Overview
Background
Dr Mojtaba Rajabi has over 15 years of extensive experience in crustal stress analysis, geomechanics, geomechanical-numerical modelling, hydrogeology and petrophysics. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Adelaide in 2017. Dr Rajabi has worked on the geomechanical analyses of >30 sedimentary basins from across the world including Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Mozambique, Iceland and Western Mediterranean. Since 2012, Dr Rajabi has worked on the Australian and World Stress Map projects, and currently is the Deputy-Head of the World Stress Map project. Dr Rajabi has received over 15 prestigious awards and prizes for his research including the ARC-DECRA Award, the Australian SEG Early Achievement Award, EAGE Louis Cagniard Award, EGU TS Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award, the Royal Society of South Australia's H.G. Andrewartha Medal, and the International Lithosphere Program’s Flinn-Hart Award.
Availability
- Dr Mojtaba Rajabi is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Adelaide
Research interests
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Machine Learning, Data & Predictive Geomechanics
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Deep Mining Geomechanics & Rock Mass Characterisation
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Geomechanics of Reservoirs & CO₂/H₂ Geo-storage
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Structural Geology and Crustal Geomechanics
Works
Search Professor Mojtaba Rajabi’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
Automatic coal mine roof rating calculation using machine learning
Li, Jimmy Xuekai, Tsang, Matt, Zhong, Ruizhi, Esterle, Joan, Pirona, Claire, Rajabi, Mojtaba and Chen, Zhongwei (2023). Automatic coal mine roof rating calculation using machine learning. International Journal of Coal Geology, 274 104292, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2023.104292
2023
Other Outputs
Integrating In-Situ Stress Patterns with Basin to Local Scale Structures in the Nebo Synclinorium, Bowen Basin
Mojtaba Rajabi, Renate Sliwa and Joan Esterle (2023). Integrating In-Situ Stress Patterns with Basin to Local Scale Structures in the Nebo Synclinorium, Bowen Basin. ACARP Project C29011 Brisbane, QLD Australia: ACARP.
2023
Journal Article
Integrated Petrophysical and Heterogeneity Assessment of the Karstified Fahliyan Formation in the Abadan Plain, Iran
Tavoosi Iraj, Parisa, Rajabi, Mojtaba and Ranjbar-Karami, Rasoul (2023). Integrated Petrophysical and Heterogeneity Assessment of the Karstified Fahliyan Formation in the Abadan Plain, Iran. Natural Resources Research, 32 (3), 1067-1092. doi: 10.1007/s11053-023-10175-7
2023
Conference Publication
From pointwise data toward a continuous description of 3D stress tensor: an example from the Northern Bowen Basin
Rajabi, Mojtaba, Ziegler, Moritz, Sliwa, Renate and Esterle, Joan (2023). From pointwise data toward a continuous description of 3D stress tensor: an example from the Northern Bowen Basin. 4th Australasian Exploration Geoscience Conference (AEGC 2023), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 13-18 March 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Prediction of geomechanical properties from geophysical logs using machine learning approach
Ranjbarkarami, Rasoul, Tavoosi, Parisa and Rajabi, Mojtaba (2023). Prediction of geomechanical properties from geophysical logs using machine learning approach. 4th Australasian Exploration Geoscience Conference (AEGC 2023), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 13-18 March 2023.
2022
Conference Publication
In-situ Stress Pattern of the Bowen Basin, Queensland
Rajabi, Mojtaba, Esterle, Joan, Mukherjee, Saswata and Sliwa Renate (2022). In-situ Stress Pattern of the Bowen Basin, Queensland. 2021 Bowen Basin Symposium, Mackay, QLD, Australia, 28-30 March 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Crustal stress across spatial scales
Rajabi, Mojtaba and Heidbach, Oliver (2022). Crustal stress across spatial scales. EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria & Online, 23–27 May 2022. doi: 10.5194/egusphere-egu22-12964
2022
Conference Publication
UCS prediction by group-based machine learning method
Li, Jimmy Xuekai, Tsang, Matt, Giese, Stephen, Zhong, Ruizhi, Esterle, Joan, Pirona, Claire, Rajabi, Mojtaba and Chen, Zhongwei (2022). UCS prediction by group-based machine learning method. Resource Operators Conference, Virtual, 10-11 February 2022. Wollongong, NSW, Australia: University of Wollongong and University of Southern Queensland.
