About us

The Dynamics Lab, set up by Dr Mateusz Bocian thanks to the support from the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), commenced operation in September 2020. We are based in the Department of Roads, Bridges, Railways and Airports within the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Wrocław University of Science and Technology (Politechnika Wrocławska), Poland.


Our mission

We tackle urgent and evolving engineering problems and conduct fundamental research of which results have potential applications to real word challenges. We like to push boundaries in anything we do and often find ourselves questioning the status quo. We are driven by curiosity and the desire to make an impact. We find inspiration in diverse ways, but it often starts from seemingly simple questions beginning with: why, how, and what if. It is common that the answers to these questions open up a wide range of opportunities we end up pursuing for a greater benefit to science and society.

Our research

At the centre of our research are humans and the built environment, and their multifaceted interaction. Our research interests are encapsulated by the following themes:

  • structural dynamics, in particular vibration serviceability;
  • structural health monitoring;
  • sensors and signal processing;
  • stability and control of human gait and posture;
  • integration of sensory information during the execution of motor tasks;
  • crowd dynamics;
  • virtual and mixed reality.

Our publications

Kalybek, M., Bocian, M., Pakos, W., Grosel, J. & Nikitas, N., Performance of camera-based vibration monitoring systems in input-output modal identification using shaker excitation, Remote Sensing 13(17), 2021, 3471. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13173471

Kalybek, M., Bocian, M. & Nikitas, N., Performance of optical structural vibration monitoring systems in experimental modal analysis, Sensors 21(4), 2021, 1239. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21041239

Soczawa-Stronczyk, A.A. & Bocian, M., Gait coordination in overground walking with a virtual reality avatar, Royal Society Open Science 7, 2020, 200622. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.200622

Latest news

Performance of camera-based vibration monitoring systems in input-output modal identification using shaker excitation
2021-10-14

A complete dynamic characterisation of structures requires modal frequency, mode shape, modal damping and modal mass to be established for each mode. This can be achieved by using experimental modal analisis (EMA). EMA requires an input force and the resulting structural response to be measured. Optical vibration monitoring systems, enabling remote sensing, could make this process less challenging. This very issue was explored in our latest paper.

Performance of optical structural vibration monitoring systems in experimental modal analysis
2021-02-15

A considerable research effort has been spent in recent years on the development of machine vision techniques for structural vibration monitoring. However, experimental modal analysis relying on the measurement of input force and the resulting structural response towards the full dynamic characterisation of structures has not been previously investigated in this context. In our recent paper we have explored the performance of optical vibration monitoring systems in experimental modal analysis in which the excitation force comes from an instrumented hammer.

Gait adaptations in walking with a virtual reality avatar
2020-07-15

Virtual reality can be a powerful tool enabling human locomotion studies, assuming it offers ecological validity against real-world settings. In our latest paper we have provided some of the first evidence for the applicability of virtual reality in research on pedestrian gait coordination while overground walking in dyads.

Postdoc position available
2020-10-26

We have a full-time postdoc position available for 43 months, starting on February 1st, 2021. The postdoc will support activities undertaken within the project "Development of advanced pedestrian structural loading models calibrated with data from in situ measurements" funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange.

Full details on this opportunity are available here in Polish and here in English.

Fully-funded PhD position available
2021-01-20

We have a fully-funded PhD position available for 42 months, starting on March 1st, 2021. The PhD student will support activities undertaken within the project "STRIDE - Development of advanced pedestrian structural loading models calibrated with data from in situ measurements" funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange.

Full details on this opportunity are available here.

STRIDE - Our flagship project
2020-05-25

Walking is a seemingly simple everyday activity serving to move the body in space. This is achieved by pushing feet against the ground hence generating ground reaction forces. The nature of these forces is well understood – we are pushing up against the ground to support the body against the action of gravity, we are pushing back to propel the body forward, and we are pushing sideways to enable bipedal gait and ensure that balance is maintained. Nevertheless, modelling pedestrian ground reaction forces remains a challenge in the structural engineering community.