Research in Construction Science

Driving Innovation in Construction

The Department of Construction Science conducts transformative research with significant societal impact. We are dedicated to broadening our influence by offering world-class facilities and comprehensive support to our faculty and students, fostering innovation and addressing critical global challenges in the construction industry.

Convergent Multidisciplinary Research

Our diverse research portfolio tackles real-world problems through convergent research and collaborative efforts with industry.

Construction Management

We focus on advancing the methodologies and practices essential for efficiently overseeing construction projects from inception to completion. We emphasize the integration of innovative management techniques and cutting-edge technology to optimize project planning, execution, and delivery. Our research explores advancing project management processes, Building Information Modeling (BIM), lean construction principles, risk management strategies, real-time data analytics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven solutions. By examining these areas, we aim to enhance project efficiency, reduce costs, improve safety standards, and ensure timely completion.

Smart Construction

There is no doubt that technologies are serious drivers for innovation in construction. We develop emerging digital technologies and processes that are promising to transform construction into a safer, more productive, more resilient, and more sustainability cognizant sector. We explore technologies and computational processes including drones, virtual reality (VR), 3D-printing, digital twins, robotics, smart materials, energy simulation, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) from the context of construction. We’re discovering how new technologies can improve the built environment and how humans interface with it. From making better decisions to creating safer and more productive workspaces, technological advances are shaping our industry.

Construction Safety

We are dedicated to pioneering research and practices that enhance safety standards in the construction industry. We focus on developing and implementing advanced safety protocols, innovative technologies, and comprehensive training programs to minimize risks and protect workers. Our research includes the use of wearable technology (exoskeleton), real-time monitoring, drone inspections for hazard identification, prevention through design approach, virtual reality (VR) for immersive safety training, and predictive analytics to foresee and mitigate potential safety issues. By addressing factors such as job site ergonomics, occupational health, and emergency response strategies, we aim to create safer construction environments. Our commitment extends to fostering a culture of safety awareness and continuous improvement, ensuring that safety is integrated into every aspect of construction operations. Through collaboration with industry partners and regulatory bodies, we strive to set new benchmarks for safety and well-being in the construction sector.

Sustainable Construction

The future of construction work will be shaped by forces of climate change, automation, globalization, and exploration of unfamiliar environments beyond earth. Whether and to what extent such a future will meet the construction demand in a sustainable manner will depend on how sustainability principles are integrated to control these forces. Our faculty and researchers tackle complex problems that arise from the growing demand on sustainability of the built environment. We conduct research of construction projects and constructed facilities covering the three dimensions of sustainability: (1) environmental; (2) economic; and (3) social dimension. The environmental dimension will cover the energy and environmental impact modeling of construction materials and methods aimed at minimizing primary energy use, raw material consumption, and life cycle impacts through indicators such as global warming, acidification, eutrophication, and toxicity potential. The optimization of initial construction as well as life cycle costs is covered under the economic dimension. Job site safety, construction ethics, and occupants’ satisfaction are evaluated under the social dimension.

Funded Research

Our faculty work with various federal and state agencies and industry partners to conduct impactful research through funded projects. On average, we secure more than $5 million in external research funding each year. Please visit our faculty’s website to obtain the latest information about their current and upcoming research projects.

Learn More About Research Programs in Construction Science

The REU and I2CRP programs connect students directly with faculty-led research in community resilience, infrastructure and design innovation. Join a collaborative network of scholars driving real-world solutions across the built environment.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates group photo.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Explore the REU program at the Texas A&M College of Architecture. Gain hands-on research experience in the built environment, heritage conservation, and urban planning. Open to motivated undergraduate students.

A group of professors and students posing for. photo together.

Innovation Ideas Competition and Research Program (I2CRP)

The Construction Science Innovation Competition at Texas A&M University challenges undergraduate students to develop innovative solutions for improving construction practices.

Research and Impact

The Department of Construction Science at Texas A&M University continues to lead innovation across the built environment through high-impact, multidisciplinary research projects funded by national agencies and industry partners.

