He directs NatHaz Group (NatHaz Modeling Laboratory) which focuses on developments in cyberspace virtual collaborative research platforms, e.g.,  virtual organizations, crowdsourcing, computational intelligence, living laboratories, sensing and actuation, citizen sensing, web-enabled analysis and design, scientific machine learning (SciML) and cloud-based computing.

[15][16] He has conducted from wind tunnel modeling[17] to stochastic and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics)[18][19] based simulations and finally to the full-scale monitoring of some of the signature buildings[20][21] around the world including more recently Burj Khalifa.

[37] He introduced the use of the Wavelet[38][39][40] and Shapelet[41] transforms to signal processing and feature extractions and advanced the use of Volterra systems, POD, ICA, PCA and DMD[42][43] for data analysis and modeling.

[48][49] He developed safety and risk assessment schemes,[50] performance-based design approach for wind effects and impact of climate change.

[52][53][54][55][56][57][58] In 2009, Kareem was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering for contributions to analyses and designs to account for wind effects on tall buildings, long-span bridges, and other structures.