This unit focuses on the mathematical and numerical modelling of complex systems in the age of digitalisation. It also addresses key economic and scientific challenges related to large-scale data, commonly known as Big Data, as well as the development and analysis of digital tools capable of extracting valuable information from data and supporting decision-making, in collaboration with expert practitioners.
TEAM LEADERS
Hervé Martinez
Hervé Martinez is a Full Professor and a Materials Physical Engineering graduate of the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Toulouse — INSA Toulouse — in 1992. He subsequently obtained a Research Master’s degree in Solid-State Physics from Université Paul Sabatier in 1993.
He earned a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour — UPPA — in 1996. Following a postdoctoral period in the United States at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in Berkeley, he was appointed Associate Professor in 1998. He obtained his Accreditation to Supervise Research in 2004, became a Full Professor in 2008 and was promoted to Distinguished Professor in 2016.
Throughout his career, he has held various leadership positions in research and education administration, including Director of a CNRS research unit, Director of Research for the Scientific Division at UPPA and Department Director.
He is currently Director of Research at École Centrale Casablanca and Director of the CNRS Research Federation “Photoemission Spectroscopies”, which brings together 45 laboratories across France. He also holds a research chair in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, USA.
His research focuses primarily on the surface and interface chemistry of materials, with applications in several fields:
- materials for energy storage, including lithium-, sodium- and potassium-ion batteries;
- corrosion phenomena and the protection of metallic alloys;
- nanomaterials with healthcare-related applications.
He has authored more than 179 peer-reviewed publications in leading academic journals, with an h-index of 42, as well as three book chapters. He has been invited to speak at 78 international conferences, coordinated more than 20 national and international academic and collaborative projects, and supervised 27 PhD students.
Christophe Bidan
Christophe Bidan holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Rennes 1, obtained in 1998, and an Accreditation to Supervise Research from the same university, obtained in 2010.
He has been a Professor at CentraleSupélec since 2000 and served as Director of the CentraleSupélec Rennes Campus from June 2018 to August 2023.
Before joining CentraleSupélec, Christophe Bidan completed a one-year postdoctoral fellowship at Imperial College London and worked for Gemplus, now Gemalto, as a security architect within the cryptography and security team. In 2014–2015, he spent one year as a visiting researcher at the École de technologie supérieure — ÉTS — in Montreal.
From 2016 to 2018, Christophe Bidan led the CIDre project team, jointly affiliated with CentraleSupélec, Inria, CNRS and the University of Rennes 1, and part of the IRISA joint research unit.
His research focuses on information systems security, particularly intrusion detection and privacy protection in self-organising networks, including ad hoc and peer-to-peer networks, as well as web applications.
PERMANENT TEAM MEMBERS
Christophe Bidan
Director of Academic Affairs, Christophe Bidan holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Rennes 1, obtained in 1998, and an Accreditation to Supervise Research from the same university, obtained in 2010.
He has been a Professor at CentraleSupélec since 2000 and served as Director of the CentraleSupélec Rennes Campus from June 2018 to August 2023.
Adil Ahidar
Adil Ahidar is a Lecturer and Researcher in Mathematics at École Centrale Casablanca. He holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Aix-Marseille University.
Bouchra Bensiali
Bouchra Bensiali is a Lecturer and Researcher in Mathematics and a graduate of École Centrale Marseille.
She holds a Master’s degree in Mathematics and Applications, specialising in Partial Differential Equations and Scientific Computing, from Aix-Marseille University, as well as a PhD in Fluid Mechanics and Physics from the same university.
Aïssam Jebrane
Aïssam Jebrane is a Lecturer and Researcher in Applied Mathematics and holds PhDs from Université Paris-Est and Cadi Ayyad University.
His research focuses on the mathematical modelling of crowd and infection dynamics, considering these phenomena as complex systems. He specialises in the development of multiscale and hybrid approaches that integrate various models to provide an in-depth understanding of interactions within these systems.
