Human-Centered Innovative Technology for Resilient Built Environment
M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management University of Florida
M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management University of Florida
Director
Research Interest:
Building Information Modeling and BIM Software Development
Project Life Cycle Information Management
Data Analytics
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
Disaster Preparation and Response
Human Behavior
Dr. Di Liu
Lab Manager and Postdoc
Dr. Liu is currently a postdoctoral researcher in M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management at University of Florida. She received a PhD degree in Construction Science from Texas A&M University in August 2023. Her scholarly works primarily focus on Virtual Reality (VR) assisted Human-Automation Collaboration for a human-centered approach. Her interdisciplinary research initiatives extend to contributions in the fields of construction and architecture. Dr. Liu’s research works have been recognized at leading conferences such as the ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering (i3CE) and the International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC) as well as peer-reviewed journals such as Automation in Construction and Journal of Architectural Engineering.
As an educator, Dr. Liu’s dedication to evidence-based teaching and inclusivity in the classroom has been acknowledged by the 2020 COA Diversity Excellence Award.
Personal Website:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/di-liu-965716100/
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=eN7chUoAAAAJ
Qipeng Liu
Ph.D. Candidate
Dissertation topic: How building occupants perceive and utilize information from dynamic intelligent wayfinding guidance systems
Qipeng Liu grew up in Inner Mongolia, China. He received his bachelor’s degree majoring in Construction Management from Tianjin University and his M.S. in Project Management from Northwestern University. After that, he joined Dr Rui Liu’s lab in 2020 fall and currently works as a graduate teaching and research assistant. He works as the teaching assistant and lab Instructor for BCN 3611C Construction Estimating I, as well as leading and participating in research and industrial projects covering various topics, including virtual reality (VR) supported human behaviour study, urban and social resilience and equity enhancement, and information management and information system improvement serving practical industry needs.
Research Interests
Qipeng’s current work focuses on enhanced building operation user-centred human-building interactions and knowledge-based engineering powered by advanced information technologies, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Extended Reality (XR), Digital Twins (DT), and the Internet of Things (IoT). His research covers interdisciplinary aspects including building science, management science, behavioral science, software and hardware design, and data analysis.
Muhammad Hasnain
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Highway safety, computer vision, Automation in Construction, and AI applications for work zone safety risk assessment.
Congjun "Chloe" Jin
Ph.D. student
Congjun is a Ph.D. student in M. E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management. She earned her master’s degree in engineering science from University of New South Wales in Australia. She joined this research lab in the Fall of 2023. She is working as a teaching assistant for the class of BCN 3611C Construction Estimating I, also participating in research work for the industrial project. She is interested in applying advanced technologies to improve sustainability in the AECO industry. Her research mainly focuses on applying Digital Twin, Circular Economy, and AI in project management.
Marian Serwaa Aburam
Master student
Research interests: Leveraging Blockchain Technology to Enhance Circular Economy Practices in the Construction Industry
Marian's thesis explores integrating blockchain technology into the construction industry from a circular economy perspective. The construction sector, a significant contributor to the US GDP, faces the dual challenge of balancing cost efficiency with sustainability. As material costs represent a substantial portion of construction expenses, optimizing this aspect is crucial. Blockchain can offer a transformative solution by enhancing transparency, traceability, and efficiency within the supply chain. By leveraging blockchain, the industry can better manage resources, reduce waste, and promote the reuse and recycling of materials. This approach aligns with the principles of a circular economy, aiming to create a more sustainable and economically viable construction process. This research seeks to demonstrate how blockchain can address both financial and environmental concerns, paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable construction industry.
Graduate Ph.D.
Email: asare@ou.edu
Start Date: Jan. 2020
Graduation Date: Dec. 2023
Kofi A. B. Asare, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, University Of Oklahoma
Kofi received his Ph.D. degree in M. E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management. He has a background in Architecture and holds a BSc and M.Arch from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, where he also worked for one year as a Teaching Assistant. He worked as a junior architect for three years in Ghana. Kofi also holds an MSc in Construction Management from Loughborough University, UK. He joined this research lab in Spring 2020. His research focuses on the application of BIM in Facilities Management.
Kwandokuhle "Kwando" Lynch, Ph.D.
Assistant Project Administrator
Start Date: Aug. 2018
Graduation Date: Dec. 2022
Between 2018 and 2022, Kwando Lynch was part of an Owner's Authorized Representative (OAR) team for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority in an embedded research partnership between the University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning and GCI Inc. She worked to analyze the internal processes and information exchanges at Orlando airport, identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, and develop BIM and Digital Twin-based solutions to address them. Her specific role and tasks over the four-year project can be summarized as follows:
§ Aug 2018 - Aug 2019: Completed an in-depth investigation of the organisational processes for project programming, planning, construction, and operation. Developed a process map for each department, referred to standard practice and performed case studies of leading Aviation Authorities to highlight gaps. Submitted annual report and presentation to the Board with recommended future practice for BIM execution and development of contractually enforceable standards.
