Karim Karam (kkaram)

Karim Karam

Teaching Associate Professor

Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science

Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering

ABS 219
(201) 216-3663

Education

  • Ph.D. (2005) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
  • M.S. (2000) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
  • M.S. (1998) Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
  • B.S. (1997) Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (Civil and Environmental Engineering)

General Information

My teaching interests lie in the planning, design and construction of sustainable infrastructure systems, and the effects these systems have on our natural environment. I am particularly interested in translating engineering principles to real-world impact. As an educator, I inspire, educate, equip and mentor students with the skills they need to become leaders that can address society’s most pressing infrastructure challenges of today and the future.

Experience

I co-founded several highly successful ventures over a 15 year period in industry. Sarooj Construction Company (SCC) was incorporated in the Sultanate of Oman in 2005, as an infrastructure development company. The company has become the leading construction company in Oman, successfully completing more than 170 infrastructure projects amounting to total work in excess of $1 billion in various industry sectors, for both public and private clients. SCC is ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 accredited.
Synergy Petroleum International was incorporated in the Sultanate of Oman in 2010 as a joint venture with Bauer Resources GmBH, called Bauer-Nimr LLC aimed at introducing innovative solutions to the produced water crisis that Oman, as well as other countries around the world face. A sustainable solution was developed to treat produced water using a combination of bioremediation techniques and traditional mechanical separation. The patented process uses locally sourced materials and gravity driven flow to irrigate local reed plants that complete the lifecycle of produced water, thereby preserving the environment. The project is the largest of its kind in the world spanning an area of 3.5 miles, and has received national and international acclaim and accolades, and is well publicized in the media as a model example for green infrastructure. The most recent is the Award of Excellence in Climate Action at the Qatar Sustainability Summit 2019. It was one of the first public-private partnerships in Oman, and required innovative financing models. Bauer-Nimr is ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 accredited.

Institutional Service

  • Civil Engineering Design Pre-College Workshop Chair
  • Annual CEOE External Advisory Board Member
  • CEM Curriculum Review Committee Member
  • CEM Industry and Career Engagement Chair
  • Incoming Graduate Student Welcome and Orientation Member
  • Stevens Graduate Open House / CEM Recruitment Member
  • Pre-College Civil Engineering Design Program Member
  • Pre-College Civil Engineering Design and Architecture Program Member
  • Stevens Institute of Technology: Incoming Students Welcome and Orientation Member
  • Stevens Institute of Technology: Open House Member
  • Pre-College Civil Engineering Design & Architecture Program Member
  • Stevens Institute of Technology: Incoming Students Welcome and Orientation Member
  • Stevens Institute of Technology: Open House Member
  • Pre-College Civil Engineering Design & Architecture Program Member

Professional Service

  • American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA) Reviewer

Professional Societies

  • CMAA – Construction Management Association of America Member
  • ASCE – American Society of Civil Engineers Member
  • PMI-NJ – Project Management Institute of New Jersey Member
  • ASEE – American Society for Engineering Education Member

Selected Publications

Book Chapter

  1. Ribeiro e Sousa, L.; Tinoco, J.; Leal e Sousa, R.; Karam, K.; Gomes, A. T. (2022). Volcanic rocks characterization based on soft computing algorithms by using VRS empirical system. Rock Mechanics and Engineering Geology in Volcanic Fields (pp. 255-260). CRC Press.
    https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003293590-32.
  2. Sousa, L. R.; Sousa, R. L.; Cuiying, Z.; Karam, K. (2020). Evaluation of Geomechanical Properties of Soft Rock Masses by Laboratory and In Situ Testing. Soft Rock Mechanics and Engineering (pp. 187-234). Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29477-9_8.
  3. e Sousa, L. R.; Sousa, R.; Cuiying, Z.; Karam, K. (2019). Evaluation of Geomechanical Properties of Soft Rock Masses by Laboratory and In Situ Testing.
  4. Einstein, H.; Kaabi, M. A.; Chan, H.; Costa, A.; Dudt, J.; Haas, C.; Indermitte, C.; Karam, K.; Kollarou, C.; Marzer, C.; others (2017). Risk determination for tunnels and other networked infrastructure. Geo-Risk 2017 (pp. 346--367).

Conference Proceeding

  1. Einstein, H. H.; Sousa, R.; Karam, K.; Manzella, I.; Kveldsvik, V. (2010). Rock slopes from mechanics to decision making. ISRM International Symposium-EUROCK 2010.
  2. Karam, K.; Karam, J. S.; Einstein, H. H. (2007). Decision analysis applied to tunnel exploration planning. II: Consideration of uncertainty. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management (5 ed., vol. 133, pp. 354-363).

Journal Article

  1. Sousa, R. L.; Menezes, J. E.; Ribeiro e Sousa, L.; Karam, K.; Chaminé, H. I.; Samra, C. A. (2022). Slope failures during the construction stage at Musandam independent power plant, Oman. Arabian Journal of Geosciences (1 ed., vol. 15). Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-09353-9.
  2. Leal Sousa, R.; Vargas, E.; Chaminé, H. I.; Ribeiro e Sousa, L.; Karam, K. (2021). Risk assessment on landslides focused on the role of the water: examples from model regions (Rio de Janeiro State and Hong Kong). SN Applied Sciences (4 ed., vol. 3). Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-021-04300-5.
  3. Sousa, R.; Karam, K.; Costa, A. L.; Einstein, H. H. (2017). Exploration and decision-making in geotechnical engineering--a case study. Georisk: Assessment and Management of Risk for Engineered Systems and Geohazards (1 ed., vol. 11, pp. 129--145). Taylor \& Francis.
  4. Sousa, L.; Sousa, R.; Vargas Jr, Eur\'\ipedes; Velloso, R.; Karam, K.; others (2017). Risk assessment on CO2 injection processes and storage. Rock Mech Rock Eng (vol. 12, pp. 359--397).
  5. Sousa, R.; Karam, K.; Einstein, H. H. (2014). Exploration analysis for landslide risk management. Georisk: Assessment and Management of Risk for Engineered Systems and Geohazards (3 ed., vol. 8, pp. 155--170). Taylor \& Francis.
  6. Da Fonseca, A. V.; Sousa, L. R.; Arede, A.; Guedes, J.; Paupério, E.; Karam, K.; Costa, A.; Menezes, J. E. (2014). Suggested methodology for rehabilitation of ancient masonry castles and forts on rock hills. Soils and Rocks (2 ed., vol. 37, pp. 133-150).
  7. Karam, K.; Karam, J. S.; Einstein, H. H. (2007). Decision analysis applied to tunnel exploration planning. I: Principles and case study. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management (5 ed., vol. 133, pp. 344-353).

Courses

CM592 Advanced Controls in the Built Environment
CM512 Problems in Heavy Construction
CM501 Construction Engineering 1
CM/EN545 Environmental Impact Assessment and Planning
CM609 Large Scale Cost Analysis