Archives: Faculties

Shabboo Valipoor

Shabboo Valipoor

Department of Interior Design
Associate Professor
352-294-1451
AH 350
sh.valipoor@ufl.edu

Ph.D., Environmental Design, Texas Tech University, TX, 2016
M.A., Art and Design, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, 2012
B.A., Industrial Design, Art University of Tehran, Iran, 2002

Shabboo Valipoor, Ph.D., EDAC, is an associate professor of Interior Design at the College of Design, Construction and Planning. The focus of her research is on the impact of the built environment on human health and safety, particularly in the context of healthcare facilities and environments for aging and disabilities. She is currently working on projects that aim to (1) improve the quality of care in acute care settings by providing supportive environments for healthcare professionals and (2) minimize environmental risks to independent living for older adults with age-associated impairments. She has collaborated with scholars across disciplines on projects supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Science Foundation, Academy of Architecture for Health, and the American Society of Interior Designers. Her current teaching focuses on inclusive design in the built environment, healthcare design, and computer applications.

Shabboo Valipoor Read More »

Mark Russell

Mark Russell

M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management
Instructional Associate Professor
352-273-1172
RINKER 330
russ1307@ufl.edu

Ph.D., Design, Construction and Planning, University of Florida, 2011
M.S., Environmental Engineering, Old Dominion University, 1995
M.B.A., New Hampshire College, 1992
B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Central Florida, 1989

Download C.V.

Areas of Focus:
Sustainability (Sustainable Construction)
Evaluation of construction projects for sustainable principles. Use of Building Rating systems to evaluate construction projects. Performing Life Cycle Cost Analysis for decision making.

Bio:
Mark Russell joined the faculty of the ME Rinker Sr. School of Construction Management in August 2016.  As a scholar, engineer, and contractor, Dr. Russell investigates sustainable construction techniques and building rating systems.  His research focuses on effective ways to reduce building energy, water, and resources while promoting a healthy indoor environment.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Central Florida, Mark worked with the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps in a variety of construction related positions.  After earning an M.B.A. at New Hampshire College and a master’s degree in civil/Environmental Engineering from Old Dominion University, Mark retired from the U.S. Navy.  Next, he took a position with URS in Frankfort, Germany where he was responsible for design and construction projects on military bases throughout Europe.  Mark later earned his Ph.D. in Design, Construction, & Planning from the University of Florida.

Dr. Russell was the AGC Endowed Chair of Construction Management at the University of New Mexico from 2013 – 2016 and has taught courses in sustainability, civil engineering, and construction management for UF, UNM, and the University of Indonesia.   Mark Russell is also a founding partner of the consulting firm Wise Built, LLC, a building sustainability consulting firm that has worked on over 200 building projects throughout the US and in Europe.

Mark Russell Read More »

Rui Liu

Rui Liu

M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management
Associate Professor
352-273-1168
RINKER 321
liurui@ufl.edu

Ph.D., Design, Construction, and Planning, University of Florida
Master’s of Science, Information Systems and Operations Management, University of Florida
Master’s of Management, Construction Management, Tianjin University
Bachelor’s of Management, Project Management, Tianjin University
Bachelor’s of Science, Applied Mathematics, Tianjin University

Research Interest:

  • Building Information Modeling
  • Facility Management
  • BIM Software Development
  • GIS and BIM Integration
  • Construction Economics and Urbanization
  • Big Data and Cloud Computing
  • Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
  • Sensing and Indoor Localization
  • Smart Cities

Employer(S):

Assistant Professor, Department of Construction Science, College of Architecture, Construction and Planning, University of Texas at San Antonio

Certification:

  • CM-BIM
  • LEED AP BD+C
  • OSHA 30 Hour Outreach Training
  • Green Globe Professional (GGP)

Awards and Honors:

  • 2015 Best Paper Award, ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
  • Outstanding Presentation, The 1st International Shanghai “Global BIM” Summit, 2015
  • Best Paper Award (International), International Conference on Innovative Technologies in Construction 2014
  • Fiatech Student Scholarship
  • Rinker Alumni Fellowship
  • CEMEX Scholarship, twice
  • Rinker Material Scholarship
  • Outstanding Student, multiple times, Tianjin University

