Automation and Intelligent Construction (AutoIC) Lab​

The AutoIC Lab develops and leverages advanced technologies to support construction engineering and management, construction automation, and sustainable infrastructure, including building information modeling (BIM), natural language processing (NLP), artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and Construction Robotics.

Director/Founder:

Dr. Jiansong Zhang, Ph.D., zhan3062@purdue.edu

Associate Professor of Construction Management Technology

Research Assistant:

Oscar Wong Chong, Ph.D. Student, owongcho@purdue.edu

Xiaorui Xue, Ph.D. Student, xue39@purdue.edu

Candice Sexton, Ph.D. Student, sexton21@purdue.edu

Hang Li, Ph.D. Student, li4016@purdue.edu

Fan Yang, Ph.D. Student, yang2051@purdue.edu

Fan (Aria) Yang, Ph.D. Student, yang2352@purdue.edu

Hosam Hegazy, Visiting Scholar, hegazyh@purdue.edu

Sankhya Gowda, Undergraduate Student

Lilianne Nalukea Drexler ​Brush, Undergraduate Student

Former Members (Undergraduate - U, Graduate Master - GM, Graduate Ph.D. - GP, PostDoc - P, Visiting Scholar - V):

(2021-U) Noah Reardon​ 

(2021-U) Christopher Mark Lacny (Purdue University - Ph.D. Student)

(2021-GP) Ran Ren, Ph.D. (United Integrated Services Co., Ltd - BIM Manager)

(2021-GP) Jin Wu, Ph.D. (Google LLC - Software Engineer)

(2021-GP & P) Temitope Akanbi, Ph.D. (The University of Toledo - Assistant Professor)

(2021-V) Lingyan Cao, Ph.D. (SHDC - Senior Research Scientist)

(2020-V) Rui He, Ph.D. (Chang'an University - Assistant Professor)

(2019-P) Yuting Chen, Ph.D. (The University of North Carolina at Charlotte - Assistant Professor)

(2019-V) Vincent Gan, Ph.D. (National University of Singapore - Assistant Professor)

(2019-V) Kaiqin Yu, Ph.D. (Shanghai Urban Construction Vocational College - Associate Professor)

(2016-V) Yantao Yu, Ph.D. (Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Assistant Professor)

Photo: AutoIC Lab Kicking Start Fall 2024 Semester

List of Publications

Ph.D. Openings:
Spring & Fall 2025

PostDoc Openings:

Fall 2022

Patents:

Zhang, J. (2021). Methods of Processing Three Dimensional Models. Patent Number: 11107274. Date of Patent: Aug 31, 2021. Current U.S. Class: Modeling By Mathematical Expression (703/2) International Classification: G06T 19/20 (20110101); G06T 17/05 (20110101); G06T 7/70 (20170101); G06T 17/30 (20060101).

Zhang, J., Lacny, C., and Reardon, N. (2023). Autonomous Robotic System for Placing and Fastening Paneling Material for Building Construction Operations. Patent Number: 11745356. Date of Patent: Sep 5, 2023. Current U.S. Class: Apparatus for Moving Material to a Position in the Erection or Repair of a Building (414/11) International Classification: B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B25J 11/00 (2006.01); B25J 15/00 (2006.01); B25J 15/06 (2006.01); B25J 13/08 (2006.01); B25J 9/12 (2006.01).

Ph.D. Dissertations:

Li, H. (2024). "Improving BIM Interoperability for Buildings and Civil Infrastructures Using Invariant Signatures of AEC Objects." Ph.D. Dissertation, December, 2024, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Wong Chong, O. (2022). "IFC-Based System and Methods to Support Analysis of Robot-Assisted Offsite Construction." Ph.D. Dissertation, December, 2022, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Xue, X. (2022). "Natural Language Processing-Based Automated Information Extraction From Building Codes to Support Automated Compliance Checking." Ph.D. Dissertation, August, 2022, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Ren, R. (2021). "Heterogeneous Data Processing to Support Data Interoperability and Management in the AEC Domain." Ph.D. Dissertation, October, 2021, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Wu, J. (2021). "Invariant Signatures for Supporting BIM Interoperability." Ph.D. Dissertation, July, 2021, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Akanbi, T. (2021). "IFC-Based Systems and Methods to Support Construction Cost Estimation." Ph.D. Dissertation, May, 2021, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Datasets:

Xue, X., Zhang, J. (2019). Part-of-Speech Tagged Building Codes (PTBC). Purdue University Research Repository. doi:10.4231/Y0ZQ-4946

Wu, J., Zhang, J. (2019). Building Information Modelling (BIM) data repository with labels. Purdue University Research Repository. doi:10.4231/60V2-PJ72

Wu, J., Zhang, J. (2021). Invariant Signatures of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Objects in Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)-based Building Information Modeling. Purdue University Research Repository. doi:10.4231/7VW7-0129

Xue, X., Zhang, J. (2021). Logic clause representation of building codes dataset. Purdue University Research Repository. doi: 10.4231/XPJS-0G48

Yang, F., Zhang, J. (2023). Inferred information (distance information) repository of Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)-based Building Information Modeling (BIM). Purdue University Research Repository. doi:10.4231/V1ZH-ST79

Funded Research Projects:

 National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps: Translation Potential of Automated Analysis of Construction Contracts for Risk Identification Using National Language Processing and Deep Learning, Principal Investigator 

National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps: Interoperable Building Information Modeling and Construction of Robotic Systems for Building Construction Automation, Principal Investigator 

