Sinkhole Detection, Analysis, and Repair

Sinkhole Detection, Analysis, and Repair
Research Laboratory for
Tunnelling and Sinkhole

Jim S. Shiau, PhD (Newcastle)
Associate Professor, University of Southern Queensland, Australia

Short Biography

Jim Shiau is currently Associate Professor at University of Southern Queensland, Australia. He received a Ph.D. degree from University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia where he continued two years of post-doctorate under the leadership of late Laureate Professor Scott Sloan. His research focuses on deep braced excavation and soft ground tunnelling, sinkhole stability, and finite element limit and shakedown analyses for geotechnical stability problems. Jim Shiau has extensive experience in the design of underground structures. He enjoys the breadth of general practice with interests in geotechnical stability research. He has published more than 20 high-impact Q1 journal articles as both first and corresponding authors.

Jim Shiau has also involved in the organisation of several international conferences in Australia since 2014. He has chaired three international conferences in 2004, 2007 and 2008. Jim Shiau is a passionate and creative educator in geotechnical engineering. He is experienced in geotechnical education with the uses of project based learning, physical modelling, and short videos for online learning. He was a recipient of USQ Teaching Award.

Brief Career History

2003- now : Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, University of Southern Queensland.
2001-2003: Post Doctorate, University of Newcastle.
1998-2001: PhD, University of Newcastle.
1993- 1997: Design and Construction Engineers (MRT and High Rise Buidlings).
1990-1992: Master of Engineering, University of New South Wales.
Before 1990: TBA

It is interesting to know that some larger species bamboo has a slow growth rate in the first 3-5 years of its life. During this period, the plant is primarily focusing on reserving their energy underground through developing its roots and underground rootstalks network. Once the root system is strong enough, the bamboo will begin to shoot up rapidly, sometimes growing as much as 91 cm (3 feet) in a single day.

This is because the plant has stored enough energy in its roots to support such rapid growth. Additionally, the bamboo has been able to establish a deep water and nutrient-rich network that allows it to support such explosive growth.

Amazingly those nodes (for sections of bamboo) contain all the cells of the full-grown stem. After trimming short, it will grow back just like a bad haircut! After cuttings, it appears that every node continues to grow as long as it is getting nutrients and water in the pots.

I am astonished with much respect for it.

D1 - top 10% of Q1 Publications (Scimago Journal Rank - https://www.scimagojr.com/)
Visit Google Scholar & Scopus for latest 2026 publications

Geotechnica x6

C Wang, M Huang, JS Shiau, M Cui, M Chen

Mechanism of magnesium-enhanced bio-cementation in improving physical and mechanical properties of cemented sands

(2026), 21, pp. 3865-3889

Acta Geotechnica

DOI: 10.1007/s11440-026-02942-6

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11440-026-02942-6

C Lin, D Li, J Zheng, J Shiau, C Peng

Momentum-based criteria for initiating unbounded sand fluidization induced by pipeline leakage

(2026), 21, pp. 3443-3455

Acta Geotechnica

DOI: 10.1007/s11440-026-02941-7

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11440-026-02941-7

T Nguyen, J Shiau, T Bui-Ngoc

Closed-form seismic earth pressure solutions via adaptive limit analysis and hybrid learning models

(2026), 21, pp. 1505-1529

Acta Geotechnica

DOI: 10.1007/s11440-025-02858-7

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11440-025-02858-7

T Nguyen, J Shiau

Passive earth pressure in sand on inclined walls with negative wall friction based on a statically admissible stress field

(2024), 19, pp. 5685-5709

Acta Geotechnica

DOI: 10.1007/s11440-024-02278-z

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11440-024-02278-z

T Nguyen-Minh, T Bui-Ngoc, J Shiau, T Nguyen, T Nguyen-Thoi

Undrained sinkhole stability of circular cavity: a comprehensive approach based on isogeometric analysis coupled with machine learning

(2024), 19, pp. 5561-5583

Acta Geotechnica

DOI: 10.1007/s11440-024-02266-3

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11440-024-02266-3

J Shiau, B Chudal, S Keawsawasvong

Three-dimensional sinkhole stability of spherical cavity

(2022), 17, pp. 3947-3958

Acta Geotechnica

DOI: 10.1007/s11440-022-01522-8

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11440-022-01522-8

========

J Zhen, M Huang, J Zheng, F Lai, JS Shiau, P Wang, J Xie, Y Zhang

Semi-supervised time series classification for real-time geological condition prediction in shield tunneling

(2026), 177, art. no. 107951

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2026.107951

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0886779826005092

J Zhen, F Lai, M Huang, JS Shiau, J Zheng, Z Hua

Towards intelligent shield position control: A novel offline reinforcement learning framework with SCA-MOPCEO integration

(2026), 171, art. no. 107468

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2026.107468

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S088677982600026X

G Jin, Y Lu, JS Shiau, M Huang, F Lai, M Feng

Consequence and interaction of foaming agent components on soil conditioning of gravel-clay strata for EPB shield tunnelling

(2025), 157, art. no. 106364

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2025.106364

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0886779825000021

R Domphoeun, J Shiau, S Keawsawasvong, P Jamsawang

Stability of a rectangular trapdoor in three dimensions: A Gene expression programming method

(2025), 157, art. no. 106356

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2024.106356

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0886779824007740

T Nguyen-Minh, T Bui-Ngoc, J Shiau, T Nguyen, T Nguyen-Thoi

Coupling isogeometric analysis with deep learning for stability evaluation of rectangular tunnels