Recent sponsored research initiatives focus on advancing safety, workforce technology, disaster recovery, additive manufacturing, and artificial intelligence integration across civil infrastructure and building construction.

Recent Construction Science Research Projects

Project Title	Funding Entity	Project Cost	Lead Researcher / PI	Co-PIs / Investigators	Description
Advancing Inspector Training Program Using Digital Technologies	National Center for Infrastructure Transformation	$250,000	Dr. David Jeong	Dr. Gilles Albeaino; Dr. Charles Gurganus; Dr. Zhenyu Zhang	Uses digital technologies to strengthen construction inspector training, emphasizing workforce readiness, inspection decision-making, quality assurance and improved training approaches for transportation infrastructure.[cite: 1]
TANDEM: Tensegrity-Based Assistive and Rehabilitation Exosuits to Complement Human BioMechanics	National Science Foundation	$830,000 TAMU / $5,000,000 total	Dr. Chuma Nnaji	—	Develops tensegrity-based wearable exosuits, including a bio-inspired “Second Spine,” to support human movement, reduce physical strain, lower musculoskeletal injury risk and promote field adoption in construction.[cite: 1]
Develop a General Aviation Production Rate Resource	Texas Department of Transportation	$223,233	Dr. Charles Gurganus	Dr. Gilles Albeaino; Yara Nasar	Develops a production-rate resource for general aviation projects to support reliable planning, estimating, scheduling and delivery of aviation construction and maintenance activities.[cite: 1]
Collaborative Research: Embodied Interactive Environment for Advancing Data Sensing and Computational Thinking Skills in the Built Environment	National Science Foundation	$204,637 TAMU / $1,299,752 total	Dr. Yewande Abraham	—	Creates an interactive learning environment helping students build data sensing and computational thinking skills through immersive built-environment scenarios and sensor-data interpretation.[cite: 1]
Quantifying Team Health: From Invisible Risk to Manageable Asset	Rogers-O’Brien, Procore, and American Contractors Insurance Group	$100,000	Dr. Zhenyu Zhang	Dr. Zofia Rybkowski; Dr. David Jeong	Establishes methods to quantify team health and translate project team dynamics into actionable indicators that support collaboration and risk management in project delivery.[cite: 1]
Develop Guidance for Enhancing Work Zone Safety in the Construction of Innovative Intersections	Texas Department of Transportation	$421,678	Dr. Minerva Bonilla	Dr. Chuma Nnaji	Provides guidance for improving work zone safety during the construction of innovative intersections, focusing on temporary traffic control and worker protection.[cite: 1]
Operational Additive Manufacturing Capabilities	Autocon Technologies Inc. / U.S. Air Force	$819,000	Dr. Julie Hartell	Dr. Zach Grasley; Jeff Bullard	Advances operational additive manufacturing capabilities for construction and defense applications, focusing on materials, production processes and scalable field deployment.[cite: 1]
Disaster Recovery Alternative Housing Study	Texas General Land Office	$1,408,675	Dr. Julie Hartell	Dr. Ashrant Aryal	Evaluates alternative housing strategies for disaster recovery, focusing on housing feasibility, resilience, constructability and deployment for affected communities.[cite: 1]
Collaborative Research: Empowering STEM Education by Creating Benchmarking Models for Generative Artificial Intelligence Learning Assistants	National Science Foundation	$227,419 TAMU / $400,000 collaborative	Dr. Namgyun Kim	Dr. Kunhee Choi	Develops generative AI learning assistants for STEM education, establishing benchmarking models across architecture, engineering and construction disciplines.[cite: 1]
Advancing Human-Robot Synergy in Dynamic Environmental Conditions Through Bidirectional Adaptive Feedback Systems	National Science Foundation	$192,286	Dr. Xi Wang	—	Investigates human-robot synergy in dynamic conditions through bidirectional adaptive feedback systems to enhance coordination, safety and performance.[cite: 1]