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Research Description<\/h2>\n <\/p>\nREU Research Plan:\u00a0<\/u><\/strong>REU students will be involved in developing a new simulation game during the summer months with graduate student mentors and faculty advisors. The students will conduct a literature review to summarize existing knowledge about serious games and simulations. The students will be given extensive tutoring and guidance on computer coding skills by graduate student mentors; they will also be given a series of coding assignments to develop parts of the game. The students will test existing prototype games with undergraduate students and measure the outcomes using statistical methods based on pre- and post-survey data. The students will be given an opportunity to write a conference\/journal paper with the research team members.<\/p>\n Keywords:<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0serious game, simulation, computer science, computer programming, civil engineering, construction management, building construction.<\/p>\n Required Skills:<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0coding skills and basic knowledge of statistics.<\/p>\n Undergraduate Degrees:<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Building Construction, Construction Science\/Management.<\/p>\n Faculty Advisors:<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0Dr. Zofia Rybkowski, and Dr. David Jeong<\/figure>\n <\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tResearch Topic 2: AI-driven Immersive Platform for Enhancing Cultural Competency in Construction Education\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/summary>\n\n\t\n\t\t
Research Description<\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
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In this research, you will have the opportunity to help develop an AI-driven immersive platform to enhance cultural competency in Construction Education. Given the significant role of Hispanics and minorities in the construction workforce, it is crucial to train future construction managers in cultural awareness. The project aims to develop an immersive environment to reinforce these skills. The study involves identifying key cultural competencies and developing an immersive AI-driven environment to provide personalized feedback; in so doing, users can enhance their cultural competency skills and manage a diverse workforce effectively.<\/p>\n
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REU Research Plan:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
REU students will begin with a literature review, then, under the guidance of graduate mentors and faculty advisors, help develop AI-supported immersive construction scenarios and evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the platform. Finally, students will present their findings at conferences and contribute to journal publications.<\/p>\n
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Keywords<\/u><\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Immersive Platform; Cultural Competency; Construction Education; Diversity; Artificial Intelligence<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Required Skills<\/u><\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Basic knowledge in statistics analysis and at least one coding language.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Undergraduate Degrees<\/u>:<\/strong>\u00a0Civil Engineering, Construction Science\/Management, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Faculty Advisors:<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0Dr. Minerva Bonilla,\u00a0Dr. Chukwuma Nnaji, and Dr. Ashrant Aryal<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tResearch Topic 3: Optimizing Construction Performance and Safety of Innovative Intersections and Interchanges\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/summary>\n\n\t\n\t\t
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Research Description<\/h2>\n <\/p>\nThis research project aims to enhance the performance and safety of innovative intersections and interchange (e.g., Diverging Diamond Interchange). These designs are crucial for promoting sustainability in transportation infrastructure, as they enhance traffic flow, increase capacity and safety, and account for future traffic demands. This study will identify common challenges affecting project outcomes and develop predictive tools to improve project performance.\u00a0\u00a0Additionally, it will also evaluate safety measures for the construction of these\u00a0Innovative Intersections and Interchanges.<\/p>\n
REU Research Plan:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n REU students will work with graduate mentors and a faculty advisor. Their involvement will include:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\n<\/p>\nConduct a literature review<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nAssist in analyzing data<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nSupport the development of predictive models<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nContribute to the writing of a conference or journal paper to disseminate the project findings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n
Keywords:<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Project Performance; Risk Management; Work Zone Safety;\u00a0Innovative Intersections and Interchanges<\/p>\nRequired Skills:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n<\/p>\nData analysis and understanding of statistical methods<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nCoding skills<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nTechnical writing and research documentation skills (Ideal)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nStrong communication skills<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n
