Sergio Andrew Escudero Restrepo

Ph.D. student, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Research Interests:

Sergio’s research focuses on the development and application of low-cost sensors to monitor methane and hydrogen leaks from natural gas underground pipelines. The leaks from low-pressure pipelines could migrate unnoticed for long periods and accumulate in confined areas of buildings (e.g., basement). To improve NG pipeline safety, operators grade the leak to determine the risk to public safety and the environment once the leak is detected. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the leak is necessary to evaluate potential changes in the leak rate and the below-ground gas behavior to measure emission, avoid pollution, and achieve the goals in the Paris Accords.

Road to the Moody School:

Before his time at SMU, Sergio earned his bachelor’s in mining and metallurgical engineering from the National University of Colombia in 2004 and M.Sc. from Polytechnical University of Madrid – Spain in 2015. Additionally, he spent nineteen years working for the mining and construction industry. In these settings, he gained valuable experience and the continuous development of projects around sustainability and environmental issues, which fostered his interest for learning more knowledge. In January 2024, Sergio, his wife Erika and his children Maria and Matias, moved to Dallas for Sergio to begin Ph.D. works in Civil and Environmental at SMU. He enjoys spending time with his family and all things outdoors.