Intelligence at the Interface: Data-Centric Methods for Sensing, Modeling, and Decision Support (Emerging Trends in Mechatronics)

This book demonstrates innovative approaches in the application of computational intelligence. The initial chapters discuss the application of AI to analyze physical systems, in particular contemporary neural networks for rapid and accurate seismic analysis of critical infrastructure. It also discusses advanced metaheuristic and hybrid AI approaches that afford robust, non-invasive evaluations of geological and rock-mass properties, replacing the expensive and time-consuming traditional methods. The subsequent chapters expand the scope to include strategic and operational intelligence dimensions, where the use of generative AI aims at enhancing the security and functionality of IoT ecosystems, and where the seamless interplay of Natural Language Processing and IoT technology enables more human-centred control of systems. It also describes Edge AI, elaborating the on-device processing capabilities that enable fast, secure, real-time decision-making.

Dr. Aydin Azizi holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering–Mechatronics, an MSc in Mechatronics, and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering. Certified as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, official instructor for the Siemens Mechatronic Certification Program (SMSCP), and Editor-in-Chief of the book series Emerging Trends in Mechatronics published by Springer Nature Group, he currently serves as a Senior Lecturer and the Academic Partnership Liaison Manager at Oxford Brookes University. His current research focuses on investigating and developing novel techniques to model, control, and optimize complex systems, with expertise in Control & Automation, AI, and Simulation Techniques. Dr. Azizi is the recipient of the National Research Award of Oman for his AI-based controllers research, DELL EMC’s “Envision the Future” award for the “Automated Irrigation System,” and ‘Exceptional Talent’ recognition by the British Royal Academy of Engineering. He has also been recognized for three consecutive years (2023–2025) among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University & Elsevier for his impactful research contributions.

Dr Danial Jahed Armaghani is an internationally recognised researcher and one of the most highly cited scientists globally in tunnelling, geomechanics, and AI-driven predictive modelling. He has authored ~400 peer-reviewed publications, more than 83% in Q1 journals, and has an h-index of 93 (Scopus) / 104 (Google Scholar), with more than 29,000 citations in Google Scholar. He has been consistently ranked among the top 2% of researchers worldwide (Stanford University Global Citation Ranking) from 2020 to 2025. He is also ranked among the top 0.05% of all scholars worldwide, according to ScholarGPS Highly Ranked Scholars in Engineering and Computer Science. His research has advanced theory-guided machine learning and real-time TBM performance forecasting, establishing him as a leading expert driving innovation in mechanised tunnelling and intelligent underground construction.