Aïssam Jebrane applies integrative approaches to the modelling and simulation of complex systems. Unlike conventional methods that are limited to a single level of description, his research uses hybrid multiscale modelling techniques.
These techniques combine discrete, continuous, deterministic and stochastic methods to develop conceptual frameworks adapted to the complexity of the systems being studied.
His research interests include the application of these methods in two main areas:
- Healthcare, with a focus on modelling the spread of infectious respiratory diseases and vector-borne diseases;
- Urban mobility, particularly congestion management and crowd movement, including panic situations.
Khalid Dahi
Khalid Dahi is a Lecturer and Researcher in Signal Processing. His research focuses on the diagnosis and prognosis of faults in electrical drives and systems.
An expert in Maintenance 4.0, he holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from ENSIAS.
Kaoutar Zerhouni
Kaoutar Zerhouni is a Lecturer and Researcher in Machine Learning and Signal Processing.
Dr Zerhouni brings extensive experience acquired in both the public and private sectors, with particular expertise in wireless technologies.
She is currently an Assistant Professor in Machine Learning and Signal Processing within the MID@S Teaching and Research Unit.
Before joining the institution, she worked as a Research and Development consultant at Leyton, advising French companies on their R&D projects and providing both technical and financial expertise.
She also worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University — UM6P — in Morocco, within the School of Computer Science.
She holds a State Engineering degree in Networks and Telecommunications from the National School of Applied Sciences of Marrakech and earned a PhD in Telecommunications, Electronics and Network Engineering from Cadi Ayyad University in 2018.
Maha Annoukoubi
Maha Annoukoubi is a Lecturer and Researcher in Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Automation.
After obtaining a State Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering, she completed her PhD in Electrical Engineering at the Research Centre for Engineering and Health Sciences and Technologies — STIS — at ENSAM Rabat.
Her research focuses on renewable energy, particularly control methods for wind energy conversion systems and the integration of their production into the electrical grid.
She has authored several publications on improving the harmonic distortion rate of energy generated by wind turbines. She is currently working on the domestic integration of wind turbines.
Alongside her doctoral studies, Maha also worked as a permanent Electrical Engineering lecturer at a French engineering school in Rabat, where she taught courses related to this field.
PHD STUDENTS
Meryem Abtane
Meryem Abtane is enrolled at the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour under the supervision of Khalid Dahi and Hervé Martinez.
Her research focuses on the development of an efficient and reliable system for the early detection of bearing faults in the axles of high-speed trainsets.
Her PhD is funded by École Centrale Casablanca and SIANA.
Iman Makrouf
Iman Makrouf is enrolled at Hassan II University of Casablanca, at ENSAM Casablanca, in collaboration with École Centrale Casablanca.
She is supervised by Mourad Zegrari from ENSAM and Khalid Dahi from École Centrale Casablanca.
Her research focuses on fault diagnosis in rotating machinery. Her PhD is funded by the Moroccan National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research — CNRST.
RESEARCH THEMES
The research conducted within this unit focuses on mathematics and its interactions, with particular emphasis on the mathematical and numerical modelling of complex systems.
Two main approaches are explored:
- Mathematical and numerical modelling, aimed at finding solutions to physical models and assessing their performance;
- Information processing, with a specialised approach to data engineering.
These complementary approaches make it possible to address problems from different perspectives and develop effective solutions to emerging challenges.
RESEARCH AREAS
INFORMATION PROCESSING AND DATA SCIENCE
- Data preprocessing, information processing and data science;
- Data preprocessing for machine learning in data science;
- Dimensionality reduction for large-scale datasets;
- Matrix and tensor decompositions;
- Heterogeneous data fusion;
- Signal and image processing.
EMBEDDED TECHNOLOGIES AND ENERGY
- Wind energy optimisation and harmonic control;
- Advanced algorithms for efficient integration into the electrical grid;
- Numerical modelling of energy systems;
- Electronics and sensors;
- Development of computer vision systems.
