Interview with YPI - Emerging Young Pipeline Professional Award winner Nikolaos Makrakis

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Interview with YPI - Emerging Young Pipeline Professional Award winner Nikolaos Makrakis

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From left to right: Erik Cornelissen, Nikolaos Makrakis & Kate Stratogianni during the award ceremony (© 2024 Ralph Thiele / EITEP)
From left to right: Erik Cornelissen, Nikolaos Makrakis & Kate Stratogianni during the award ceremony (© 2024 Ralph Thiele / EITEP)

Winning this Award is a significant achievement. Can you share with us how you felt when you received the news and what it means to you?

Thank you very much for your kind words and for setting up this interview!
I remember the day I received the news like it was yesterday! 

But first, let me start by sharing a short story. I was anxiously awaiting the award results, so I emailed to ask when they would be announced. Two weeks after the official announcement date, I still hadn't received any updates. 

Thus, disappointed as I thought I would not win the Award, one morning, I checked the spam folder and came across an email congratulating me for winning the Award. I was completely shocked and overwhelmed by so many emotions. The first thing that came to my mind was pure joy and gratitude. I immediately shared the news with my supervisors and my family, who supported me throughout the process.
Winning this Award means so much to me since it actually confirms that my hard work, dedication, and passion are being recognized by experts. This achievement is a reminder to keep pushing myself towards excellence in everything I do, and never give up on my dreams.


Could you provide an overview of your work or research focus and the potential impact it can have on the pipeline industry?

I specialize, both scientifically and professionally, in Structural and Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Geoinformatics Engineering. Since 2018, I have been focusing on geohazard assessment and seismic design of energy lifelines, such as cables and high-pressure gas pipelines. Currently, I am a PhD student focusing on Earthquake Engineering and Infrastructure Design, with emphasis on the optimal design of lifelines. My main aim is to improve the design of safe, functional and resilient lifelines and the whole decision-making process of optimal lifeline routing subjected to geohazards, other hazards and multi-hazards.

Apart from the scientific contribution to the international literature, I expect my research effort to contribute also to more practical aspects of lifeline geotechnics, seismic design and optimum route selection, thus being highly beneficial for energy companies and the pipeline industry.

Having said that, I would like to thank my PhD supervisor, Dr Yiannis Tsompanakis, Professor in the School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering of the Technical University of Crete, Greece, and Head of Computational Dynamics & Energy (CODEN) Research Group. I really appreciate the trust he has placed in me and his continuous support. With his valuable guidance, the whole group produces high-quality research.


What motivates and inspires you to continue pursuing a career in research and academia?

Pursuing a career in research and academia generously provides the opportunity to engage with complex and challenging problems, think critically, and keep learning and improving my skills and expertise. I am motivated by my curiosity to think and explore hidden things and therefore, to keep delving deeper and deeper into uncovering new knowledge. In addition, I am always passionate about conducting innovative research that not only contributes to the advancement of my research field but also inspires future generations of researchers.


What are the key challenges you have faced in your research journey so far, and how have you managed to overcome them?

I have encountered many challenges throughout my research journey so far. One big hurdle is dealing with certain assumptions that sometimes need to be adopted in numerical simulations with the Finite Element Method and may affect the accuracy and the reliability of the results. Validating the employed numerical methodology through existing experimental data is always essential, but not always feasible, especially for offshore lifelines. Moreover, when using advanced computational techniques, such as Artificial Neural Networks to create prediction models, the fine-tuning and optimization of their configuration need to be treated very carefully to ensure their accuracy and minimize prediction errors.

Finally, the process of optimal lifeline routing requires an enormous amount of geo-data. Although the availability and reliability of geo-data are constantly improving, reliable geo-data is not always available. Consequently, the corresponding deficiencies/uncertainties are addressed through elaborate parametric investigations and stochastic models.

Luckily, the experience and know-how of my PhD supervisor and his research group have limited the detrimental impact of these challenges.


As an emerging professional in the pipeline industry, what do you believe are the most pressing issues or trends that need to be addressed? How do you plan to contribute to their resolution?

As an emerging professional in the pipeline industry focusing on the optimal design of lifelines subjected to geohazards, other hazards and multi-hazards, I realized that selecting a safe and cost-effective lifeline route is a complex and challenging issue. On the one hand, completely avoiding hazardous area(s) is sometimes an unfavorable option due to the increase in lifeline’s cost and various technical and geopolitical issues. On the other hand, crossing these area(s) may have a high probability of failure, requiring sometimes impractical mitigation measures.

Traditionally, lifeline route selection has been a manual and time-consuming procedure based on the expertise and subjective opinion of the experts. Although modern computational tools have recently been applied, the optimal routing of lifelines in hazardous areas is based on the qualitative assessment of hazards, without assessing the consequent structural distress.

Hence, to ensure the optimal route selection and effectively handle the enormous amount of data required in such complex spatial multi-criteria applications, advanced decision-support tools are essential. The latter need to be capable of quantifying the criticality of the problems (i.e., exceedance of allowable lifeline strains), thus reducing the risk of failure and the life-cycle cost of the lifeline, and minimizing the impact of human errors and bias. Nonetheless, in cases where lifeline re-routing is unfeasible, as well as crossing hazardous areas is unavoidable and leads to non-acceptable lifeline strains, cost-effective and out-of-the-box design concepts should be proposed and applied.


Beyond your technical skills and research expertise, what other qualities or attributes do you think have contributed to your success as an emerging young professional in the pipeline industry?

From my very first steps in the field of pipeline engineering as an undergraduate student, I realized that pipeline engineering under challenging conditions requires a balance between engineering and science. Thus, apart from the research expertise and the relevant technical skills, developing the critical engineering judgment and having a good understanding of the present and future industry trends and problems are crucial. The latter were acquired through real-world experience in pipeline projects and collaborations with industry professionals. These factors have additionally contributed to my success as an emerging young professional in the pipeline industry.

Nevertheless, at this point, I would like to make a special mention to the supervisor of my undergraduate dissertation, Dr Prodromos Psarropoulos, who inspired and encouraged me to get involved in the field of pipeline engineering and provided me with his vast professional and scientific experience in geotechnics and seismic design.


As a PhD Research student, what lessons have you learned throughout your journey that have significantly impacted your personal and professional growth?

As a PhD Research student, I have figured out that success in any field, including a career in research and academia, requires to be fully concentrated and dedicated. Pursuing a PhD is like a sine wave, with lots of ups and downs. The key is to stay focused and committed even during tough periods; i.e., at the downs of the sine wave, in order to achieve personal excellence and reach your goals. To do this, the most important thing is to take care of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being and keep a balance between work and personal life.


Apart from your professional pursuits, what are some of your hobbies or interests that bring you joy and help you maintain a healthy work-life balance?

Apart from my professional pursuits, I am a health and fitness enthusiast, regularly attending the gym to maintain physical well-being and discipline. In addition, one of my favorite activities is going for long walks and exploring beautiful places. Another thing I really enjoy is reading self-help books for personal growth, aiming to expand my knowledge and keep my mind engaged outside of work-related tasks. Overall, these hobbies help me stay motivated and energized in both my personal and professional life. They provide me with pleasure, relaxation and they constitute an outlet for stress relief, allowing me to step away from the pressures of the workplace and release tension in a healthy way.