Ravi Goonetilleke, Ph.D.
Professor
Dept. of Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Profile

Dr. Ravindra S. Goonetilleke joined the Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM) at HKUST in September 1994. After graduation, he worked as a Senior Ergonomist at the Biomechanics Corporation of America in Long Island, New York from January 1990 to August 1991. His last appointment in the US was as a Human Factors Manager and Researcher at the NIKE Sports Research Laboratory in Portland, Oregon from 1991 to August 1994. His expertise includes :
- Research to improve user comfort and performance of high performance athletic shoes;
- Ergonomic evaluations. Some examples include evaluations on wrist support devices, biomechanical analyses of high-intensity visual display terminal (VDT) operators, redesign of throat spray bottles;
- Ergonomic controls to eliminate ergonomic hazards. Companies worked with include Procter and Gamble Company, General Motors Saginaw, Thomson Consumer Electronics, Dow Corning STI, International Flavors and Fragrances and the Cooper Power Tools Division;
- The development of the first standalone PC-based ergonomics training package for safety and health professionals; and
- Seat comfort assessments for Lear Seating Corporation and the development of the first automatically adjusting seat, the "INTELLIGENT SEAT".

He conducted several ergonomics training courses at Dow Corning Corporation, Scott Paper Company and NIKE, Inc. He graduated with a BSc (First Class Honours) in Mechanical Engineering (1980) from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. He earned an MS in Aerospace Engineering (1985) from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, an MS in Industrial Engineering (1984) and a PhD in Human Factors Engineering (1990) from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He was a Fulbright Scholar while pursuing postraduate studies in the USA and the recipient of many scholarships and grants. He is also a member of the editorial board of Ergonomics in Design published by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of U.S.A. He is a "Marquis Who's Who in the World" and "Marquis Who's Who in Finance & Industry". He was a key researcher in evaluating an international cricket player involved in a throwing controversy in cricket. He used state-of-the-art methodology to solve the controversy which received publicity all around the world.


Research Interests

Dr. Goonetilleke's primary interests are modelling human performance and the development of user-friendly products and computer systems. Most everyday things are designed and developed on the basis of touch, feel and aesthetics. Their weaknesses tend to be apparent during actual use. The primary cause of these design deficiencies stem from the lack of sufficient data and/or mathematical models to predict human "performance". His research interests are in the areas of:
- Human Performance models
- Learning, training and computer-aiding
- Design of user-friendly computer systems
- Footwear Design and Development
- Mental model development
- Applications of sensation and perception theories to product development


Education

PhD, Human Factors Engineering, 1990, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York, USA.
MSAE, Aerospace Engineering, 1985, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA.
MSc, Industrial Engineering, 1983, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York, USA.
BSc (First Class Honours), Mechanical Engineering, 1980, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Publications

Selected publications related to footwear, foot sizing, comfort, stress, automation, training, anthropometry, productivity, tracking, grip strength, memory, cultural diversity, HCI, pen design, cricket, virtual reality, ergonomics, seats, consumer product design

Projects

Courses Taught

  • IEEM 115 Engineering Design and Communication (99 Fall, 2000 Fall, 2001 Fall)
  • IEEM 213 Ergonomics in Workplace Design (95 Spring)
  • IEEM 630A Human Factors in Design (95 Spring)
  • IEEM 365 Cognitive Engineering and Human Performance (95 Fall, 97 Spring, and 98 Spring, 2000 Spring, 2001 Spring)
  • IEEM 395 IEEM Special Project (99 Spring)
  • IEEM 397/398 Industrial Engineering Project
  • IEEM 532 Manufacturing Ergonomics (95 Fall, 97 Spring, 2001 Spring)
  • IEEM 521 Research Methodology (97 Fall and 96 Spring)
  • IEEM 536 Safety Management (96 Fall)
  • IEEM 585 Advanced HF Seminar

Links to Related Sites

My brother's services in Sri Lanka (Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital)

Metals of blood by Roshan Peiris in Sunday Times, 27th April 1997
Reuter Report by Mohan Samarasinghe - Amputees by-product of Sri Lanka War
Landmines strewn in war-torn Lanka put civilians at risk The Indian Express, Friday July 4, 1997
Near miracle indeed The Sunday Times, August 17, 1997
The healing cut The Sunday Times , August 24, 1997
Debulking that growth The Sunday Times , September 7, 1997

Other Interests

Cricket, Rugby Football, Flying, Running, American Football

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Questions, comments, criticisms are all welcome. Please email to: ravindra@ust.hk

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last modified Aug 20, 2009