MATHEMATICAL MODELLING AND NUMERICAL SIMULATION
- Population dynamics in response to climate change;
- Dynamics of cardiac diseases and infections;
- Wave propagation in composite materials;
- Anomaly detection and predictive maintenance;
- Machine learning and optimal transport;
- Mathematical statistics and probability;
- Numerical analysis of partial differential equations;
- Penalisation and homogenisation;
- First-order differential inclusions;
- Non-smooth contact dynamics;
- Reaction–diffusion–advection equations;
- Non-differentiable convex optimisation.
RESEARCH PROJECTS CONDUCTED BY OUR MEMBERS
MARAIL Project — 2023–2026
AI-Assisted Maintenance and Repair for Moroccan Railways
This project focuses on predictive maintenance through data fusion and deep learning for high-speed trainsets.
Conducted in collaboration with SIANA, the Moroccan company responsible for maintaining high-speed trainsets, the project’s main objective is to develop an intelligent experimental platform based on data analysis in order to anticipate bearing faults in high-speed train axles.
The innovation lies in the ability to detect and accurately characterise faults, thereby improving the reliability and safety of high-speed trainsets.
The research covers both the definition of the proposed platform — with particular attention given to sensors and large-scale data management — and the development of a data analysis methodology involving:
- signal processing;
- deep statistical learning;
- fault detection;
- supervised and unsupervised classification.
Ultimately, an expert decision-support system will be proposed within a preventive and potentially predictive maintenance framework.
The project was selected and funded under the “Tatwir R&D and Innovation” Industrial Innovation Support Programme on 16 October 2024.
Project leaders: Khalid Dahi and Hervé Martinez
Research Project on the Dynamics of Respiratory Disease Transmission — 2021–2025
This COVID-19 propagation modelling project is funded by the Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology and conducted in partnership with Euromed University of Fez and Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech.
Based on rigorous mathematical modelling, the project aims to develop a range of decision-support tools that provide healthcare decision-makers with a clear understanding of how the pandemic situation is evolving.
The propagation models will make it possible to establish various operational plans outlining the steps to be followed during and after a crisis, with the aim of:
- enabling a return to normal life;
- anticipating the spread of the virus;
- rapidly containing transmission;
- developing multiscale models of COVID-19 propagation.
Project leader: Aïssam Jebrane
Deep Learning for RadCom — Gustave Eiffel, 2024
This project focuses on resolving electromagnetic interference between frequency-modulated continuous-wave — FMCW — radars and communication-enabled radars in autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle systems.
Project leader: Kaoutar Zerhouni
Inria Associate Teams Programme — 2024
The DIFIAIRE project is an Inria–École Centrale Casablanca associate team focused on modelling infectious respiratory diseases and vector-borne diseases.
Project period: 2024–2026
Partner: French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology — Inria
Project leader: Aïssam Jebrane
PARTNERS – UTER MIDAS
The research themes explored within the Physics Unit include several key areas.
First, the unit investigates the behaviour of electrode and electrolyte materials during cycling in M-ion batteries, where M represents lithium, sodium or potassium. More specifically, the experimental and theoretical study of the main oxidation-reduction phenomena occurring during battery discharge and charge cycles, as well as interfacial phenomena, are central to understanding these devices.
The unit also studies adsorption and diffusion phenomena at the electrode–electrolyte interface in carbon- and phosphorene-based supercapacitors. These topics are addressed through multiscale theoretical approaches combining classical and quantum methods with mesoscopic models.
The targeted applications include electric vehicles and energy storage for photovoltaic and wind energy conversion systems.
The unit also investigates the design and characterisation of a new class of ternary alloy materials, representing an original research pathway with numerous potential applications in the energy and environmental sectors.
HEAD OF THE TEACHING AND RESEARCH UNIT
Hervé Martinez, Full Professor at École Centrale Casablanca.
PERMANENT TEAM MEMBERS
Hervé Martinez
Hervé Martinez is a Full Professor and a Materials Physical Engineering graduate of the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Toulouse — INSA Toulouse — in 1992. He subsequently obtained a Research Master’s degree in Solid-State Physics from Université Paul Sabatier in 1993.