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Undergraduate Degrees:<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>Civil Engineering (Transportation Focus), Construction Science\/Management, Industrial Engineering<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Faculty Advisor:<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>Dr. Minerva Bonilla<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tResearch Topic 4: Semantic Data Interoperability Technologies across the Life Cycle of Process Plant Projects\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/summary>\n\n\t\n\t\t
Research Description<\/h2>\n\nPoor data interoperability is a major issue in the process industry, hindering seamless data exchange and integration across project life cycles. Seamless data exchange is essential for effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders, with failure leading to delays, cost overruns, and data inconsistencies. The core of the data interoperability problem lies in the diverse proprietary systems used by multiple stakeholders to process and exchange data that often lack standardized definitions and formats. To address this challenge, this research aims to develop semantic data interoperability technologies utilizing multi-modal language models. By enabling the seamless exchange and integration of diverse datasets from multiple, our goal is to improve data quality and increase the efficiency of work processes.<\/p>\n
REU Research Plan:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n REU students will be involved in developing data interoperability models for several key equipment and instruments included in process plants under the guidance of a postdoctoral researcher. This research involves three tasks: (1) identifying the terms to define the specifications of equipment and instruments from catalogs, manuals, and other resources; (2) matching disparate terms to define identical objects from various software; (3) leveraging multi-modal language models to transform data into a format that is compatible with various software templates.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nKeywords<\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Data Interoperability, Data Exchange and Integration, Data Template, Multi-modal Language Model<\/p>\nRequired Skills<\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Familiar with Large-Language Models<\/p>\nUndergraduate Degrees<\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Construction Management, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering<\/p>\nFaculty Advisor<\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Dr. David Jeong<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tResearch Topic 5: Building Envelopes for Enhanced Energy Efficiency and Resilience Against Heat-Related Extreme Events\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/summary>\n\n\t\n\t\t
Research Description<\/h2>\n Buildings are major consumers of energy, particularly for heating and cooling. The building envelope, which includes the external walls, roof, and windows, is crucial for determining how much energy a building consumes. This envelope is also vital for maintaining a comfortable indoor climate during extreme weather conditions like heatwaves or cold snaps, especially when power outages occur. The term “passive survivability” refers to a building’s ability to keep conditions livable without relying on active heating or cooling systems. As extreme weather events become more frequent, there is a growing need to explore solutions that can sustain comfortable indoor conditions even during power outages. This research project aims to investigate how different materials used in building envelopes impact both energy consumption during regular operations and passive survivability during extreme conditions.<\/p>\n
REU Research Plan:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) students will engage in a comprehensive research agenda that involves utilizing energy models to scrutinize how buildings consume electricity. Additionally, they will investigate the varying thermal comfort preferences among individuals in indoor environments. The primary responsibilities will include the integration of thermal comfort models into energy simulation frameworks. These augmented models will then be adapted to assess how different building envelope materials influence passive survivability. The ultimate goal is to acquire a nuanced understanding of how diverse building materials and envelope technologies affect both routine energy consumption during normal operations and passive survivability during extreme events. Students will also have the opportunity to contribute to a conference or journal article alongside the research team.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nKeywords: <\/u><\/strong>Building Envelopes, Energy Efficiency, Passive Survivability, Thermal Comfort, Extreme Events.<\/p>\n Required Skills: <\/u><\/strong>Programming experience and a basic understanding of statistical analysis. Some familiarity with building energy modeling software is a plus.<\/p>\n Undergraduate Degrees<\/u><\/strong>:<\/u><\/strong> Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Construction.<\/p>\n Faculty Advisor: <\/u><\/strong>Dr. Ashrant Aryal<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tResearch Topic 6: Assessment of Freeze-Thaw Performance of 3D-Printed Concrete \n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/summary>\n\n\t\n\t\t