Memberships & Involvement:

  • Co-Chair: Alamo BIM Peer Group
  • Member, SOCIETY BETA GAMMA SIGMA
  • A.M.ASCE, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Construction Institute (CI)
  • Member, Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP)
  • Member, ASC (Associated Schools of Construction)
  • ASCE Construction Research Congress (CRC)
  • Associated Schools of Construction (ASC)
  • American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)

PUBLICATION EXAMPLES:

  • 3D visualization of sub-surface pipelines in connection with the building utilities: Integrating GIS and BIM for facility management
  • Cloud-based deep immersive game for human egress data collection: a framework
  • Introducing Building Information Modeling Course into a Newly Developed Construction Program with Various Student Backgrounds
  • Cloud-Based Interactive Probabilistic Simulation for AEC Industry

Published Papers:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=GycfidMAAAAJ& hl=en&oi=sra

Rui Liu Read More »

Aaron Costin

Aaron Costin

M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management
Associate Professor
352-273-2121
RINKER 324
aaron.costin@ufl.edu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-costin

Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2016, Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology M.S. Civil Engineering, 2013
Georgia Institute of Technology B.S. Civil Engineering, 2011

Areas of Focus:

Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Construction and Engineering; Internet of Things (IoT); Data Interoperability; Digital Twin (DT); Building Information Modeling (BIM); Digital Infrastructure

Affiliations:

  • Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment
  • University of Florida Transportation Institute (UFTI)
  • Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World
  • Artificial Intelligence Academic Initiative Center (AI2)

Bio:

Dr. Aaron Costin is an Associate Professor at the University of Florida’s M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management, and holds an affiliate appointment to the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment. His academic journey led him to earn a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Costin’s expertise lies in the nuanced integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM), Digital Twin (DT), Information Communication Technologies (ICT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance construction and infrastructure management. His research specifically focuses on leveraging AI to improve interoperability among diverse construction technologies and platforms, facilitating seamless data exchange and enhancing collaboration across the construction industry’s various sectors. This focus on AI and interoperability is central to Dr. Costin’s work, aiming to push the boundaries of how technology can be utilized to make construction processes more efficient, accurate, and sustainable.

Dr. Costin leads the Smart Construction Informatics (SCI) laboratory where they research emerging technologies and interoperability for the built environment. His research is at the intersection of construction management, civil engineering, and computer science, focusing on interoperability, wireless network systems, design computing, and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in construction. His work significantly impacts construction safety, productivity, and sustainability, leveraging emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data analytics. He has collaborated extensively with industry and academic partners globally, contributing to the advancement of smart cities and intelligent transportation systems.

A multidisciplinary researcher, Dr. Costin has received substantial external funding, including a notable grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop a cyberinfrastructure service for IoT-based construction research and applications. He is also a key investigator on three multimillion dollar national BIM for Bridges and Infrastructure projects. His projects aim to revolutionize construction and engineering practices by fostering a more connected, efficient, and safer industry.

An active member of the academic and professional community, Dr. Costin chairs and serves on multiple committees to advance emerging technology and interoperability and is involved in several international groups focused on developing standards for ontologies and linked data in the AEC industry. He is a pioneer in promoting BIM and Digital Twin for bridges and structures, leading efforts to create open data exchange standards, and serving as the chair for various national and international standardization initiatives.

Dr. Costin’s dedication to teaching and mentorship is evident in his dynamic and interactive approach, preparing students for real-world challenges by integrating research into education. He has been recognized for his contributions to the field with awards for both teaching and research excellence, including the University Scholars Program Faculty Mentor Award at the University of Florida.

Beyond his academic achievements, Dr. Costin is committed to student service, being the faculty advisor to Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity, CRU at UF, and the DCP entrepreneurship club. He also advises and mentors dozens of undergraduate researchers from various disciplines across UF.

Aaron Costin Read More »

Chimay Anumba

Chimay Anumba

College of Design, Construction and Planning
Dean and Professor
(352) 294-1405
AH 331A
anumba@ufl.edu

B.Sc. Building (1st Class Honours), University of Jos, Nigeria
Ph.D. Civil Engineering, The University of Leeds, UK
D.Sc. (Higher Doctorate), Loughborough University, UK

Download C.V.