He earned a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour — UPPA — in 1996. Following a postdoctoral period in the United States at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in Berkeley, he was appointed Associate Professor in 1998.
He obtained his Accreditation to Supervise Research in 2004, became a Full Professor in 2008 and was promoted to Distinguished Professor in 2016.
Throughout his career, he has held various leadership positions in research and education administration, including Director of a CNRS research unit, Director of Research for the Scientific Division at UPPA and Department Director.
He is currently Director of Research at École Centrale Casablanca and Director of the CNRS Research Federation “Photoemission Spectroscopies”, which brings together 45 laboratories across France.
He also holds a research chair in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, USA.
His research focuses primarily on the surface and interface chemistry of materials, with applications in several fields:
materials for energy storage, including lithium-, sodium- and potassium-ion batteries;
corrosion phenomena and the protection of metallic alloys;
nanomaterials with healthcare-related applications.
He has authored more than 179 peer-reviewed publications in leading academic journals, with an h-index of 42, as well as three book chapters. He has been invited to speak at 78 international conferences, coordinated more than 20 national and international academic and collaborative projects, and supervised 27 PhD students.
Anouar Belhboub
Anouar Belhboub is a Lecturer and Researcher in Physics.
He completed his PhD in Physics at the Charles Coulomb Laboratory of the University of Montpellier.
He subsequently joined the CEISAM Laboratory at Nantes University as an Assistant Researcher. During a second research appointment, he worked at the Interuniversity Centre for Materials Research and Engineering at Université Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, where he also taught as an adjunct lecturer.
He has authored several publications focusing on the use of theoretical methods to model atomic and molecular systems.
Hamza Bouhani
Hamza Bouhani holds a joint PhD in Materials Physics, specialising in magnetocaloric materials, from the University of Lorraine and Mohammed V University in Rabat.
His research aims to understand the interaction between magnetism and crystal lattices, which gives rise to emerging phenomena such as the magnetocaloric effect. His ultimate objective is to design new functional magnetic materials for technological applications.
He has published several peer-reviewed articles on magnetic materials in recognised scientific journals.
Nadia Ait Labyad
Nadia Ait Labyad holds a PhD in Materials and Energy Physics from Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra, Morocco.
Dr Ait Labyad’s areas of expertise include the study of spintronic devices for energy storage and transfer in thin films based on transition-metal alloys, using numerical approaches to model the properties of nanomaterials.
She also works on the theoretical design of new inorganic–organic structures based on NbO clusters using density functional theory simulations. She uses Turbomole 6.4 and Gaussian 09 software to investigate potential biomedical applications, particularly cancer treatment.
More recently, she has undertaken the theoretical design of new phosphorus structures for energy storage using density functional theory and molecular dynamics.
Anass Sibari
Anass Sibari is a Lecturer and Researcher in Physics.
He previously worked as a researcher within the Atomistic Modelling and Computational Studies Group at CIC energiGUNE.
He obtained his PhD from Mohammed V University in Rabat and was awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, enabling him to conduct part of his doctoral research under joint supervision with the University of Central Florida in the United States.
Professor Sibari’s research interests focus primarily on computational materials science, particularly its applications in nanotechnology.
His work involves the use of first-principles tools based on quantum mechanics to explore and exploit the physical properties of materials at the nanoscale for various high-value sectors, including:
electrochemical energy storage;
energy conversion;
carbon dioxide capture.
Abdallah El Asri
Abdallah El Asri is a postdoctoral researcher who holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry and Environmental Science from Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, Morocco.
He has also taught at the Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taroudant and the Faculty of Applied Sciences of Ait Melloul.
His research focuses mainly on corrosion phenomena and the protection of metallic materials within the field of corrosion science and engineering, particularly through the use of environmentally friendly inhibitors.
His work aims to understand the interactions between these inhibitors and materials through theoretical approaches based on ab initio investigations and density functional theory, as well as Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations.
He is the author of ten publications in international journals and a book chapter entitled “Corrosion Processes and Strategies for Protection”.
