Professor of Sustainable Infrastructure
| Phone: | +44 (0)1509 222890 |  |
| Fax: | +44 (0)1509 211079 | |
| Email: | M.Sohail@lboro.ac.uk | |
| Links: |  | |
| Publications: | View all / Visit the CBE Repository page |
Sohail joined Loughborough University from industry in 1993 , following a career in infrastructure project management with an American corporation. He was attracted to work in international development with specific reference to sustainable urban infrastructure provision. Now Professor of Sustainable Infrastructure and the Director of Research and Enterprise at WEDC, he has published more than 110 journal papers, books and conference papers and has international experience of more than 30 countries. He is also a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a member of the editorial panel of an Institution of Civil Engineers journal, has served on several scientific committees and refereed several journals and research submissions for esteemed journals.
Google Profile: http://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=SsRfRjoAAAAJ&hl=en
Linkedin Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/muhammad-sohail-khan/10/956/2b4
Fellow of American Society of Civil Engineers, USA, (Member since 1997, awarded Fellowship in 2008.)
Member of Pakistan Engineering Council, life member since 1986.
Member of World Road Association (PIARC).
Member of CIB Work Commission 107 (Construction in Developing Countries) and also participated in the activities of other CIB commissions and task groups. Appointed since 2001.
Fellow of American Society of Civil Engineers, USA, (Member since 1997, awarded Fellowship in 2008.)
Member of Pakistan Engineering Council, life member since 1986.
Member of World Road Association (PIARC).
Member of CIB Work Commission 107 (Construction in Developing Countries) and also participated in the activities of other CIB commissions and task groups. Appointed since 2001.
Invited member of scientific committee of BEAR (Building Engineering and Research) conference organized under CIB 89 working group from 11-13 April 2006. The group promotes research and education within the built environment.
Institution of Civil Engineers: member of the editorial panel (2001 -2009) for Municipal Engineers Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers. Edited seven special issues.
Institution of Civil Engineers: member of the editorial (2009 onwards) panel for Engineering Sustainability Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers.
External examiner for Masters programme at Oxford Brookes University – (five-year appointment since 2001).
External examiner of Doctoral candidates within UK (e.g, Birmingham, Southampton, Strathclyde) and South Africa.
International academic visits undertaken to institutions like MITand Yale in the USA. This has led to collaboration and development of projects in the area of partnering.
Member of Board of Directors of an e-journal, ‘The international journal for service learning in engineering: Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship’ published by Penn State University, USA.
Invited to contribute to the first Water Encyclopaedia by John Wiley, recognising leadership in the field of partnership.
Review proposals for funding bodies such as UK research councils, British Council, National Academy of Sciences, Finland.
Reviewer of various academic refereed journals, including Engineering Construction and Architectural Management, Journal of Construction Management and Economics, The Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (Engineering Sustainability, Municipal Engineer, Water Management, Transport, Waste and Resource Management), American Society of Civil Engineers( various), The Natural Resources Forum, Journal of Environment and Development, International Journal of Transportation Engineering, Transport Policy and Geo-Forum, Utilities policy, Public Administration and Development, Environment and planning-B, Water Supply: Research and Technology
Improving quality of life though sustainable infrastructure provision
The issues of interest in no particular order: Sustainability, Infrastructure economics, infrastructure development and finance, infrastructure policy and politics, Accountability and transparency, anti-corruption, construction, project management, project delivery, energy security, innovative toilets, private sector development and partnering, public infrastructure management, public interest litigation, transport policy, water policy, consumer behavior, Employment creation, incentives, markets, pricing and tariffs, project finance, public private partnerships, and organizational relationships.
International development, History, Influence, Philosophy, human behavior, listening
Higher education performance excellence
Theoretical interests: chaos, complexity, games, and reciprocity theory
PRIME RESEARCH AREA
Provision of sustainable urban infrastructure to the bottom billion people through partnering – policy, planning, procurement and management
THEMATIC INTERESTS
WEDC
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Current and previous projects
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Value
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Reinvent the toilet-Phase 2
Sponsor: Bill and Melinda Gates foundation
Position in grant: Principal investigator
Co-investigator: Various
Partners:
Period: 2012-2014
Description: Following on from the award of phase one and Prize, the grant for second phase was awarded to take the Reinvented Toilet to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7. This prestigious grant was awarded after an international competition. The aim is to radically change the existing toilets to contributing in providing access to 10 million people over 5 years. A toilet that produces biological charcoal, minerals, and clean water. A description as appeared in media is as follows; “Professor M. Sohail of Loughborough University and his team propose to develop a toilet to transform faeces into a highly energetic combustible through a process combining hydrothermal carbonization of faecal sludge followed by combustion. The process will be powered by the heat generated during the combustion phase and will recover water and salt from faeces and urine.”
