Arizona State University

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Arizona State University

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Emerging Technologies BIM Research Group

Emerging Technologies BIM Research GroupEmerging Technologies BIM Research GroupEmerging Technologies BIM Research Group

Our Group

Who we are

We are a research group dedicated to studying new and emerging technologies that can enhance Building Information Modeling (BIM) efforts to improve building design, construction, and operation.

Which technologies we study

We explore a variety of new technological tools that tie into Building Information Modeling processes, including: ​mobile computing systems, mixed (and augmented) reality, virtual reality, simulation games, wearable technologies, and other new and emerging technologies. 

Why study emerging technologies

The building industry is rapidly evolving. Increasingly, companies are looking to leverage computer technology to improve design and construction processes. In a time when new computing technologies seem to be created every day, understanding how to use these tools appropriately to improve design and construction is critical. We aim to research these technologies to identify the types of tools and implementation approaches that offer the most benefit to the building industry. 

Experiences and Opportunities

Virtual Research Meeting

    Meet The Team

    STEVEN K. AYER, PhD

    Dr. Ayer oversees the Emerging Technologies BIM Research Group at ASU. He started working at Arizona State University in August of 2014 as an Assistant Professor in the Del E Webb School of Construction within the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment (SSEBE). Prior to joining ASU, Steven studied at The Pennsylvania State University, where he completed his Ph.D. During his graduate work, he researched how mobile computing systems using augmented reality (AR) and simulation game technologies can influence student design processes. The results from this work provided some encouraging findings that will help to influence future research endeavors. 

    In addition to his education, Steven has had several opportunities to work in industry with construction companies, a design firm, and a Building Information Modeling software development company. These work experiences gave him an appreciation of the workflows and challenges associated with design and construction from a variety of different perspectives.  

    Ultimately, his academic and industry experiences have shaped his research interest to study the intersection of technological capability and human behavior to better understand how we can intelligently use new technological approaches to improve the building industry. 


    Link to CV

    KARAN PATIL, MS

    KARAN PATIL, MS

    KARAN PATIL, MS

     Karan Patil is working on his PhD in Construction Management in the Del E. Webb School of Construction. His work leverages research from the domains of Psychology and Learning sciences to develop ecologically accurate virtual environments for construction specific hazard recognition training. Karan has been at the Del. E. Webb School of 

     Karan Patil is working on his PhD in Construction Management in the Del E. Webb School of Construction. His work leverages research from the domains of Psychology and Learning sciences to develop ecologically accurate virtual environments for construction specific hazard recognition training. Karan has been at the Del. E. Webb School of construction since 2014 where he also received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Construction management. When not in the virtual worlds built with the research team, he can be found on the beautiful Arizona hiking trails. 


    Resume

    RITA KASSIS, MS

    KARAN PATIL, MS

    KARAN PATIL, MS

     Rita is currently pursuing her PhD in construction management in the Del E. Webb school of Construction. Rita has 8 years of experience in the industry both with construction companies and designs offices, which gave her the opportunity to be a graduate research assistant. Her research focuses on the behavior and perception of augmented 

     Rita is currently pursuing her PhD in construction management in the Del E. Webb school of Construction. Rita has 8 years of experience in the industry both with construction companies and designs offices, which gave her the opportunity to be a graduate research assistant. Her research focuses on the behavior and perception of augmented reality communication in the construction industry. She received her bachelor’s in architecture in 2013 from Notre Dame University – Lebanon.  Resume  

    ANDREW KLINE, MBA

    ANDREW KLINE, MBA

    ANDREW KLINE, MBA

     Andrew Kline is pursuing his PhD in Construction Management in the Del E. Webb School of Construction. He has been teaching at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo since 2017 in the Construction Management department. He has a wide range of construction experience and had the opportunity to work on several innovative and complex projects in Southern

     Andrew Kline is pursuing his PhD in Construction Management in the Del E. Webb School of Construction. He has been teaching at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo since 2017 in the Construction Management department. He has a wide range of construction experience and had the opportunity to work on several innovative and complex projects in Southern California and was part of project teams that built over 1100 multi-family units. In research, his areas of focus include how building efficiency can be improved utilizing future technology as well as how utilizing AR/VR technology can improve project scheduling in the classroom and the jobsite.  