PHD STUDENTS
Gaelle Bouder
Gaelle Bouder is enrolled at the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour under the supervision of P. Carbonnière from UPPA and Hamza Bouhani from École Centrale Casablanca.
Her PhD research focuses on the theoretical study of electrode–electrolyte interfaces in all-solid-state batteries.
She was recruited as part of the RAISE 2024 project supported by E2S UPPA.
Karama Ghamgui
Karama Ghamgui is enrolled at the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour under the supervision of Hervé Martinez from IPREM-UPPA and École Centrale Casablanca, and Cécile Courrèges from IPREM-UPPA.
Her research focuses on the physicochemical characterisation of electrode–electrolyte interfaces in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries using a TNO anode.
She was recruited through a CIFRE industrial research agreement with TotalEnergies and Saft.
Audren Paul Mathias
Audren Paul Mathias is enrolled at the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour under the supervision of Hervé Martinez from IPREM-UPPA and École Centrale Casablanca, and Yann Tison from IPREM-UPPA.
He was recruited through a research agreement with CEA Tech Bordeaux.
Zahraa Aboukhali
Zahraa Aboukhali is enrolled at the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour under the supervision of Hervé Martinez from IPREM-UPPA and École Centrale Casablanca, and Yann Tison from IPREM-UPPA.
She was recruited as part of the French Priority Research Programme and Equipment initiative dedicated to batteries.
RESEARCH THEMES
The research themes explored within the Physics Unit include several key areas.
First, the unit investigates the behaviour of electrode and electrolyte materials during cycling in M-ion batteries, where M represents lithium, sodium or potassium.
More specifically, the experimental and theoretical study of the main oxidation-reduction phenomena occurring during battery discharge and charge cycles, as well as interfacial phenomena, are central to understanding these devices.
The unit also examines adsorption and diffusion phenomena at the electrode–electrolyte interface in carbon- and phosphorene-based supercapacitors through multiscale theoretical approaches combining classical and quantum methods with mesoscopic models.
The targeted applications include electric vehicles and energy storage for photovoltaic and wind energy conversion systems.
The unit also investigates the design and characterisation of a new class of ternary metallic alloys, representing an original research pathway with numerous potential applications in the energy and environmental sectors.
RESEARCH AREAS
ENERGY STORAGE: EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL APPROACHES
M-ion batteries: interfacial phenomena and redox processes;
Beyond lithium-ion technologies;
All-solid-state batteries;
Carbon-based supercapacitors: adsorption and diffusion phenomena at the electrode–electrolyte interface.
FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
Magnetocaloric properties of oxide thin films;
Study of multicomponent ternary metallic alloys, AxByC(1-x-y), for energy and environmental applications;
Information sensors based on magnetic multilayers for spintronic applications.
RESEARCH PROJECTS CONDUCTED BY OUR MEMBERS
RAISE 2024 E2S-UPPA HUB PROJECT — 2019–2025
Development of all-solid-state batteries.
Industrial partners: TotalEnergies-Saft and Arkema.
E2S-UPPA / CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CHAIR
Modelling the corrosion of ternary alloys.
PRIORITY RESEARCH PROGRAMME AND EQUIPMENT — BATTERIES
Development of a flexible, implantable and fully bioresorbable sodium-ion microbattery designed for subcutaneous implantation.
ANR HYPER SLIM PROJECT
Development of stretchable and deformable lithium-ion microbatteries.
The project includes a theoretical multiscale study of interfaces under mechanical stress.
ÉCOLE CENTRALE CASABLANCA–UM6P PROJECT
Modelling phosphorene growth using molecular dynamics.
ÉCOLE CENTRALE CASABLANCA–CIRIMAT TOULOUSE PROJECT
Modelling the structural and capacitive properties of carbon-based supercapacitors.
HYDROGEN STORAGE MODELLING PROJECT
Modelling and simulation of the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of hydrogen storage in two-dimensional materials.
