Team

Dr. Aladdin Alwisy is an Assistant Professor in M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management at the University of Florida. Prior to this, Dr. Alwisy worked as a post-doctoral fellow with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)–Industrial Research Chair (IRC) in the Industrialization of Building Construction at the University of Alberta for three years. He has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, and he received his Master's and Ph.D. degrees with the specialization of Construction Engineering and Management from the University of Alberta.

Working and collaborating with different U.S. and Canadian modular construction companies under different positions as a project coordinator, a project manager, and most recently as the director of research & development at a general contracting company, Dr. Alwisy acquired hands-on experience in industrialized construction. During which, Dr. Alwisy integrated BIM-based products, namely Revit and Naviswork, into a number of construction companies, established guidelines and standards for BIM implementation, conducted performance-based analysis on real-world projects, and led multidisciplinary researcher and construction teams during the design and construction processes. Working closely with diverse groups of students, professors, and industry experts, Dr. Alwisy obtained the multidisciplinary perspective necessary to develop creative solutions that efficiently address the shortcomings and limitations of existing procedures, thereby gaining extensive experience in both analytical and practical research areas including Industrialized Construction, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Generative Design, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Energy Analysis, Parametric Modelling, and Performative Analysis.

Dr. Alwisy's research interests lie in developing and assessing sustainable practices that capture the future of intelligent design and manufacturing systems by establishing the scientific and technological foundations for uncertain, human-centric processes in industrialized construction. His research will take advantage of recent advances in Robotics, Sensing Technologies, Machine Learning (ML),  Augmented/Virtual/Mixed Reality (AR/VR/MR), Simulation, and Lean Manufacturing to promote the shift toward industrialized construction, thus reducing the expense of the design, manufacturing process, and system control. Dr. Alwisy has largely contributed to construction automation by the development of the first-in-the-nation Robotic Station for the framing and installation of industrialized construction that utilizes patented robotic systems and methods. Additionally, Dr. Alwisy developed innovative BIM technologies, such as BIM- and knowledge-based drafting and design for manufacturing, performance-based target cost modeling system, and computational energy-based generative design framework.

Chao is a Ph.D. student in Construction Management working in the Smart IDC lab at the University of Florida. He holds two bachelor's degrees from Southwest Jiaotong University, one in Environmental Engineering and one in International Economics and Trade. He has extensive industry experience in project management and consulting. He has worked as a project manager for years, and worked on many types of construction projects, including residential buildings, commercial buildings, and international airports. His current research is focusing on exploring the role of robotics-based technology in post-disaster recovery and trying to develop a one-stop solution for reconstruction(modular construction and incremental design strategy) of post-disaster recovery.

Feral is a PhD student in Construction Management, engaged in research at the Smart IDC lab at the University of Florida. He brings a diverse educational background, having earned his Master's in Construction Management and Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate Finance and Urban Analysis from the University of Florida. Additionally, he holds an Associate of Science in Building Construction Management and an Associate of Arts from Santa Fe College. He has amassed a comprehensive array of certifications within the construction industry. His professional background predominantly lies in Information Technology, with a strong focus on project management, risk assessment, and security management. His research is in the critical area of construction sustainability. His research is multifaceted, encompassing everything from the conservation of initial resource usage to the recycling and reutilization of construction materials. He leverages cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics, in conjunction with improved construction materials and techniques, to drive advancements in housing and infrastructure development.

Md Mehrab Hossain is a PhD student in Construction Management at the University of Florida, conducting cutting-edge research at the Smart IDC lab. He earned his Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Georgia Southern University, USA, and his Bachelor’s degree in Building Engineering and Construction Management from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET), Bangladesh. Mehrab also served for over five years as a faculty member at KUET, teaching construction-related courses. His research interests include automation and robotics for the digitalization of industrialized construction. His current research focuses on developing an integration framework for LGS-driven robotic innovations in system development and control pipeline. Outside academia, he enjoys singing, cricket, and gardening.

Abdulkabir Opeyemi Bello is a PhD student at the Smart IDC Lab, University of Florida. His current research centers on Human-in-the-Lead Construction Robotics (HiLCR), investigating the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for craft workers to perform effectively alongside robotic automation. Using a mixed-methods approach, he aims to examine task assignments that maximize worker satisfaction and engagement and develop curricula to prepare future craft workers for seamless human-robot collaboration. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Building and a Master’s degree in Construction Management from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria, and is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Building, with professional experience spanning both industry and academia. His studies focus on sustainable and digital construction, primarily in developing countries. Bello has published in top-ranked international journals and serves as a reviewer for leading journals in the field. His work has been recognized by Emerald Publishing, which featured his article “Drivers for the Implementation of Modular Construction Systems in the AEC Industry of Developing Countries” on Emerald’s Sustainable Structures and Infrastructures highlighting its contribution to circular construction and real-world impact in advancing sustainable building practices.