    SARA ELGAMAL, MS

    ANDREW KLINE, MBA

    ANDREW KLINE, MBA

     Sara Elgamal is pursuing her Master’s in Construction Management in the Del E. Webb School of Construction at ASU. Her work leverages years of experience in the Construction Management & Technology industry from the domains of AI, ML, VR, and GIS. Her research focuses on assessing the influence of virtual reality in construction training

     Sara Elgamal is pursuing her Master’s in Construction Management in the Del E. Webb School of Construction at ASU. Her work leverages years of experience in the Construction Management & Technology industry from the domains of AI, ML, VR, and GIS. Her research focuses on assessing the influence of virtual reality in construction training and education along with evaluating the potential of virtual reality environments to accurately replicate the experience in the physical on-site environments. Sara received her bachelor of science and a minor in Business Administration with high honors from the American University in Cairo in 2020. 

    RESUME

    Our Alumni

    KIEREN MCCORD, PhD

    ARCHANA HARIKRISHNAN, MS

    KIEREN MCCORD, PhD

    Kieren McCord (fm. Kieren Smith) completed her PhD in Construction Management in the Del E. Webb School of Construction at ASU in 2022. Her research focused on the impact of augmented reality in construction education. She received her Bachelor of Music with minors in Physics and Mathematics from Brigham Young University in 2017. She rece

    Kieren McCord (fm. Kieren Smith) completed her PhD in Construction Management in the Del E. Webb School of Construction at ASU in 2022. Her research focused on the impact of augmented reality in construction education. She received her Bachelor of Music with minors in Physics and Mathematics from Brigham Young University in 2017. She received her Master of Science in Architectural Engineering in 2019 from the University of Nebraska--Lincoln.  


    Resume

    YIZHOU XIAO

    ARCHANA HARIKRISHNAN, MS

    KIEREN MCCORD, PhD

     Yizhou Xiao completed his bachelor's degree in Construction Engineering in the Del E. Webb School of Construction at ASU. His research focuses on the trend of the virtual reality technology used in assisting construction education and training. Yizhou was selected as the Spring 2022 Outstanding Graduate in his major.  

    ARCHANA HARIKRISHNAN, MS

    ARCHANA HARIKRISHNAN, MS

    ABDULLATIF SAID ABDALLAH, MS

     MS Construction Management

    Research focus: augmented reality for communication in the construction industry.

    ABDULLATIF SAID ABDALLAH, MS

    ABDULLATIF SAID ABDALLAH, MS

    ABDULLATIF SAID ABDALLAH, MS

      Research Focus:

    The use of augmented reality to facilitate effective and efficient communication in the construction industry. 

    AYAZ PALEKAR, MS

    ABDULLATIF SAID ABDALLAH, MS

    JAD CHALHOUB, PhD

      B. Eng Civil Engineering Mumbai University

    M.S. Construction Managment ASU 

    Research Focus:

    Alternative information handover methods in construction to enable better facility management and innovative technologies in the electrical industry.  

    JAD CHALHOUB, PhD

    ABDULLATIF SAID ABDALLAH, MS

    JAD CHALHOUB, PhD

     BS Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering

    PhD Construction Management

    Research Focus:

    Improving design communication and comprehension through marker-less based Mixed and Augmented Reality technologies.

    Resume

    RAHIMI A. RAHMAN, PhD

    SULEIMAN ALSAFOURI, PhD

    RAHIMI A. RAHMAN, PhD

    B.Eng Civil and Environmental Eng.

    M.Eng Civil and Environmental Eng.

    PhD Civil, Environmental & Sustainable Engineering

    Research Focus:

    The importance of Building Information Modeling (BIM) as a skill for project managers to better understand how emerging technologies influence project managers in the construction industry. 