PARTNERS
The research themes of the Industrial Engineering Teaching and Research Unit focus on the requirements of new product-service systems, the industry of the future — Industry 4.0 — supply chains, smart cities and mobility, healthcare systems, and innovation in engineering education.
The research conducted within the Unit aims to address these topics through an integrated and multidisciplinary approach. It covers issues related to value analysis, enterprise architecture, the design and development of products, services, systems — PSS — and value chains, as well as their deployment through organisational and digital transformation projects.
The Unit’s work also explores management architectures, decision-making methods, operations management techniques and optimisation algorithms.
The research objectives of the Unit are aligned with the scientific challenges on which École Centrale Casablanca has chosen to position itself. The research contributes to new developments related to the industry and factory of the future — Industry 4.0 — smart cities and mobility — Smart City 5.0 — and innovation in engineering education.
It also addresses the decarbonisation of supply chains through improved optimisation of value-creation processes, the implementation of more suitable Lean and Green organisations, and the development of new resource-sharing models.
TEAM LEADER
Fouad Riane, Professor of Higher Education and Professor of Industrial Engineering.
PERMANENT TEAM MEMBERS
Fouad Riane
Fouad Riane is a Professor of Higher Education and holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium.
He also holds an Accreditation to Supervise Research from Blaise Pascal University in France and a University Accreditation from Hassan First University.
Afaf Jghamou
Afaf Jghamou is a Lecturer and Researcher. She first obtained an Engineering degree and subsequently earned a PhD in Industrial Engineering from the National School of Electricity and Mechanics.
She has more than 12 years of experience in industrial environments, where she has held various operational and support positions.
Dr Jghamou’s research focuses on improving quality and performance in industrial environments, with particular emphasis on process management and intelligent decision-support methods for operations.
Maroua Sbiti
Maroua Sbiti is a postdoctoral researcher in Industrial Engineering and a general engineering graduate of École Centrale Casablanca.
She holds an Advanced Master’s degree in Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence from CESI Saint-Nazaire, as well as a PhD in Industrial Engineering awarded by HESAM Université Paris.
Her academic background and professional experience have enabled her to develop strong expertise in Lean Construction and Building Information Modelling — BIM.
Her current research focuses on the integration of digital twins into predictive maintenance.
PHD STUDENTS
Oussama Dribel
Oussama Dribel is completing a joint PhD between École Centrale Casablanca and Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France.
His research focuses on:
urban mobility and last-mile logistics;
crowdsourcing and the sharing economy;
the circular economy.
He is a member of the MILEX research project and the PHC Toubkal programme.
He is supervised by Fouad Riane from the Industrial Engineering Teaching and Research Unit and Abdessamad Ait El Cadi from INSA Hauts-de-France.
His PhD is funded by École Centrale Casablanca and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University — UM6P.
RESEARCH THEMES
The research themes of the Industrial Engineering Teaching and Research Unit focus on the requirements of new product-service systems, the industry of the future — Industry 4.0 — supply chains, smart cities and mobility, healthcare systems, and innovation in engineering education.
The research conducted by the team aims to address these issues through an integrated and multidisciplinary approach.
Its work covers value analysis, enterprise architecture, the design and development of products, services, systems — PSS — and value chains, as well as their deployment through organisational and digital transformation projects.
The Unit also investigates management architectures, decision-making methods, operations management techniques and optimisation algorithms.
Its research objectives are aligned with the scientific challenges on which École Centrale Casablanca has chosen to position itself.
The research contributes to new developments related to the industry and factory of the future — Industry 4.0 — smart cities and mobility — Smart City 5.0 — and innovation in engineering education.
It also addresses supply-chain decarbonisation through improved optimisation of value-creation processes, the implementation of more suitable Lean and Green organisations, and the development of new resource-sharing models.
RESEARCH AREAS
SUPPLY CHAIN: INTEGRATING SIMULATION AND OPTIMISATION
Analyse supply-chain performance;
Study planning, procurement, inventory management and distribution processes within supply chains;
Identify cost structures;
Implement performance measurement systems;
Develop improvement and optimisation approaches.