(2023), 140, art. no. 105330

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2023.105330

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0886779823003504

J Shiau, JS Lee, F Al-Asadi

Three-dimensional stability analysis of active and passive trapdoors

(2021), 107, art. no. 103635

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2020.103635

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0886779820305897

J Shiau, F Al-Asadi

Two-dimensional tunnel heading stability factors Fc, Fs and Fγ

(2020), 97, art. no. 103293

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2020.103293

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0886779819303347

J Shiau, M Sams

Relating volume loss and greenfield settlement

(2019), 83, pp. 145–152

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2018.09.041

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0886779818302578

========

T Nguyen-Minh, T-N Bui, J Shiau, T Nguyen, T Nguyen-Thoi

A novel closed-form solution for circular tunnels in cohesive-frictional soils using isogeometric analysis, upper bound limit analysis, and soft computing

(2025), 180, art. no. 107104

Computers and Geotechnics

DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107104

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266352X25000527

C Zheng, S Mao, J Shiau, G Wang, X Ding

Analytical solution for vertical dynamic response of single floating pipe piles

(2025), 179, art. no. 106979

Computers and Geotechnics

DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2024.106979

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266352X24009182

DT Tran, J Shiau, VQ Lai, S Keawsawasvong

Stability of conical foundations on anisotropic clay: A comprehensive three-dimensional study on V-H-M failure envelopes

(2025), 177 (Part B), art. no. 106906

Computers and Geotechnics

DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2024.106906

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266352X24008450

Enhanced earth pressure determination with negative wall-soil friction using soft computing

(2024), 167, art. no. 106086

Computers and Geotechnics

DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2024.106086

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266352X24000223

T Nguyen, J Shiau

Revisiting active and passive earth pressure problems using three stability factors

(2023), 163, art. no. 105759

Computers and Geotechnics

DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2023.105759

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266352X23005165

X Zheng, F Yang, J Shiau, F Lai, D Dias

Unlined length effect on the tunnel face stability and collapse mechanisms in c-ϕ soils: A numerical study with advanced mesh adaptive strategies

(2023), 161, art. no. 105576

Computers and Geotechnics

DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2023.105576

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266352X23003336

M Payan, H Fathipour, M Hosseini, RJ Chenari, JS Shiau

Lower bound finite element limit analysis of geo-structures with non-associated flow rule

(2022), 147, art. no. 104803

Computers and Geotechnics

DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2022.104803

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266352X22001598

J Shiau, F Al-Asadi

Determination of critical tunnel heading pressures using stability factors

(2020), 119, art. no. 103345

Computers and Geotechnics

DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2019.103345

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266352X19304094

========

T Vu-Hoang, T Nguyen, J Shiau, D Ly-Khuong, HT Pham-Tran

Reliability Analysis of Ring Footings Using Random Field Finite Element Limit Analysis and Stacked Machine Learning Surrogates

(2026), 50(13), pp. 5092–5116；First published online 18 June 2026

International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics

DOI: 10.1002/nag.70378

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/nag.70378

Z Zhao, J Wang, J Shiau, H Luo, D Yu

Probabilistic Analysis of Pile-Reinforced Slopes Considering Anisotropic Spatial Soil Properties

(2026), 50(3), pp. 1309–1327；First published online 29 October 2025

International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics

DOI: 10.1002/nag.70125

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/nag.70125

========

B Yuan, X Deng, P Luo, X Yang, J Shiau, X Bai, M Cheng, G Lei, J Zheng

The relationship between micro-fragmentation mechanisms and macro-mechanical responses in granite residual soil

(2026), 62, art. no. 102112

Transportation Geotechnics

DOI: 10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.102112

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214391226002229

F Lai, D Lu, J Shiau, F Tschuchnigg, HF Schweiger, M Huang, M Liu, F Chen

Role of relieving shelves on active earth pressures for retaining walls: Integrating physics-based and data-driven modelling

(2026), 57, art. no. 101834

Transportation Geotechnics

DOI: 10.1016/j.trgeo.2025.101834

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214391225003538

J Shiau, B Chudal, K Mahalingasivam, S Keawsawasvong

Pipeline burst-related ground stability in blowout condition

(2021), 29, art. no. 100587

Transportation Geotechnics

DOI: 10.1016/j.trgeo.2021.100587

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214391221000775

========

F Lai, S Liu, J Shiau, M Liu, G Cai, M Huang

Data-driven modeling for evaluating deformation of a deep excavation near existing tunnels

(2025), 24, pp. 162–179

Underground Space

DOI: 10.1016/j.undsp.2025.04.003

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2467967425000583

F Lai, F Chen, S Liu, S Keawsawasvong, J Shiau

Undrained stability of pit-in-pit braced excavations under hydraulic uplift

(2022), 7(6), pp. 1139–1155

Underground Space

DOI: 10.1016/j.undsp.2022.04.003

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2467967422000605

S Keawsawasvong, J Shiau

Stability of active trapdoors in axisymmetry

(2022), 7(1), pp. 50–57

Underground Space

DOI: 10.1016/j.undsp.2021.05.001

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2467967421000386

========

L Liang, M Huang, JS Shiau, C Wang, N Chen

Enhancing the mechanical properties of washed recycled sand: Synergistic effects of EICP and geogrid reinforcement

(2026), 18(8), pp. 6588–6605；Available online 25 April 2026