2022
Journal Article
Impact of in-situ density spatial model methods on resource tonnages in highly intruded coal deposits
Maxwell, Kane, Rajabi, Mojtaba and Esterle, Joan (2022). Impact of in-situ density spatial model methods on resource tonnages in highly intruded coal deposits. Natural Resources Research, 31 (1), 499-515. doi: 10.1007/s11053-021-09989-0
2021
Conference Publication
Start, Current Status and Future of the World Stress Map Project (Invited Speaker)
Rajabi, Mojtaba and Heidbach, Oliver (2021). Start, Current Status and Future of the World Stress Map Project (Invited Speaker). AGU 2021 Fall Meeting, New Orleans, United States, 13-17 December 2021. American Geophysical Union.
2021
Journal Article
Spatial interpolation of coal properties using geographic quantile regression forest
Maxwell, Kane, Rajabi, Mojtaba and Esterle, Joan (2021). Spatial interpolation of coal properties using geographic quantile regression forest. International Journal of Coal Geology 103869, 103869. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2021.103869
2021
Conference Publication
Geographic quantile regression forest: a new method for spatial modelling of mineral commodities
Maxwell, Kane, Rajabi, Mojtaba and Esterle, Joan (2021). Geographic quantile regression forest: a new method for spatial modelling of mineral commodities. 3rd Australasian Exploration Geoscience Conference, Online, 13-17 September 2021. Crows Nest, NSW Australia: Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
2021
Conference Publication
In-situ stress pattern along the Jellinbah Fold Thrust Belt in the Bowen Basin, Australia
Mukherjee, Saswata, Rajabi, Mojtaba, Esterle, Joan and Sliwa, Renate (2021). In-situ stress pattern along the Jellinbah Fold Thrust Belt in the Bowen Basin, Australia. 3rd Australasian Exploration Geoscience Conference, Online, 13-17 September 2021. Crows Nest, NSW Australia: Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
2021
Conference Publication
The present-day state of tectonic stress in eastern Australia
Rajabi, Mojtaba (2021). The present-day state of tectonic stress in eastern Australia. 3rd Australasian Exploration Geoscience Conference, Online, 13-17 September 2021. Crows Nest, NSW Australia: Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
2021
Conference Publication
Geomechanical considerations for underground hydrogen storage and utilisation
Rajabi, Mojtaba, Mildren, Scott and Holford, Simon (2021). Geomechanical considerations for underground hydrogen storage and utilisation. First EAGE Workshop on Faults in Groundwater, CO2 and Hydrocarbons In the Asia Pacific , Canberra, ACT Australia & Online, 24-25 August 2021 . Houten, Netherlands: European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers.
2021
Journal Article
Reply to Belkhiria W. and Inoubli M.H. comment on “Deformation styles related to intraplate strike-slip fault systems of the Saharan-Tunisian Southern Atlas (North Africa): new kinematic models”
Soumaya, Abdelkader, Kadri, Ali, Ben Ayed, Noureddine, Kim, Young-Seog, Dooley, Tim P., Rajabi, Mojtaba and Braham, Ahmed (2021). Reply to Belkhiria W. and Inoubli M.H. comment on “Deformation styles related to intraplate strike-slip fault systems of the Saharan-Tunisian Southern Atlas (North Africa): new kinematic models”. Journal of Structural Geology, 148 104354, 104354. doi: 10.1016/j.jsg.2021.104354
2021
Journal Article
History, geology, in situ stress pattern, gas content and permeability of coal seam gas basins in Australia: a review
Salmachi, Alireza, Rajabi, Mojtaba, Wainman, Carmine, Mackie, Steven, McCabe, Peter, Camac, Bronwyn and Clarkson, Christopher (2021). History, geology, in situ stress pattern, gas content and permeability of coal seam gas basins in Australia: a review. Energies, 14 (9) 2651, 2651. doi: 10.3390/en14092651
2021
Journal Article
Relationship between coal composition, fracture abundance and initial reservoir permeability: a case study in the Walloon Coal Measures, Surat Basin, Australia
Mukherjee, Saswata, Rajabi, Mojtaba and Esterle, Joan (2021). Relationship between coal composition, fracture abundance and initial reservoir permeability: a case study in the Walloon Coal Measures, Surat Basin, Australia. International Journal of Coal Geology, 240 103726, 103726. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2021.103726
2021
Conference Publication
In-situ stress pattern of Australia across spatial scales
Rajabi, Mojtaba (2021). In-situ stress pattern of Australia across spatial scales . Australian Earth Sciences Convention – ‘Core to Cosmos’ (AESC-2021), Virtual, 9-12 February 2021.