Yara is a PhD Student in Construction Management and a member of the Smart IDC Lab at the University of Florida. She holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a master's degree in construction management from the American University of Sharjah. During her master's program, she published in the areas of circular economy, educational technology, and construction automation. Her research interests revolve around modeling and simulation for academic and industrial purposes. Her current research investigates the knowledge gap between the state of the art and the state of practice in construction robotics for industrialized construction. Outside academia, she enjoys creative writing, indie game development, and multimedia design.

Richard is a Ph.D. student conducting research in the Smart IDC Lab. He holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Xi’an Jiaotong University. His research expertise focuses on advanced robotics and intelligent systems for human-centered applications, supporting construction, agriculture, and healthcare industries. He also has extensive hands-on experience with programming and design tools and has industry experience with leading robot and automation companies. His current research promotes the future of construction management, aiming to develop intelligent scene understanding systems for human-robot collaboration in industrialized construction, leveraging artificial intelligence and computer vision to enhance real-time human-centered management. Beyond academia, Richard enjoys basketball and guitar, reflecting his passion for teamwork and creativity. He is striving for greatness, and he wants to be an inspiration for his generation. 

Amirpooya Shirazi is a Ph.D. student in Construction Management at the University of Florida, conducting research in the Smart IDC Lab since 2024 Fall. He holds a Master's degree in Construction Engineering and Management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Tehran. His research expertise lies in the integration of robotics and perception systems to develop semi- to fully automated safety frameworks for the construction industry. Currently, his work focuses on optimizing manufacturing processes by integrating robotic arms with scheduling techniques, leveraging Robot Operating Systems (ROS) and programming to advance the future of construction through the safe and efficient deployment of automated technologies.

Fernando is a Master's student in Construction Management, engaged in advanced research at the University of Florida. He brings a rich educational background, having earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Universidad San Francisco de Quito. His work is characterized by a strong focus on construction project management and mechanical design. In the "Urbanización Los Cedros" project in Ecuador, Fernando developed a comprehensive cash flow model that significantly improved financial management and planning. His implementation of quality control processes effectively reduced costs, while his contributions to project documentation and strategic marketing enhanced project visibility and efficiency. In his role as Chief of Operations at a gold concentrate processing plant, he optimized operational procedures, managed the construction of new facilities, and controlled heavy equipment utilization. Additionally, Fernando has experience in integrating sustainable energy solutions, such as improving bio-oil recollection systems and implementing the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system to utilize excess heat from pyrolysis reactors. Currently, his research is centered on the "Analysis of the Robotic Arm Functionality Optimization through Motion-Supported Frames in Complex Construction Operations." This work aims to improve the efficiency and precision of robotic arms, contributing to advancements in automation within the construction industry.".

Ben holds a Ph.D. student of Construction Management in the Smart IDC lab at the University of Florida. Ben earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering from Azad University in Tehran, Iran. He also holds a master’s degree in civil engineering with a focus on construction management from Mississippi State University. Ben’s research interest lies in the development of sustainable production practices in industrialized construction through the Integration of digital design and manufacturing systems. His current research pursues the automation of planning and control of offsite manufacturing processes in order to improve the productivity and safety of construction workers.

Juan holds a Master´s student conducting research about advanced construction technologies at the Smart IDC Lab at the University of Florida. He also has a Bachelor´s in Industrial Engineering from Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia, and an International Business Post Graduate Certificate from Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario.  He has worked in the construction industry for the last 13 years as a Cementitious Materials Sales and Export Director, Quicklime Plant Chief Commercial Officer, and as a Business Consultant for various Cementitious Materials Importers and Exporters. He has also led International Expansion Projects for Cement and Quicklime Manufacturers in Latin America and the Caribbean. He currently focuses on research about the evaluation of wearable robotics, and its applicability in industrialized construction tasks which includes the improvement of worker´s ergonomics, safety, and productivity. 

Sevi holds a combined Bachelor’s and Master’s student in Construction Management working in the Smart IDC Lab at the University of Florida. He is in a combined fast track program for Construction Management earning his B.S. & M.Sc. at the same time. He had 4 internships so far during his time at UF, namely an 8-month CO-OP in 2022 and a 4-month internship in 2023 in Austin Texas for Tesla at their Gigafactory & headquarters. He was on the mechanical side of the Gigafactory Central Utilities Team, mostly working on chiller plants, process piping, and other hydronic scopes. He continues to work part time on the Central Utilities Team while he is doing classes and doing research at the Smart IDC Lab. He is currently investigating the integration of smart vision systems for quality control purposes during the automated process of robotic offsite panelized construction. His goal is to reduce the technology gap between industry and academia by conducting research that supports the needs of the robotic assembly process for modular construction panels.

Brandon holds a master’s degree in construction management and was actively involved in research at the Smart IDC lab. His academic journey started with his bachelor’s degree in architecture at the University of Florida. His academic and professional experience primarily centers around 3D modeling and real estate, with a strong emphasis on project management, document analysis, and 3D modeling software such as AutoCAD, Revit, Lumion, SynchroPro4D, and Navisworks. Brandon’s research focus is on the crucial subject of concrete sustainability. The concrete industry is a nearly 1 trillion dollar area of study. His research encompasses a wide range of topics including the sustainability of 3D concrete printed materials looking at various parameters such as material attributes, availability, 3D printing advantages, and barriers. He employed technologies such as physical hardware robotics and computer software to break the barrier of traditional concrete construction methodologies.

Zachary was a Master's student of Construction Management working in the Smart IDC lab at the University of Florida. He earned his bachelor's degrees in Economics and Sustainability and the Built Environment from the University of Florida. Zachary's research interests are the relationships between the economy, the environment, and the construction industry. He investigated the relationship between the construction labor market and the implementation of robotics in construction in order to advise construction firms on the transition toward the automation of construction processes. 

Kush is an alumnus of the Smart IDC lab at the University of Florida. He has a Master’s degree from the University of Florida. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Pandit Deendayal Energy University, India. The ideology that innovation is the way forward lies at the core of his belief. This has led to his research interests in the development of a smart control system that integrates computer vision and sensing technologies to promote a safe human-robot collaboration (HRC) in industrialized construction. At present, he is investigating innovative control systems and advanced sensing technologies to support the robotic station.

Cagri is an alumnus of the Smart IDC lab at the University of Florida. He has a Master’s degree from the University of Florida. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Ege University, Izmir, Turkey, Department of Civil Engineering in 2012. After his graduation, he worked as a Construction Superintendent for about 6 years on several Oil and Gas projects where he gained industrial experience in modular (industrialized) construction. Cagri’s research interests lie in the assessment of collaborative robots in construction through the utilization of simulation and life cycle cost analysis. He is currently investigating the technological and cultural barriers for the adoption of modular construction and developing simulation models for the manufacturing line.

Ziyi is an alumnus of the Smart IDC lab at the University of Florida. She has a Master’s degree from the University of Florida. . Her research aims to reduce the life-cycle energy consumption of modular classrooms by integrating machine learning techniques that improve the efficiency of parametric building energy prediction during the early design stages. To achieve this goal, she is developing a predictive analytics model for the energy consumption of modular classrooms, where energy functions will link design inputs with energy performance output values for modular classrooms. 

Amneh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design as well as a Master of Science in Architecture (with an emphasis on architectural management) from Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. She obtained practical experience at the visualization and design of various building projects. Additionally, she gained knowledge related to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), building energy simulation, and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Her research interests include offsite construction systems, the resilience of industrialized construction, and building environmental impact. She is currently working in studying the utilization of offsite construction for disaster relief, which aims at developing design guidelines for urban resilience of industrialized construction systems (modular and panelized).

Mohammad holds a Bachelor’s degree in Building Engineering from Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University in Saudi Arabia. Through his BS.c studies, Mohammad has acquired knowledge and skills related to the use of state-of-the-art tools and technologies in the technical design and documents’ development of construction projects. He obtained his master’s degree in Architectural Engineering, with an emphasis in Facilities Engineering and Management, from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia. Through his master studies, he acquired knowledge and research experience in the domains of built-environment management, building life-cycle integration, safety management and building performance assessment. His research interests comprise sustainable construction, building information modeling (BIM), energy-based life-cycle analysis and offsite construction systems. Currently, he seeks to investigate the energy consumption of existing offsite construction systems in order to assist the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals in the design development and construction decisions during the early design phase.