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$1,072,987
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Reinvent the toilet-Second Prize awarded for Phase one work
Sponsor: Bill and Melinda Gates foundation
Position in grant: Principal investigator
Co-investigator: Various
Partners:
Period: 2012
Description: This prestigious grant was awarded after an international competition. The aim is to radically change the existing toilets to contributing in providing access to 10 million people over 5 years. A toilet that produces biological charcoal, minerals, and clean water. A description as appeared in media is as follows; “Professor M. Sohail of Loughborough University and his team propose to develop a toilet to transform faeces into a highly energetic combustible through a process combining hydrothermal carbonization of faecal sludge followed by combustion. The process will be powered by the heat generated during the combustion phase and will recover water and salt from faeces and urine.”
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$60000
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Reinvent the toilet
Sponsor: Bill and Melinda Gates foundation
Position in grant: Principal investigator
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 2011-2012
Description: This prestigious grant was awarded after an international competition. The aim is to radically change the existing toilets to contributing in providing access to 10 million people over 5 years.
A toilet that produces biological charcoal, minerals, and clean water. A description as appeared in media is as follows; Professor M. Sohail of Loughborough University and his team propose to develop a toilet to transform faeces into a highly energetic combustible through a process combining hydrothermal carbonization of faecal sludge followed by combustion. The process will be powered by the heat generated during the combustion phase and will recover water and salt from faeces and urine.
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$ 398,000.
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Guidance on a total sanitation & sanitation marketing programme
Position in grant: Co-investigator
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 1/07/2010-30/09/2010
Description: To evaluated the existing practices of the projects which are using total sanitation and sanitation marketing
Sponsor: CDM, USA
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12,180
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Partnering to combat corruption in infrastructure delivery
Sponsor: Commonwealth Association
Position in grant: Principal investigator
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 2007-2008
Description: To improve governance through the use of accountability arrangements to combat corruption in the context of infrastructure services focusing on commonwealth countries.
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49,000
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Partnerships in water and sanitation sector Utilities
Sponsor: DFID
Position in grant: Principal investigator
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 2007-2008
Description: To improve utilities performance through partnerships among utilities.
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13,703
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Accountability arrangements to combat corruption in the delivery of infrastructure services
Sponsor: Commonwealth Association
Position in grant: Principal investigator/senior research manager
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 2006-07
Description: To improve governance through the use of accountability arrangements to combat corruption in the context of infrastructure services focusing on commonwealth countries.
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32,000
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Pro-poor elements of procurement procedures
Sponsor: United Nations International Labour Organization
Position in grant: Principal investigator/senior research manager
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 2005-06
Description: To identify and establish elements that support and promote pro-poor municipal procurement systems. The project draws on experiences and fieldwork from Tanzania.
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6,613
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Sponsor: Department for International Development (DfID)
Position in grant: Principal investigator/senior research manager
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 2004-07
Description: To improve governance through the use of accountability arrangements to combat corruption in the delivery of infrastructure services in urban and rural contexts. The project draws on experiences and fieldwork from South Korea, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, China, UK, Ukraine, South Africa and Argentina.
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230,000
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Public-private partnerships for the urban environment
Sponsor: United Nations Development Programme
Position in grant: Principal investigator/senior research manager
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 2002-04
Description: Inviting and assimilating comments on PPP experience from international experts from Uganda, Namibia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Argentina, Peru, Russia, Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. The work involved independent negotiations, quality assurance and research, and conversion of results into a Global Toolkit for the UN.
