Prof. Dr. Amin Esmail Khalil

About

Academic Profile

Prof. Dr. Amin Esmail Khalil is a Professor of Seismology and Geophysics and currently serves as the Head of the Geology Department at the Faculty of Science, Helwan University (Capital University), Cairo, Egypt.

His research bridges fundamental seismology with applied near-surface geophysics and environmental geotechnical engineering. His work spans seismic hazard assessments, cultural heritage protection through non-destructive geophysical techniques — notably at the Saqqara/Zoser Step Pyramid and Islamic Cairo — as well as resource exploration and subsurface characterization.

He completed a Postdoctoral fellowship at the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, UC Berkeley, USA (2000), and held a Senior Lectureship at Universiti Sains Malaysia (2014–2020), where he led numerous geophysical research and consultancy projects across Malaysia.

He has authored 101 publications (journal articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings) and supervised more than 20 postgraduate students.

Quick Facts

PositionHead of Geology Dept., Helwan University
SpecializationGeophysics, Seismology
PhDAin Shams University, 1998
PostDocUC Berkeley, USA, 2000
ORCID0000-0001-8383-2133
Publications101 total
Emailamin_khalil@science.helwan.edu.eg

Research

Fields of Interest

A multidisciplinary research programme connecting earthquake science, applied geophysics, and the protection of cultural heritage.

🌊

Seismology & Seismic Hazard

Seismic hazard assessment, local earthquake magnitude scales, site response via HVSR and MASW surface-wave analysis.

🏛️

Cultural Heritage Protection

Non-destructive geophysics for historical monuments — ground motion simulation and buried structure mapping at the Zoser Step Pyramid & Islamic Cairo.

⛏️

Near-Surface & Engineering Geophysics

Subsurface soil characterization and geotechnical investigation using ERT, TEM, and seismic refraction.

🔍

Resource Exploration

Structural mapping for geothermal systems, hydrocarbon reservoirs, and groundwater using potential-field and EM methods.

🗺️

GIS & Remote Sensing

Geospatial tools for geological mapping, aeromagnetic interpretation, and environmental hazard monitoring.

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Potential Field Methods

Gravity & magnetic surveys, Euler deconvolution, and microgravity for cavity detection and geotechnical modelling.

Career

Academic & Administrative Experience

2023 — Present

Head of Geology Department

Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Egypt

2020 — 2023

Head of Geophysics Branch & Accreditation Coordinator

Geology Department, Helwan University, Egypt

2017 — 2019

Project Coordinator — Geothermal Energy

USAINS, Universiti Sains Malaysia

2014 — 2020

Senior Lecturer in Geophysics

School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang

2010 — 2014

Manager, Management Information Center

Helwan University, Egypt

2000

Postdoctoral Researcher

Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, UC Berkeley, USA (Jul–Dec)

1989 — 1996

Research Assistant, Seismology

National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), Helwan

Scholarship

Selected Publications

101 total publications including journal articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings. A selection from 2017 onward is shown below.

📊 Full publication list and citation metrics available via the academic profile links below.

Seismology & Seismic Hazard Assessment

Abdelhafiez, H.E., Khalil, A., & El-Hady, S. (2022). Evaluation of seismo-acoustic hazards from cement quarry blasts on the New Administrative Capital, Egypt. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 15.
Abdul Latiff, A.H., & Khalil, A.E. (2019). Crustal thickness and velocity structure of Malay Peninsula inferred from joint inversion of receiver functions and surface waves dispersion. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 169, 105–116.
Khalil, A.E., Abir, I.A., Ginsos, H., Abdel Hafiez, H.E., & Khan, S. (2018). Probabilistic seismic hazard assessments of Sabah, east Malaysia: Accounting for local earthquake activity near Ranau. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 15, 13–25.
Khalil, A.E., Abdel Hafiez, H.E., Girgis, M., & Taha, M.A. (2017). Earthquake ground motion simulation at Zoser pyramid using the stochastic method: A step toward the preservation of an ancient Egyptian heritage. NRIAG Journal of Astronomy and Geophysics, 6, 52–59.

Applied Geophysics & Hydrogeology

Younis, A., Osman, O.M., Khalil, A.E., Nawawi, M., Soliman, M., & Tarabees, E.A. (2019). Assessment of groundwater occurrences using VES/TEM techniques at North Galala Plateau, NW Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 160.
Anukwu, G.C., Khalil, A.E., Nawawi, M., & Younis, A.M. (2020). Delineation of shallow structures in the vicinity of Ulu Slim hot spring using seismic refraction and MASW techniques. NRIAG Journal of Astronomy and Geophysics, 9, 7–15.
Usman, N., Abdullah, K., Nawawi, M., & Khalil, A.E. (2018). New approach of solving Euler deconvolution relation for the automatic interpretation of magnetic data. Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, 29, 243–259.

