Dr. Bilal El-Ariss is a Professor of Structural Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), where he has served as a faculty member since September 2001. Prior to joining UAEU, he worked as a Structural Engineer in the Bridge Office of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA, gaining professional experience in bridge and structural engineering. He received his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, his M.Sc. in Structural Engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia in Columbia, Missouri, USA, and his B.Sc. from Beirut Arab University in Beirut, Lebanon. Dr. El-Ariss is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario, Canada, and a member of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO). He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Concrete Institute (ACI), and the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE). His academic and professional background encompasses structural engineering, reinforced concrete and steel structures, and bridge engineering.