Research Interests

Professor Rodgers specialises in dynamic system modelling, instrumentation and control for applications from earthquake engineering to biomedicine. While these may initially seem like disparate research areas, the fundamental mechanics and the key skill set required are closely similar. His research in structural damping devices has seen uptake by the profession, progressing from an initial concept through development, modelling, experiments, and finally deployment within the Christchurch rebuild and internationally, enabling improvements in building resilience.

His research in bioengineering seeks to create a meaningful difference to the quality of life of joint replacement patients. His bioengineering research includes dynamic measurement, signal processing, non-linear modelling, video motion tracking, and gait analysis/biomechanics. Projects include acoustic monitoring of total hip replacement implants and lung mechanics, as well as computational optimisation of orthopaedic implant design.

He has also undertaken structural monitoring, assessing the performance of buildings through the Canterbury earthquake sequence, through international linkages with UCLA, Texas A&M, and Duke Universities.

He has also undertaken major international projects with the International Joint Research Laboratory for Earthquake Engineering at Tongji University in Shanghai. These major internationally collaborative projects utilise international testing facilities well beyond anything available within NZ. He has two additional ongoing projects to undertake large-scale experimental tests at the same shake-table test facility.

His research has received numerous awards and featured in media, including the BBC, German TV, Radio NZ, Australasian Science Magazine, and The Press.