Geotechnical & Near-Surface Investigations

Khalil, A.E., Nawawi, M., Arifin, M.H., Abdullah, F.M., Kayode, J.S., Usman, N., & Arisona. (2017). Soil investigation at Wet World hot spring complex for future development using active multichannel analysis of surface waves. Sains Malaysiana, 46, 537–543.
Anukwu, G.C., Khalil, A.E., & Abdullah, K.B. (2018). Evaluating the effectiveness of the MASW technique in a geologically complex terrain. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 995.
Arisona, A., Nawawi, M., Khalil, A.E., & Abdulrahman, A. (2018). Assessment of microgravity anomalies of soil structure for geotechnical 2D models. Journal of Geoscience, Engineering and Environmental Technology, 3, 151–154.
Khalil, A.E., Nawawi, M., Wagner, K., Baioumy, H., Kayode, J.S., et al. (2017). Application of time domain electromagnetic and magnetic gradiometer techniques to delineate water leakage site along buried iron pipe at Sungai Klah, Perak, Malaysia. Advanced Science Letters, 23, 1340–1343.

Recent (2024–2026)

Shawky, Z.A., Khalil, A.E., Arafa-Hamed, T., Tharwat, R., & Basheer, A.A. (2026). Integrated hydrogeodynamic analysis for sustainable development along the Southern Egyptian Red Sea Coast. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 106112.
Shawky, Z.A., Khalil, A.E., et al. (2026). Delineation of shear zone-hosted mineral targets within the Arabian-Nubian Shield, Egypt, using aeromagnetic data. Scientific Reports, 16, 12702.
Zaki, M., Khalil, A.E., & Ismail, A. (2026). Seismic spectral decomposition for enhanced subsurface imaging of fluvial channels in the west NU field, Western Desert, Egypt. Discover Geoscience, 4(1), 188.
Abd El-Naby, A.A., Khalil, A.E., Talaat, A., & Ismail, A. (2025). Gas channels and chimneys detection using post-stack seismic attributes, Simian Field, Offshore West Nile Delta, Egypt. Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Applied Sciences, 11(3), 509–527.

ORCID Profile ResearchGate Academia.edu

Industry

Consultancy & Applied Projects

Extensive consultancy work across Malaysia and Egypt in geotechnical, environmental, and heritage geophysics.

🇲🇾 Malaysia (Selected)

MASW seismic survey — Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (Penang Second Bridge), 2017
Gravity survey for cavity detection — Bahau, Negeri Sembilan, 2019
Microgravity void detection — Taman Maluri, Kuala Lumpur (Orando Realty), 2015
TEM survey — Tg Karang & Kuala Muda environmental studies, 2017
Slope instability investigation — Bukit Bendera & Relau, Penang, 2019
Hot spring development — Sungai Klah, Perak, 2015
Magnetic gradiometry for buried foundations — Penang Sentral (MRCB)
Shallow seismic reflection — Kuala Sanglung fishery platform, 2019

🇪🇬 Egypt (Selected)

Zoser Pyramid restoration evaluation committee member, 2012
Seismic hazard assessment — Bab Zewaila, Islamic Cairo, 2010
GPR cavity detection — Dabaa nuclear power plant site, 2008
Seismic hazard — High Dam, South Aswan, 2001
Geologic hazard evaluation — Assiut, Alexandria, South Sinai, Matruh, Beheera governorates, 2009–2010
MASW soil studies — Mokattam Plateau, Cairo, 2009
Quarry blast evaluation — Gebel Ataqa, Suez, 2007
Ground motion amplification — Naphtha plant, Assiut, 2000

Teaching

Teaching & Supervision

Undergraduate & Postgraduate Courses include: General Geophysics, Seismology, Theoretical & Mathematical Geophysics, Inverse Theory, Geophysical Data Processing, Seismic Interpretation, Formation Evaluation, and Geostatistics — taught at Helwan University and Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Postgraduate Supervision: Supervised 6+ PhD students and over 20 Master's students on topics spanning seismic hazard analysis, geothermal exploration, crustal structure, and geotechnical site characterization. Students include international scholars from Nigeria, Libya, Yemen, Malaysia, and Palestine.

Notable PhD supervision topics: Surface wave analysis for geotechnical characterization; geothermal system characterization at Ulu Slim; crustal imaging of Peninsular Malaysia; thermal structure of oceanic lithosphere.

Workshops Delivered

MASW & TEM — UKM & GTR, 2014
Introduction to MASW — USM, 2015
Oasis Montaj (3 sessions) — 2016
Telluric current study — USM/NRIAG, 2019