Yin Jeh Ngui (Jason) is an engineering and environmental geophysicist within the Multi-hazards and Risk (MHR) challenge area at the British Geological Survey. His expertise lies in 4D geo-electrical monitoring techniques using the BGS PRIME ERT system, focusing on shallow geothermal applications, slope stability monitoring at dams, coal tips, and linear infrastructures. During his time as a postdoctoral researcher, Jason developed strong interests in near-surface geophysics, slope monitoring, suspended sediment monitoring, and dielectric spectroscopy. His work also includes research and development in software/hardware interfacing and the Internet of Things (IoT). With over 8 years of professional experience in engineering geophysics and civil/geotechnical engineering, Jason has been actively involved in site investigations and co-advising graduates. He brings together theoretical knowledge and practical skills in geophysics, geotechnics, and civil engineering to present innovative solutions to multi-hazard scenarios.
Yin Jeh (Jason) Ngui’s biography
- 2022 to current: Environmental and engineering geophysicist, British Geological Survey
- 2019 to 2022: Postdoctoral researcher, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
- 2014 to 2019: PhD in Civil Engineering, National Chiao Tung University
- 2010 to 2013: BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Research interests
- Long-term remote monitoring: design and deployment, field instrumentation, software/hardware integration, data telemetry, automated workflow, web dashboard
- Environmental geophysics: landslide early warning system, suspended sediment concentration (SSC), NAPL contamination monitoring, flood, coal tip
- Engineering geophysics: shallow geothermal, geohazards and geotechnical asset monitoring, dam, embankment
- Time-domain reflectometry (TDR) dielectric spectroscopy
Selected projects
- SmartRes – Technical lead. Smart assessment, management and optimisation of urban geothermal resources. Funded by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Collaboration with Imperial College London, University of Leeds, University of Manchester. Quantifying subsurface response for urban geothermal resources using near-surface geophysics
- PRIME Wattstown – Technical lead. The Development of the Proactive Infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluation (PRIME) System for Coal Tip Assessment and Decision Support. Funded by Welsh Government. Landslide stability assessment in legacy Welsh coal tip using 4D geo-electrical monitoring
- UKGEOS Cheshire – Engineering geophysicist. UK Geoenergy Observatories (UKGEOS) Cheshire Observatory. Funded by Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Coordinated geo-electrical monitoring facility installation and project execution for major geo-energy research infrastructure
ORCID: 0000-0001-8558-0830
Key papers
- Ngui, Y J, White, A, Harrison, H, Porter, J, Boyd, J, Meldrum, P, Wilkinson, P, Kuras, O, Chambers, J and Deeley, S. 2024. Developing PRIME Technology for Enhanced Coal Tip Assessment: Innovations in Continuous Geoelectrical Monitoring and Landslide Decision Support. In EGU24, pp. EGU24-11299. Copernicus Meetings.
- Kyrkou, K, Booth, A, Ngui, Y J, Chambers, J, Loveridge, F, Kelly, J, Smith, E, Nowacki, A, Hough, E, Boon, D and Kuras, O. 2024. Geophysical surveys to inform heat-flow experiments in a fractured chalk aquifer, Berkshire, UK. EGU24, pp. EGU24-12616. Copernicus Meetings.
- Chambers, J, Wilkinson, P, Meldrum, P, Kuras, O, Swift, R, Ngui, J, White, A, Cimpoiasu, M, Harrison, H, Maleki, R, Boyd, J, Dashwood, B, Bruce, E, Donohue, S, Holmes, J, Stirling, R, Whiteley, J and Binley, A. 2024. Long-term geophysical monitoring of safety critical geotechnical infrastructure slopes. In EGU24, pp. EGU24-15113. Copernicus Meetings. (accessed 11 March 2024)
- Ngui, Y J, Cimpoiasu, M, Hartas, W, Nickson, W, Meldrum, P, Wilkinson, P, Chambers, J, Dearden, R, Spence, M and Kuras, O. 2023. Rapid Grout Level Monitoring in UKGEOS Boreholes Using Downhole Electrical Measurements. In NSG2023 29th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, pp. 1–5. European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers.
- Lin, C-P, Ngui, Y J, Chan, Y-P and Yeung, A T. 2023. Feasibility of a TDR-based technique for fluid hydrocarbon leak detection. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, Vol. 175, 732–743.
- Ngui, Y J and Lin, C-P. 2022. Self-Referencing TDR Dielectric Spectroscopy Using Reflection-Decoupled Analysis With a Mismatched Section. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, Vol. 71, 1–15.
- Lin, C-P, Ngui, Y J, Wu, I-L, Chung, C-C and Lin, W-T. 2021. High Precision and Range of Concentration Measurement for Sediment-Water Mixture based on Time Domain Reflectometry. In 2021 13th International Conference on Electromagnetic Wave Interaction with Water and Moist Substances (ISEMA), pp. 1–5. Kiel, Germany.
- Chung, C-C, Lin, C-P, Ngui, Y J, Lin, W-C and Yang, C-S. 2021. Improved technical guide from physical model tests for TDR landslide monitoring. Engineering Geology, 106417.
- Lin, C-P, Ngui, Y J and Lin, C-H. 2018. Multiple Reflection Analysis of TDR Signal for Complex Dielectric Spectroscopy. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, Vol. 67(11), 2649–2661.
- Lin, C-P, Ngui, Y J and Lin, C-H. 2017. A novel TDR signal processing technique for measuring apparent dielectric spectrum. Measurement Science and Technology, Vol. 28(1), 015501.
Chapters
- Ngui, Y J and Lin, C-P. 2019. Broadband Complex Dielectric Characterization of Soils by Time Domain Reflectometry. In Zhan, L, Chen, Y and Bouazza, A (Eds), Proceedings of the 8th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics, Volume 1, pp. 731–738. Singapore: Springer Singapore.
Published outputs
- Field instrumentation design and deployment for near real-time remote engineering and environmental monitoring
- Near-surface (ERT, MASW, passive seismics) and borehole geophysics.
- Time-domain reflectometry (TDR) based dielectric spectroscopy
- Geophysical suite (ResIPy, Winlogger, DopTV, HiRAT, RGLDIP)
- Python programming (automation, GUI, web-based)
- MATLAB
- Visualisation (ParaView, AutoCAD, Tecplot)
- QGIS
- Internet-of-Things (IoT, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Node-RED, MQTT, LoRa, NB-IoT)
- PCB circuit design and soldering
- CSCS AQP card
- Geotechnical modelling
- Public engagement
- First aider
- Fluent in Mandarin, Malay, Cantonese, Taiwanese
- 2023 – ongoing: BGS Research Ethics Committee (REC), Ethics champion.
- 2024 – ongoing: European Geosciences Union (EGU), Member.
- 2017 – ongoing: European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE), Member.
- Peer reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Measurement Science and Technology, Vadose Zone Journal, Journal of Environmental & Engineering Geophysics.
- 1 Patent held in U.S. and Taiwan. LIN, C.-P, and NGUI, Y J. 2023. Device for measuring complex dielectric permittivity of a material-under-test, measuring device for multiple reflections of time-domain signals of a complex dielectric and measuring method thereof (Patent US 11815484 B2 and Patent TW I805131B)