Research Description<\/h2>\n The objective of this study is to establish and test a standardized method for evaluating the freeze-thaw performance of 3D-printed concrete used in building construction. The devised methodology will aim to more accurately reflect the exposure conditions typically encountered in vertical building applications. It is essential to consider how factors such as printing techniques, geometry, and surface coatings can influence the performance of the finished product. This attention to detail is crucial to ensure that a material design that could otherwise be satisfactory is not overlooked and that a well-designed material is not improperly disqualified due to poor printing quality.\u00a0 The proposed parametric and optimization study will address sample preparation, specimen size and geometry, exposure regimen conditions, testing procedures and equipment requirements, and acceptance performance criteria.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nREU Research Plan:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) students will participate in a comprehensive research agenda that involves experimental testing and data analysis in a laboratory setting. The primary responsibilities will include learning and implementing both destructive and non-destructive testing methods commonly used to evaluate the properties of concrete materials. Students will fabricate specimens by mixing concrete and 3D-printing materials. They will also develop and execute an experimental plan to assess the performance of 3D-printed concrete. Basic statistical methods will be utilized to analyze the collected data sets. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to present their findings and contribute to a conference or journal article alongside the research team.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nKeywords<\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Concrete, Durability, 3D-printing, material science<\/p>\nRequired Skills<\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Basic understanding of statistical analysis. Familiarity with concrete and\/or construction material, familiarity with 3D-printing and laboratory work is a plus.<\/p>\nUndergraduate Degrees<\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Civil, Material, Mechanical Engineering, Construction and Architecture.<\/p>\nFaculty Advisor<\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>Dr. Julie Ann Hartell<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tResearch Topic 7: Socio-technical Challenges to equitable wastewater services in rural, underserved Communities\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/summary>\n\n\t\n\t\t
<\/h2>\nResearch Description<\/h2>\n <\/h2>\n <\/h2>\n The Black Belt region of rural Alabama has long struggled from a lack of access to managed wastewater infrastructure, resulting in the presence of raw sewage on the ground and significant risks to public and environmental health. Due to high poverty in these underserved communities, many residents use straight pipe discharge to backyards or streams, as advanced onsite wastewater systems are not affordable. Such unacceptable sanitation conditions have drawn extensive local, national, and international attention, calling for technological and regulatory solutions to address wastewater issues in these communities. Research efforts at Bakchan Lab are ongoing to provide explicit characterization of this wastewater crisis in the Black Belt, by documenting challenges spanning the various dimensions of the operating environment (e.g., social, financial, regulatory, institutional). This research project would enable decision-makers to proactively make policy and funding changes to potentially address inadequate wastewater management in rural, underserved communities, bringing awareness to pressing environmental justice concerns.<\/p>\n
<\/h2>\n REU Research Plan:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/h2>\n REU students will be involved in conducting and analyzing semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in Alabama (e.g., regulators, utilities, residents) during the summer months. Under the supervision of graduate mentors and Dr. Bakchan, the students will conduct literature review to summarize existing research studies surrounding the wastewater issues in the Black Belt and identify knowledge gaps to further support the contributions of this research project. Additionally, the REU students will assist in (1) conducting qualitative coding of the interviews, (2) assessing the reliability of coding using intercoder reliability test, and (3) write a conference\/journal paper, upon mutual interest.<\/p>\n
<\/h2>\n Keywords:<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0Decentralized wastewater management; socio-technical challenges; rural underserved communities; environmental justice; infrastructure equity; semi-structured interviews; qualitative analysis.<\/p>\n <\/h2>\n Undergraduate Degrees:<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0Civil Engineering, Construction Science\/Management.<\/p>\n <\/h2>\n Faculty Advisor<\/u>:<\/strong>\u00a0Dr. Amal Bakchan<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tResearch Topic 8: Metaverse as a Novel Educational Tool in the Field of Construction\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/summary>\n\n\t\n\t\t
<\/p>\n
Research Description<\/h2>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
This research aims to investigate the use of the metaverse as a novel educational tool in the field of construction. Specifically, it focuses on replicating and enhancing the educational benefits of traditional construction site visits by creating a collaborative virtual environment within the metaverse. This virtual environment will enable students to engage in immersive, interactive, and educational construction site experiences, overcoming geographical boundaries and logistical constraints. By harnessing the metaverse’s capabilities, this research seeks to provide a transformative learning experience for students in construction-related disciplines, offering them a unique opportunity to explore and understand construction concepts in a virtual yet realistic setting.<\/p>\n
