 64, p. 596-603 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Condition Monitoring of Railway Bridges Using Vehicle Pitch to Detect Scour
McGeown, C., Hester, D., OBrien, E. J., Kim, C.-W., Fitzgerald, P. & Pakrashi, V., 05 Mar 2024, In: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland). 24, 5, 19 p., 1684.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus)26 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Aftab Mufti Medal for The Best Journal Paper in 2017 in the Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring
Hester, D. (Recipient) & Taylor, S. (Recipient), 07 Aug 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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"Editor's Choice Article" award from the journal 'Sensors'
Hester, D. (Recipient), Jan 2025
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Activities
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Sensing and Field Testing for Civil SHM: Experience, Challenges & Future Directions
Hester, D. (Organiser)
08 Sept 2025 → 09 Sept 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Population Based Structural Health Monitoring (PBSHM) application to bridges
Hester, D. (Invited speaker)
04 Jun 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Population Based Structural Health Monitoring for Bridges
Hester, D. (Invited speaker)
Jun 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Population Based Structural Health Monitoring for bridges: experience and future directions
Hester, D. (Keynote speaker)
22 May 2025 → 24 May 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference
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Sensing and Field Testing for Civil SHM
Hester, D. (Invited speaker)
May 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk