Research

AI-Driven Visual Monitoring of Construction Operations

Construction sites generate rich visual data, but turning that data into management decisions still relies on manual observation. This research develops computer vision frameworks that automatically monitor construction productivity and progress from site cameras, with a particular focus on overcoming the scarcity of training data through VR-generated and generative-AI synthetic datasets. Recent work includes site-specific synthetic data-driven action segmentation for modular installation, dual-stream transformer-based activity classification, and massive-scale dataset synthesis using diffusion models.

Construction Robotics and Automation

To address chronic labor shortages and productivity stagnation in construction, this research explores robotic platforms that can perform and assist on-site work. Topics include multipurpose construction robots for multifamily residential construction, object recognition and work-path planning for robotic task execution, and the effect of human-robot interaction on team productivity in construction settings.

Off-Site and Modular Construction

Off-site construction promises faster, safer, and higher-quality building production, yet its competitiveness depends on rigorous quality and productivity management across the factory and the field. This research develops quality management systems for modular and precast concrete construction, analyzes defect cases to build quality management frameworks, and investigates technology adoption mechanisms and non-cost competitiveness of modular construction.

Wearable Sensing for Construction Safety and Health

Physiological data acquired from wearable devices open a new window into construction workers’ physical and mental status. This research uses wearable biosensors, neckband 360° cameras, and contactless sensing (e.g., remote photoplethysmography) to assess workers’ stress, physical demands, perceived risk, and proximity hazards, and incorporates the results into safety and health management decisions.

Human Factors and Smart Built Environments

Humans remain central to construction projects and to the buildings they produce. This research investigates the socio-psychological mechanisms of construction workers’ safety behavior, and extends human-centered sensing to building occupants — developing personalized smart building systems that learn each occupant’s thermal comfort from physiological data to control building operations.

Research Projects