2021
Conference Publication
In-situ stress and geological structure influence on the coal fractures and initial reservoir permeability within Coal Seam Gas reservoirs, eastern Surat Basin
Mukherjee, Saswata, Rajabi, Mojtaba and Esterle, Joan (2021). In-situ stress and geological structure influence on the coal fractures and initial reservoir permeability within Coal Seam Gas reservoirs, eastern Surat Basin . Australian Earth Sciences Convention – ‘Core to Cosmos’ (AESC2021), Virtual, 9-12 February 2021.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Mojtaba Rajabi is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Research Opportunities for Honours, MPhil and PhD projects
Our research spans geomechanics, rock mechanics, structural geology and tectonics, with applications in deep mining, subsurface energy and the energy transition. We integrate field observations and experiments with machine learning, data integration, uncertainty analysis and numerical modelling to better understand complex geological systems. Honours, MPhil and PhD projects are available, ranging from fundamental research in crustal and rock mass geomechanics to applied challenges in mining and subsurface energy. Competitive UQ scholarship opportunities are available, and prospective students are encouraged to get in touch to discuss potential projects.
Examples of current and potential research topics include:
Machine Learning, Data & Predictive Geomechanics
- Multimodal machine learning for crustal geomechanics
- Physics-informed machine learning for geotechnical characterisation
- Machine learning approaches in geomechanics
Deep Mining Geomechanics & Rock Mass Characterisation
- Multiscale rock mass characterisation from sparse and heterogeneous data
- Scale effects and uncertainty in rock mass mechanical properties
- Beyond conventional rock mass classification: mechanics of massive, veined and structurally complex rocks
- 3D numerical modelling of stress–structure–rock mass interactions in deep mining
- Probabilistic reconstruction of 3D in-situ stress fields in deep mines
Geomechanics of Reservoirs & CO₂/H₂ Geo-storage & Crustal Stress Analysis
- Seismotectonic analysis of Australian earthquakes and intraplate deformation
- In-situ stress, geological structures and fluid flow in Australian sedimentary basins
- Maximum sustainable injection pressure and fault-slip analysis for geological CO2 and H2 storage
--------------------------------------------
If you are interested in any of the below topics, please:
1: Check the scholarship round deadline at the University of Queensland, here: https://scholarships.uq.edu.au/scholarship/graduate-school-scholarships-uqgss-%E2%80%93-includes-rtp
2: Check your eligibility (including English language requirement) for doing a PhD at the University of Queensland, here: https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/programs/doctor-philosophy-7501#how-to-apply
3: If you meet the criteria, please send me an email (explaining your preferred topic for your PhD) with your CV to discuss the project.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Geomechanical and structural characterization of Australian sedimentary basins using multi-disciplinary and multi-scale approaches
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Geomechanical modelling of basin-scale CO2 storage
Principal Advisor
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Master Philosophy
Structural architecture of South DAguilar-Beenleigh Subprovinces: Implications for development of critical infrastructure in Southeast Queensland
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Renjie Zhou
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Doctor Philosophy
How Wide Can a Rock Reinforced Cavern be Opened
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jurij Karlovsek
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Application of machine learning methods for improved resource estimation in intruded coal deposits
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hassan Khosravi
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Variability in stress, fracture and key coal reservoir parameters in the Walloon Coal Measures, Surat Basin
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Joan Esterle
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Mojtaba Rajabi directly for media enquiries about:
- Carbon Capture and Storage
- Crustal Stress
- Earthquakes
- Fault Reactivation
- Faults and Fractures
- Geo-Storage
- Geomechanical-Numerical Modelling
- Geomechanics
- Induced Seismicity
- Rock Mechanics
- Subsurface Fluid Flow
- Tectonics
- Tectonophysics
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