National Science Foundation (NSF) PFI-RP: Automating Building Code Compliance Checking and Modular Construction Through Interoperable Building Information Modeling Technology, Principal Investigator 

National Science Foundation (NSF) EAGER/Collaborative Research: Science-Based Exploration of Invariant Signatures of Architecture/Engineering/Construction Objects to Enable Interoperability of Building Information Modeling, Principal Investigator 

Project Website: https://polytechnic.purdue.edu/autoic-lab/nsf-eager/collaborative-researchscience-based-exploration-of-invariant-signatures-of

National Science Foundation (NSF) Enabling Next-Generation HyFlex Field Laboratories through an Innovative Leaner-In-The-Loop Multi-Robot System, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Jin Wei-Kocsis)

National Science Foundation (NSF) Rapid User-centered Design and Optimization of Lab Facilities (RUDOLF) for STEM Inclusion, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Bradley Duerstock)

National Science Foundation (NSF) FW-HTF-P: Interactive Multi-Human Multi-Remote-Robot Operations for the Future of Construction Work, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Jin Wei-Kocsis)

National Science Foundation (NSF) EAGER: SAI: Human-Centered Design and Enhancement of Next Generation Transportation Infrastructure with Connected and Automated Vehicles, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Robert Proctor)

Project Website: https://polytechnic.purdue.edu/autoic-lab/eager-sai-human-centered-design-and-enhancement-of-next-generation-transportation

National Science Foundation (NSF) Convergence Accelerator Phase I (RAISE): Civil Infrastructure Systems Open Knowledge Network (CIS-OKN), Senior Personnel (Principal Investigator Dr. Nora El-Gohary)​

Project Website: https://publish.illinois.edu/cis-okn-home/research-team/

   US Department of Transportatio: Transportation Infrastructure Precast Innovation Center (TRANS-IPIC), Co-Principal Investigator (Lead Principal Investigator Dr. Bassem Andrawes; Site Principal Investigator Dr. Jan Olek)

 Indiana Department of Transportation Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) SPR-4622: Integration of BIM for Bridge Modeling, Principal Investigator 

 Indiana Department of Transportation Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) SPR-4927: Bridge Data Virtual Validator, Principal Investigator 

 Indiana Department of Transportation Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) SPR-4625: BIM Standards for Roads and Related Transportation Assets, Principal Investigator 

Indiana Department of Transportation Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) SPR-4836: Best Practices for Implementing Driving Simulators in INDOT Driver Training, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Soowon Chang)

Indiana Department of Transportation Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) SPR-4920: Three-dimensional Visibility and Legibility Zone and Human Information Processing of Arrow Boards on Truck-Mounted Attenuator (TMA) Trucks, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Yunfeng Chen)

Indiana Department of Transportation Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) SPR-4838: Automated Personalized Ergonomic Risk Report Generation System, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Yunfeng Chen)

Indiana Department of Transportation Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) SPR-4523: Applied Ergonomics, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Yunfeng Chen)

INDOT JTRP SPR-4651: Synthesis Study on Employing Snow Plow Driving Simulators in Training, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Luciana Debs)

Indiana Department of Transportation Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) SPR-4630: Implementation Exploration of Autonomous Vehicles: Impacts of Autonomous Truck-Mounted Attenuator (ATMA) on INDOT Work Zone Safety, Mobility, and Crews’ Perception/Behavior/Productivity, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Yunfeng Chen)

INDOT JTRP SPR-4628: Exploration of Color Patterns for Improving Work Zone Safety and Perception, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Yunfeng Chen)

 Purdue Research Foundation Summer Faculty Grant: Semi-Automated Information Extraction from Heterogenous Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Textual Data and Mapping the Extracted Information with Building Information Models, Principal Investigator

Purdue Research Foundation Research Grant: Interoperable Building Information Modeling Information Completeness Checking, Principal Investigator

Indiana Department of Transportation Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) SPR-4421: Life Cycle Integration of Infrastructure Information Modeling, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Yunfeng Chen)

Acquisition of a Research Robot Consisting of a Robot Manipulator and a Mobile Base, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Yi Jiang)

Developing Robots to Support Automated Construction of Buildings, Principal Investigator
Robotics Systems for Autonomous Construction, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Byung-Cheol Min)
Preliminary Study of Police Officers’ Performance Measurements, Principal Investigator

Paths to ADA-Compliance: The Performance and Cost Efficiency of Measurement Technologies that Support ADA-Mandated, Self-Evaluations of Pedestrian Rights of Way, Transportation Research Center for Livable Communities, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Jun-Seok Oh)

Enhancing Non-Motorized Mobility Within Construction Zones, Transportation Research Center for Livable Communities, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Upul Attanayake)

A Holistic Framework to Support Compliance Checking in the Construction Domain, Georgeau Construction Research Center, Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator Dr. Wuwei Shen)

Research Outcome Video Snapshots:

Semantic Natural Language Processing (NLP)-based Automated Building Code Compliance Checking (SNACC) System Prototype

Crane Simulation

Construction Automation - Patented End Effector

Game Visualization of AEC Object Formation in BIM -  Cone Frustum Shape

Visualizing the Constructability of a Steel Structure Using Building Information Modeling and Game Simulation

Automated Convertion of 2D PDF Drawings to 3D BIM

Contact:

Dr. Jiansong Zhang

zhan3062@purdue.edu

(765) 494-1574

https://polytechnic.purdue.edu/profile/zhan3062