URBAN LOGISTICS: ROUTING AND CROWDSOURCING
Understand the dynamics of different logistics flows in urban areas;
Design clean, intelligent and intermodal solutions capable of increasing the attractiveness of cities and reducing environmental damage.
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND INDUSTRY 4.0
Improve operational performance in goods- and service-production systems;
Use Six Sigma methods and tools to improve and automate operational processes.
SUSTAINABILITY AND DECARBONISATION
Help companies understand the sources and scale of their Scope 3 emissions;
Assess the impact of measures designed to improve efficiency and reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions on the carbon footprint.
RESEARCH PROJECTS CONDUCTED BY OUR MEMBERS
MILEX PROJECT — 2022–2025
Smart Mobility and Sustainable Urban Logistics for an Improved City User Experience
This research project is funded by the APR&D programme — Multidisciplinary Research and Development Call for Projects — jointly launched by the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, the Moroccan National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research — CNRST — Mohammed VI Polytechnic University — UM6P — and the OCP Foundation.
The project examines the characteristics of urban mobility and last-mile logistics in emerging cities, using Casablanca as a case study.
These cities are characterised by highly heterogeneous mobility services and very dense goods-distribution networks due to the large number of local shops, despite the development of modern retail.
The high density of distribution networks requires logistics operators to make more frequent journeys in urban areas, often for fragmented deliveries.
This trend has been intensified by the rapid growth of e-commerce, as consumers increasingly purchase products online for home delivery. It has also brought the issue of urban reverse logistics to the forefront.
Through this project, the team seeks to:
understand the dynamics of different urban flows;
characterise last-mile logistics;
measure its impact on urban mobility;
identify potential synergies;
design clean, intelligent and intermodal solutions capable of increasing the attractiveness of cities and reducing environmental damage.
Project leader: Fouad Riane
ECOFRESH PROJECT — CENTRALESUPÉLEC–ÉCOLE CENTRALE CASABLANCA, 2021–2025
The ECOFRESH project focuses on optimising the supply chain for fresh and perishable products by integrating a new packaging solution designed to extend product freshness and reduce logistics costs.
It also studies the decarbonisation of the packaging and distribution processes for fresh and perishable products, with the aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and food waste.
Project leader: Afaf Jghamou
PARTNERS
The research themes address key issues related to industrial challenges and the energy transition, particularly those concerning materials, structures and natural resources.
They focus on the modelling of complex mechanical systems, incorporating both multiphysics and multiscale aspects, as well as their characterisation and numerical simulation.
Among the complex systems studied, particular attention is given to modelling multistructural interactions in smart and biological materials.
HEAD OF THE TEACHING AND RESEARCH UNIT
Noureddine Damil, Professor of Higher Education, accredited to supervise research.
PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE TEACHING AND RESEARCH UNIT
Noureddine Damil
Noureddine Damil is a Professor of Higher Education and holds an Accreditation to Supervise Research.
He holds a PhD from Pierre and Marie Curie University — Paris 6 — on wavelength selection and localisation in the buckling of long structures, as well as a State Doctorate from Hassan II University of Casablanca on the application of bifurcation theory to structural analysis.
Adnane Boukamel
Adnane Boukamel is a Professor of Higher Education and holds an Accreditation to Supervise Research.
He earned a PhD in Solid Mechanics from Aix-Marseille University and obtained his Accreditation to Supervise Research in 2006.
For 22 years, he taught and conducted research in mechanics and numerical modelling at Centrale Marseille.
Chafik El Kihal
Chafik El Kihal is a Lecturer and Researcher who holds a PhD in Mechanics and Structural Analysis from Hassan II University of Casablanca.
His doctoral thesis, entitled “Numerical Asymptotic Method for the Simulation of Elastoplastic Problems under Finite Transformations”, focused on the development and use of advanced numerical methods to simulate complex mechanical behaviour in structures.
Dr El Kihal has published several scientific papers in leading international conferences and journals.