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REU Research Plan:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
During the REU program, students will actively participate in the development and evaluation of this metaverse-based educational tool. They will contribute to the technical development of the virtual environment, assess its feasibility for conducting virtual site visits, and analyze its educational impact on students’ learning outcomes. Through this hands-on experience, students will gain valuable insights into the potential of emerging technologies in education and construction, enhancing their coding skills and applying basic statistics to measure the effectiveness of this innovative approach.<\/p>\n
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Keywords<\/u><\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Metaverse, virtual construction site visits, immersive learning, construction education.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Required Skills<\/u><\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Coding skills and basic knowledge of statistics.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Undergraduate Degrees<\/u><\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Computer Science, Visualization, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Building Construction, Construction Science\/Management.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Faculty Advisor<\/u>:\u00a0<\/strong>Dr.\u00a0Gilles Albeaino<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tResearch Topic 9: Transforming Virtual Learning for Construction Safety Using Large Language Models\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/summary>\n\n\t\n\t\t
Research Description<\/h2>\nOnline, self-paced safety training has become increasingly common in the construction industry. Yet, as anyone who has taken an online driver\u2019s education course knows, these modules\u2014while incredibly convenient\u2014often lack the interactive dynamics that makes in-person learning effective. Through this research project, we will investigate ways to develop and embed a virtual learning tutor powered by large language models (LLMs) within these digital training modules. The objective is to simulate the expertise and responsiveness of a seasoned instructor, thereby providing a dynamic, personalized learning experience that will ultimately contribute to enhanced safety on construction sites.<\/span><\/h2>\n\nREU Research Plan<\/u><\/strong>:<\/p>\n During the summer months, REU students will work with graduate student mentors and faculty advisors to develop and evaluate an AI-powered safety tutor that supports interactive learning within virtual environments. The students’ involvement will include the following:<\/p>\n
\nReview scholarly literature on adult learning principles and engagement strategies;<\/li>\n Apply these research-based insights to instruction-tune and fine-tune LLMs for optimized learning engagement;<\/li>\n Assess the tool’s efficacy against its intended objectives; and<\/li>\n Contribute to the writing of a conference\/journal paper to disseminate the project\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nKeywords:<\/u><\/strong> adult learning, safety training, human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence, language models, civil engineering, construction management<\/p>\n
![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.arch.tamu.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2024\/12\/Photo_RESEARCH-OPPORTUNITIES_2-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Diagram](\"https:\/\/www.arch.tamu.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/11\/topic-1.png\")
In this research, you will have the opportunity to develop serious games and simulations to revolutionize the learning process of soft and abstract concepts and principles that are common in the field of project management and construction management. Through engagement in a serious game, participants can develop an understanding of challenging abstract concepts\u2014often delivered via \u201cA-ha\u201d moments. A simulation will allow participants to test and measure the impact of a single variable by comparison against a control so they can develop an accurate and deep understanding of the topic being explored. An interactive simulation in a group setting can allow participants to communicate and collaborate using critical thinking skills to generate preferred solutions to a given problem, mimicking decision-making processes in industry. This research project develops and tests virtual reality (VR) simulation games to assess the efficacy of a VR learning mode compared to traditional learning modes to identify effective features that should be considered for future simulation game development.REU Research Plan:\u00a0<\/u><\/strong>REU students will be involved in developing a new simulation game during the summer months with graduate student mentors and faculty advisors. The students will conduct a literature review to summarize existing knowledge about serious games and simulations. The students will be given extensive tutoring and guidance on computer coding skills by graduate student mentors; they will also be given a series of coding assignments to develop parts of the game. The students will test existing prototype games with undergraduate students and measure the outcomes using statistical methods based on pre- and post-survey data. The students will be given an opportunity to write a conference\/journal paper with the research team members.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.arch.tamu.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2024\/11\/Picture0003.png\")
<\/figure>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.arch.tamu.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2024\/11\/Picture0004.png\")
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