§ Aug 2019 - December 2020: Developed and curated manuals and framework for implementation of enterprise integration systems. Developed custom templates for information exchanges, BIM Implementation plan, BIM execution plan and standards, procurement and prequalification documentation, and contractual addenda.
§ December 2020 - Aug 2021: Completed a pilot project worth $70MM to implement the developed recommendations from preconstruction to handover, and post-handover to operation and maintenance.
§ Aug 2021 - Dec 2022: Developed and piloted a digital twin framework, to be implemented throughout whole airport operations based on the adoption of the BIM framework previously developed.
Dr. Liu & Dr. He
Xi He, Ph.D.
General Manager Assistant/Department Head, Shanghai Jianke Cost Engineering Co., Ltd.
Start Date: Aug. 2018
Graduation Date: Dec. 2022
Dissertation Title: A Data Quality Measurement and Control Framework for Improved Data Mining in Construction Projects
Xi received her Ph.D. in M. E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management. She got her bachelor and master degree in Tianjin University (China). She has five years' experience in the industry as a cost engineer. She joined this research lab in Fall 2018. Her research focuses on the relational database for construction projects and cost data modeling and analysis.
Hyunsoung Park, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering and Construction Management, University of Evansville
Start Date: Aug. 2016
Graduation Date: Aug. 2021
Dissertation Title: CONSTRUCTION SAFETY ANALYSIS IN BIM USING ONTOLOGY-BASED KNOWLEDGE MODEL FOR SAFETY CODE CHECKING IN DESIGN STAGE
Hyunsoung received a Ph.D. majoring in Construction Management at University of Florida, and earned his Master’s degree in Construction Management from Texas A&M University. He joined this research lab in Fall 2016. He is interested in an ontology-based construction safety automation management system.
Email: fumeiqing@ufl.edu
Start Date: Aug. 2017
Graduation Date: Aug. 2021
Meiqing Fu, Ph.D.
INVESTIGATING HOW TO UTILIZE SALIENT CUES TO IMPROVE INDIVIDUAL EMERGENCY WAYFINDING PERFORMANCE
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Meiqing received his Ph.D. in M. E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management. He joined this research lab in Fall 2017. He is interested in applying new information technologies for improving construction efficiency and facilitating construction management. His research mainly focuses on the application of BIM, virtual reality and augmented reality in facility management and indoor emergency management.
Faxi Yuan, Ph.D.
Start Date: Jan. 2017
Graduation Date: Aug. 2020
Dissertation Title: Investigating Disaster Resilience through Social Media
Faxi received his Ph.D. in Design, Construction and Planning at the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management in Summer 2020. He joined this research lab in Spring 2017. He is now a postdoc research scholar at the Texas A&M University.
Graduate Master
Email: Omelearinze@gmail.com
Start Date: Aug. 2023
Graduation Date: May 2024
Arinze Promise Omele
EVALUATING POST-PANDEMIC SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE SOLUTIONS AND THEIR APPLICABILITY IN THE STEEL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Research Interest: Supply chain management in Construction using advanced technology, Smart Construction Sites, BIM in Construction Management.
Yu Zhang
Title: The interrelation among factors that affect human route decision-making process during fire evacuations
Yu is a master student in M. E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management. She joined this research lab in Fall 2018. She is interested in investigating factors that affect evacuation in building to improve building safety management and perfect interior layout. Her research mainly focuses on the application of BIM, virtual reality and augmented reality in indoor emergency management and human decision process.
Yena Wang
Start Date: Aug. 2017
Graduation Date: May 2018
Non-thesis Master student.
Yena Wang served as Master research assistant in this research lab from 2017 to 2018.
Yu Lai
Visiting scholar
Visiting period: 2016-2017
Yu Lai is the director of Management Engineering center at School of Management, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology (China). His research concentrates on the dynamic evolution of contracted urban industry and the integration of BIM and virtual reality.
Sijia Guo
Visiting scholar
Visiting period: 2017-2018
Sijia is a Ph.D. candidate from Tianjin university (China), majoring in Management Science and Engineering. She received her Bachelor degree of Management from Tongji University in 2012. Her research interests include large scale group decision making, consensus reaching process and infrastructure management.
Yun Wu
Visiting scholar
Visiting period: September 2017-September 2018
Yun is a lecture in Construction Management from the Shanghai University. Her research concentrates on Construction Law and Contract, Industrialization of Construction and Prefabricated Building, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and Structural Analysis and Design.
Lin Jiang
Visiting scholar
Visiting period: Sept. 2019-Sept. 2020
Lin is an Associate Professor from Tianjin Chengjian University in China. She received her Ph.D. from Tianjin University in 2009. Her research focuses on Construction Management, particularly about the Public-Private Partnership(PPP) mode. As the first author and coauthor, she has published more than 20 papers in Chinese journals and international conferences.
Mengyuan Zhu
Visiting scholar
Visiting period: September 2019-September 2020
Email: mengyuan.zhu@ufl.edu
Mengyuan was a Ph.D. student from Sichuan University during her visit. Her research focuses on construction supply chain optimization. She is an Assistant Professor at School of Economics and Management, Civil Aviation Flight University of China.