PHD STUDENTS
Ayoub Ouardi
Ayoub Ouardi is enrolled at Hassan II University of Casablanca.
His research focuses on the micro–macro modelling of the hyperelastic behaviour of an elastomer.
He is supervised by Adnane Boukamel from ISMEC, Noureddine Damil from ISMEC and Abdellah Hamdaoui from Hassan II University of Casablanca.
His PhD is funded by École Centrale Casablanca.
Sita Kaba
Sita Kaba is enrolled at Hassan II University of Casablanca.
His research focuses on the numerical modelling of the heart’s electrical and electromechanical activity.
He is supervised by Adnane Boukamel from ISMEC, Noureddine Damil from ISMEC, Abdellah Hamdaoui from the Faculty of Sciences Ben M’Sik at Hassan II University of Casablanca, and Chafik El Kihal from ISMEC.
His PhD is funded by École Centrale Casablanca.
RESEARCH THEMES
The research themes address key issues related to industrial challenges and the energy transition, particularly those concerning materials, structures and natural resources.
They focus on the modelling of complex mechanical systems, incorporating both multiphysics and multiscale aspects, as well as their characterisation and numerical simulation.
Among the complex systems studied, particular attention is given to modelling multistructural interactions in smart and biological materials.
RESEARCH AREAS
Numerical methods, instabilities and bifurcations;
Multiscale and multiphysics modelling and simulation;
Material durability: damage, fatigue and ageing.
RESEARCH PROJECTS CONDUCTED BY OUR MEMBERS
RESEARCH PROJECT IN COLLABORATION WITH LIMAT–HASSAN II UNIVERSITY OF CASABLANCA — 2024–2025
The project covers the following research topics:
multiscale modelling of heterogeneous materials using a high-order algorithm;
reduced-order models based on Fourier series with slowly varying coefficients for membrane wrinkling;
instabilities in functionally graded material structures.
Project leader: Noureddine Damil
PROJECT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NATIONAL ENGINEERING SCHOOL OF TUNISIA
Conducted in collaboration with Professor Makrem Arfaoui, this project focuses on the modelling of hyperelastic materials.
Project leader: Noureddine Damil
RESEARCH PROJECT BETWEEN ÉCOLE CENTRALE CASABLANCA AND THE SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AT WUHAN UNIVERSITY
China–Morocco Joint Laboratory on the Mechanics of Thin-Walled Composite Structures
This project is conducted in collaboration with Professor Heng Hu.
Project period: September 2022–August 2025
Project number: 2022YFE0113100
It is carried out in collaboration with the ISMEC–École Centrale Casablanca Joint Research Unit and LIMAT at Hassan II University of Casablanca.
Project leader: Noureddine Damil
Discover our members’ latest publications here.
PARTNERS — ISMEC TEACHING AND RESEARCH UNIT
Laboratory of Mechanics and Acoustics — LMA, Centrale Marseille;
Laboratory for the Study of Microstructures and Mechanics of Materials — LEM3, University of Lorraine;
Gabriel Lamé Mechanics Laboratory, University of Tours;
Laboratory of Engineering and Materials — LIMAT, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Faculty of Sciences Ben M’Sik;
Laboratory of Contact and Structural Mechanics — LaMCoS, INSA Lyon;
School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China;
National Engineering School of Tunis, Tunisia;
EMGCU Research Team, Gustave Eiffel University, Marne-la-Vallée.
PARTNERS – UTER ISMEC
- Mechanics and Acoustics Laboratory (LMA), École Centrale Marseille
- Laboratoire d’Etude des Microstructures et de Mécanique des Matériaux (LEM3), University of Lorraine
- Gabriel Lamé Mechanics Laboratory, University of Tours
- Materials and Engineering Laboratory (LIMAT), Hassan II University, Casablanca, Ben M’Sik Faculty of Science
- Contact and Structure Mechanics Laboratory (LaMCos), INSA Lyon
- School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Chine
- National School of Engineers of Tunis, Tunisia.
- EMGCU team, Gustave Eiffel University, Marne La Vallée