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150,000
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Status and trends of private sector participation in ECA
Sponsor: World Bank
Position in grant: Principal investigator/senior research manager
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 2003-04
Description: Research and predicting trends as a contribution in the World Bank global policy formulation, with a focus on Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The work included research in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The findings were submitted as a paper, which was presented in Austria. The work also included independent negotiation with the World Bank. This work is one of the key endorsements for recognition of world expertise in the subject area.
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35,000
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Key issues of privatization of the water sector for practical applications
Sponsor: Inwent and FAKT, Germany
Position in grant: Principal investigator/senior research manager
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 2003-04
Description: Research and converting research into an online course, development of online material, online tutoring, online marking and organizing a workshop in Jordan. The work also included independent negotiation with a new client, leading to further work. This is an endorsement of recognition of world expertise in the subject field.
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Euro 26,000
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Guidance note on tariffs
Sponsor: Suez Environment (a subsidiary of a multinational water company)
Position in grant: Principal investigator/senior research manager
Period: 2000-04
Description: Converting research into an industry-friendly guidance note. Suez is one of the two largest water sector multinationals. This is an endorsement of recognition of world expertise in the subject field.
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20,000
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Public-private partnerships and the poor in water and sanitation
Sponsor: Department for International Development
Position in grant: Principal investigator/senior research manager
Period: 1999-03
Description: Developing research framework, commissioning and conducting overseas research, monitoring the research activities, and developing and disseminating the research outputs. International links were made with key academic and private sector organizations. The work also included negotiation with the client. This is an endorsement of recognition of world expertise in the subject field.
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386,000
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Partnerships to improve access and quality of public transport Phase 2
Sponsor: Department for International Development
Position in grant: Principal investigator/senior research manager
Period: 2000-03
Description: Developing research framework, commissioning and conducting overseas research, monitoring research activities, and developing and disseminating the research outputs.
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175,000
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Private infrastructure service providers
Sponsor: Department for International Development/ITC
Position in grant: Principal investigator/senior research manager
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 2001-04
Description: Developing research framework, commissioning and conducting overseas research, monitoring research activities, and developing and disseminating the research outputs.
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60,000
(part)
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Urban livelihoods
Sponsor: Department for International Development/Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG; now Practical Action)
Position in grant: Principal investigator/senior research manager
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 2001-04
Description: Developing research framework, commissioning and conducting overseas research, monitoring research activities, and developing and disseminating the research outputs.
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233,000
(part)
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Regulatory guidelines for urban upgrading
Sponsor: Department for International Development/ITDG
Position in grant: Principal investigator/senior research manager
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 2000-04
Description: Developing research framework, commissioning and conducting overseas research, monitoring research activities, and developing and disseminating the research outputs.
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(part)
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Activity patterns, transport and policies for the urban poor
Sponsor: Department for International Development/TRL
Position in grant: Principal investigator/senior research manager
Period: 2000-04
Description: Developing research framework, commissioning and conducting overseas research, monitoring research activities, and developing and disseminating the research outputs.
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372,802
(part)
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Operation, maintenance and sustainability of services for the poor
Sponsor: Department for International Development
Position in grant: Principal investigator/research manager
Period: 1999-2002
Description: Developing research framework, commissioning and conducting overseas research, monitoring research activities, and developing and disseminating the research outputs.
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172,000
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Partnerships to improve access and quality of public transport for the urban poor
Sponsor: Department for International Development
Position in grant: Principal investigator/research manager
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 1999-2000
Description: Developing research framework, commissioning and conducting overseas research, monitoring research activities, and developing and disseminating the research outputs.
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50,000
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Rail noise research understanding community annoyance factors
Sponsor: Railtrack plc
Position in grant: Principal investigator/research manager
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 1999-2000
Description: Negotiations with the client, conducting research and production of outputs.
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25,000
(part)
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Performance monitoring of micro-contracts for infrastructure procurement
Sponsor: Department for International Development
Position in grant: Principal investigator
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 1999-2000
Description: Research design, data collection, analysis and research reporting, including fieldwork in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
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130,000 (part)
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Procurement of infrastructure in low-income urban communities
Sponsor: Department for International Development
Position in grant: Principal investigator
Co-investigator:
Partners:
Period: 1994-96
Description: Research design, data collection, analysis and research reporting, including fieldwork in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
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160,000 (part)
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RESEARCH SUPERVISION
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