    APARNA PERIKAMANA, MS

    SULEIMAN ALSAFOURI, PhD

    RAHIMI A. RAHMAN, PhD

    BS Civil Engineering

    MS Construction Management

    Research Focus:

    Assessed the impact of various process mapping activities in Building Information Modeling (BIM) education by developing a standalone document to evaluate BIM process maps which can be restructured to assess any business process map. 

    SULEIMAN ALSAFOURI, PhD

    SULEIMAN ALSAFOURI, PhD

    SULEIMAN ALSAFOURI, PhD

    BS Civil Engineering

    MS Construction Management

    PhD Civil, Environmental & Sustainable Engineering

    Research Focus:

    Mobile Mixed Reality visualization interface and human behaviors factors in design and constructability review sessions. 

    NISHANTH KATHULA, MS

    MICHAEL BEAUREGARD, PhD

    SULEIMAN ALSAFOURI, PhD

    MS Construction Management

    Research Interests:

    Architecture, Construction, DesignBuild and Project Management.

    Resume 

    IMAD A. KHALEK, MS

    MICHAEL BEAUREGARD, PhD

    MICHAEL BEAUREGARD, PhD

    BS Civil and Environmental Engineering MS Construction Management

    Research Focus:

    Impact of Mixed Reality technologies on designing for constructability.

    Resume

    MICHAEL BEAUREGARD, PhD

    MICHAEL BEAUREGARD, PhD

    MICHAEL BEAUREGARD, PhD

    BA  Architecture

    ME Construction Management 

    MBA Supply Chain

    PhD Construction Management

    Research Interests:

    Strategic sourcing, facility management, operations, and business development on regional, national and global initiatives.

    JUSTIN HARTLESS, BS

    JUSTIN HARTLESS, BS

    JUSTIN HARTLESS, BS

    BS Construction Management (Sustainability Minor)

    Research Focus:

    Mixed Reality (MR) and its application within the construction industry.  

    Resume

    JEFF WILSON, BS

    JUSTIN HARTLESS, BS

    JUSTIN HARTLESS, BS

    BS Construction Management  

    Research Focus:

    Development of new technologies to advance the field of construction. 

    Resume

    Current Opportunities For Students

    Research Opportunities

    Applications to work with the Emerging Technologies BIM Group at ASU are received on a rolling basis. If you are interested in joining the group as a student, please email Dr. Steven Ayer (sayer@asu.edu) with a resume and a writing sample. If you are interested in other forms of collaboration, please contact Dr. Ayer through the above email.

    SHAREABLE RESEARCH OUTPUTS

    AR Playhouse Simulator: Deploy Guide for HoloLens Application (pdf)

    Download

    AR Playhouse Simulator: Subject Testing Protocol for AR Design and Build Activity (pdf)

    Download

    AR Playhouse Simulator: Radar Plot Generator (AR Playhouse Eval) (xlsx)

    Download

    AR Playhouse Simulator: HRC Instrument (docx)

    Download

    Social

    Podcast (CONTECHXT)

    Description

    As supplemental material for the Construction Technologies course at ASU, this podcast discusses the intersection of technology and construction, from project planning to emerging technologies. The podcast is hosted by Dr. Steven Ayer and co-instructor and industry practitioner Chase Farnsworth, with appearances from TAs Karan Patil and Kieren McCord.

    Where to Listen

    Apple Podcasts

    Spotify

    Google Podcasts

    Podcast (ProfeSserror)

    Description

    Professors Steven K. Ayer and Bryan Franz co-host this podcast aimed at providing honest experiences about challenges, failures, and possibly a few success stories related to life in academia. 

    Where to Listen

    Apple Podcasts

    Spotify

    Google Podcasts

    Contact The Group

    Contact Us Directly

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    Email:

    sayer@asu.edu


    If you are interested in joining the group as a student, please email Dr. Steven Ayer with a resume and a writing sample. If you are interested in other forms of collaboration, please contact Dr. Ayer through the above email.  

    Emerging Technologies BIM Research Group

    660 S College Ave, CAVC Room 507, Tempe, AZ 85281, us

    (480) 727-4579

    Sponsoring organizations

    Participating organizations

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