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My research focuses on information, sensing, and computing technologies for construction and infrastructure systems, construction productivity, and construction safety. I have worked on a set of research projects that have explored several important topics within these areas. These topics include automated data collection and processing, real-time spatial information acquisition and modeling for safer and more efficient construction, video intelligence for jobsite monitoring, identification and localization of engineered components through radio frequency identification (RFID) and global positioning system (GPS), Non-Destructive Testing for infrastructure inspections, and construction productivity breakthroughs through technological advances. Most of these projects are funded by agencies like National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), State DOTs, and Construction Industry Institute (CII).

 

In working on these projects, I have been fortunate to have had opportunities to collaborate with different funding agencies and industry companies. More importantly, I have gained extensive programming and system integration experience through closely working with a variety of sensing and automation technologies. These technologies include 3D imaging sensors (particularly laser scanning), radio frequency identification, global positioning system, vision sensors, autonomous robots, and many types of wave propagation related sensing devices. Such experience together with my background in civil engineering and computer science (signal processing, computer vision, pattern recognition, and data mining) empower me to develop innovative sensing systems for civil infrastructure systems.

 

Craft Productivity Research Program (RT 252)

  • Sponsor: Construction Industry Institute (CII)
  • Objectives: Identify and validate through field trials or other validation methodologies, initiatives, techniques, or methods that, if implemented would result in significant craft productivity improvement
  • Time: 09/2008 每 present

 

Real-Time Spatial Information Acquisition and Use for Infrastructure Construction and Maintenance

  • Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • Objectives: Investigate the potential of 3D imaging sensors for supporting field automation tasks
  • Time: 09/2005 每 08/2008

 

Intelligent Video Computing for Automated Construction Operation Productivity Analysis

  • Self-initiated study with Dr. Carlos H. Caldas
  • Objectives: Develop methods for automatically extracting productivity information from construction videos through integration of computing techniques and construction domain knowledge
  • Time: 08/2007 每 present

 

Investigation of the Trend of Construction Productivity from Historical Work Sampling and Work Method Study Data

  • Self-initiated study with Dr. John D. Borcherding and Dr. Carlos H. Caldas
  • Objectives: Analyze the trend of field level craft productivity from a pool of productivity studies
  • Time: 01/2008 每 present

 

Non-Destructive Evaluation of Installed Soil Nails

  • Project Sponsor: Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
  • Objectives: Develop a Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) procedure that can be used as a quality insurance tool during the construction of soil nail walls
  • Time: 09/2002 每 08/2005

 

 

Leveraging Technology to Improve Construction Productivity

  • Project Sponsor: Construction Industry Institute (CII)
  • Objectives: Identify the impact that changes in equipment, material, and information technologies have had on construction productivity
  • Time: 07/2007 每 11/2007

 

Development of Obstacle Detection Algorithms for Construction Machinery Using a High Frame-Rate Flash LADAR Sensor

  • Project Sponsor: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
  • Objectives: Detecting the presence of construction related objects including people, material, and equipment in structured or unstructured environments using 3D imaging sensors
  • Time: 01/2006 每 01/2007

 

Design Procedures for MSE/Soil Nail Hybrid Retaining Wall Systems

  • Project Sponsor: Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
  • Objectives: Develop a MSE/Soil Nail Hybrid Retaining Wall System for efficient highway construction
  • Time: 06/2004 每 12/2004

 

 

 

Last Updated by Jie Gong On October 17, 2008