Yohanna Mejia Cruz - Department of Civil Engineering

Assistant Professor
Science and Engineering Building 304
Phone: 406-496-4770
Email: lmejiacruz@mtech.edu

Education

• Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, University of South Carolina, 2018
• Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia, 2017
• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia, 2012

Research Interests

• Intelligent Infrastructure
• Smart & Connected Health
• Structural Dynamics
• Probabilistic Modeling

Teaching Interests

• Structural Engineering
• Engineering Risk and Reliability
• Computational Methods
• Structural Vibrations

Research Grants

• National Science Foundation (NSF). EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Research Fellows NSF. `Advancing Multi-Sensor Smart Environments Without Human-Machine Interaction for Individuals with Functional Limitations''. November 2025, Principal Investigator.
• University of South Carolina, Magellan Scholar Program, Undergraduate student Connor Madden, Principal Investigator. “Advancing Power Loss Prediction: Optimizing High-C Discharge Performance for Lithium-Ion Batteries through Bayesian Forecasting”.
• University of South Carolina ASPIRE II integration, February 2022, Principal Investigator. “Monitoring activities of daily living (ADL) in individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) using floor vibrations”.

Selected Publications

Journal Papers

• MejiaCruz, Yohanna, Garrett Hainline, Jean Michel Franco Lozada, Stacy Fritz, Juan M. Caicedo, and Zhaoshuo Jiang. "Multimodal Gait Dataset with Floor Accelerations, Inertial Sensor Data, and Synchronized Video from Controlled Walking Trials." Data in Brief (2025): 112322.
• MejiaCruz, Y., Caicedo, J. M., & Matta, F. (2024). "Probabilistic Comparative Assessment of Structural Cement Composite Compressive Strength–Porosity Models". Journal of Structural Engineering, 150(11). https://doi.org/10.1061/JSENDH.STENG-13641
• MejiaCruz, Y., Caicedo, J.M.,Jiang, Z.,Franco, J.“Probabilistic Estimation of Cadence & Walking Speed From Floor Vibrations”. IEEE Journal of Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine, vol. 12, pp. 508-519, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1109/JTEHM. 2024.3415412

• Davis B., MejiaCruz Y., “Locating Impacts Through Structural Vibrations Using the FEEL Algorithm Without a Known Input Force”, Journal of Experimental Techniques, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40799-023-00662-0
• MejiaCruz, Y., Caicedo, J.M., Jiang, Z., and Franco, J.M., “Probabilistic detection of impacts using the PFEEL algorithm with a Gaussian Process Regression Model”, Engineering Structures 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.116255
• MejiaCruz Y., Davis B., “Event Reconstructing Adaptive Spectral Evaluation (ERASE) Approach to Removing Noise in Structural Acceleration Signals”, Journal of Experimental Techniques, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40799-022-00598-x
• MejiaCruz, Y., Jiang, Z., Caicedo, J.M. and Franco, J.M., “Probabilistic Force Estimation and Event Localization (PFEEL) algorithm”, Engineering Structures, 2023, p.113535. https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.113535
• MejiaCruz, Y., Franco, J., Hainline, G., Fritz, S., Jiang, Z., Caicedo, J.M., Davis, B. and Hirth, V., “Walking Speed Measurement Technology: a Review”, Current Geriatrics Reports, 2021, pp.1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13670-020-00349-z

Conference Papers

• Hollingsworth, R., and MejiaCruz, Y. “Examination of the Dynamic Performance of Textile Reinforced Concrete with Post-consumer Waste Denim Fibers.”. To be presented at the 43rd International Modal Analysis Conference (IMAC), Palm Springs, CA, January 2025.
• Hainline, Garrett Matthew, Stacy Lynne Fritz, Victor Hirth, Yohanna MejiaCruz, Jean M. Franco, Zhaoshuo Jiang, and Juan M. Caicedo. “Estimated Walking Parameters from Floor Vibrations Versus Outcome Measures in Older Adults: A Case Report.” In 2024 Combined Sections Meeting (CSM). APTA, 2024.
• Madden, Connor; Anthony, George; Ogunniyi, Emmanuel; Downey, Austin R.J.; MejiaCruz, Yohanna; James, Robin. “Inferring Battery Current Interrupt Device Activation in a 18650 Cell under High C Discharge using a Foil Strain Gauge.” ASNT Research Symposium, June 2024, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

• MejiaCruz, Y., Caicedo, J.M., Jiang, Z., Franco, J.M. (2024).“ Event Detection Using Floor Vibrations with a Probabilistic Framework.” Model Validation and Uncertainty Quantification, Volume 3. SEM 2023. International Modal Analysis Conference (IMAC XLI), 2023 Conference, Austin TX. Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37003-8_4
• Franco, J.M., MejiaCruz, Y., Caicedo, J.M., Jiang, Z. (2024). “Feasibility of Using Accelerometers to Detect Human Footsteps for Cadence Estimation on Health Sciences.” Dynamics of Civil Structures, Volume 2. SEM 2023. International Modal Analysis Conference (IMAC XLI), 2023 Conference, Austin TX. Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36663-5_9.
• MejiaCruz. Y, Caicedo J.M, Matta F, “Probabilistic comparison of existing compressive strength-porosity models using experimental data”. ICVRAM-ISUMA-UNCERTAINTIES 2018, Florianopolis SC, Brazil, April 2018.
• Matta F, Cu´ellar-Azc´arate M, Wylie M, MejiaCruz Y, Iffat S, Sikder M, Powell B, Serkiz S, Baalousha M, Caicedo J.M, “Nano-amended cement waste forms for nuclear waste storage”, December 2018. Sixth International Symposium on Nanotechnology in Construction NICOM6, Hong Kong. (NICOM6,2018).
• Narvaez N, Alvarez J, MejiaCruz Y, Marulanda J, “Experimental Identification of the structural behavior of temporary bridges (Phase 1)”, May 2013. VI National Conference on Earthquake Engineering. Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga Colombia, (UIS,2013).

Awards and Honors