Areas of Focus:
Sustainability (Building Energy, Built Environment Resilience, Smart Buildings/Cities, Sustainable Construction)

Bio:

Dean Chimay Anumba graduated at 18 with a First Class Honours degree in Building and worked as a Project Engineer and Design Engineer before studying for his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (specializing in Computer-Aided Design) at the University of Leeds, UK. He then worked in industry on a wide range of building and civil infrastructure projects, becoming a Chartered/Professional Engineer in 1993. This was followed by academic appointments at a number of UK academic institutions. More recently, he was Professor and Head, Department of Architectural Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University from January 2008 to July 2016.

Dr. Anumba’s research interests are in the fields of construction engineering and management, advanced engineering informatics (AI, CPS, KBS, etc.), concurrent engineering, knowledge management, distributed collaboration, high performance buildings, and sustainable construction. He has over 500 scientific publications, including 21 books and over 200 archival journal papers, in these fields. His work has received over $150m in support from various sources – the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Institutes for Health (NIH), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, UK), and a variety of international agencies. He has also supervised 56 doctoral candidates to completion, mentored over 25 postdoctoral scholars, and advised numerous masters’ students.

He has won several awards for his work and has held Visiting Professor/Scholar appointments at more than 10 universities in N. America, Europe, Asia and Africa – including MIT, Stanford and Tsinghua. In recognition of his substantial and sustained original contributions to the field of Construction Engineering and Informatics, Dr. Anumba was awarded the higher doctorate degree of Doctor of Science, D.Sc., by Loughborough University in July 2006. In January 2007, he was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Dr.h.c.) by Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands for outstanding scientific contributions to Building and Construction Engineering. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (the United Kingdom’s National Academy of Engineering) in July 2012. He also holds Fellowships of the following professional institutions: The Institution of Civil Engineers, The Institution of Structural Engineers, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is the recipient of the 2018 ASCE Computing in Civil Engineering Award and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Construction.

Dr. Anumba is also Editor-in-Chief of the Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management journal, Co-Editor of the Journal of Information Technology in Construction, and Specialty Editor of the ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering. He sits on the editorial boards of numerous other journals.

Dr. Anumba joined the University of Florida on August 1, 2016 as Dean of the College of Design, Construction and Planning.

Chimay Anumba Read More »

Bahar Armaghani

Bahar Armaghani

Sustainability and the Built Environment
Director and Instructional Associate Professor; Director, UF Green Building Learning Collaborative (GBLC)
352-294-1428
RINKER 322
barmagh@ufl.edu

M.S. in Civil Engineering and B.S. in Environmental Engineering

Bahar Armaghani is the Director of the Sustainability and the Built Environment (SBE) Program and Lecturer at the College of Design, Construction and Planning (DCP) at the University of Florida (UF).  She is also the Director of UF Green Building Learning Collaborative (GBLC). She developed and teaches courses on energy, greening the build environment, and Leadership. In 2014 she established and teaches LEED Lab at University of Florida bridging the gap between education and operation arms of the university utilizing university as a laboratory for hands-on learning focusing on the skills needed in the green building industry.  LEED Lab students delivered LEED V4.1 EB: O+M Gold certification for on campus building, the first certified building by students in Florida and the eleventh internationally. Bahar established UF’s Green Building Program, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and served as director for thirteen years. She has managed and administered over 135 LEED BD+C, ID+C, Schools, Retail, and Homes Projects at UF and outside including 13 LEED Platinum certified buildings and first platinum project in the state of Florida. Under her leadership, UF was one of the leading universities in building green. Her role in administering university’s LEED projects saved the university over $6 million since the LEED program establishment. In addition, Bahar served as an Assistant Director and major Project Manager at University of Florida’s Planning, Design and Construction Division for over a decade completing over 35 projects with a total budget of $350 million. She also, initiated and directed UF’s rebate and 179D programs generating additional funding to the university. Bahar is one the first three LEED Fellows in the state of Florida. She has been active with U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) locally, nationally and internationally. She served as USGBC LEED Faculty for over a decade, established USGBC Heart of Florida Chapter and served as president for four years, and served on the board of directors for USGBC Central Florida chapter and USGBC Florida and the Caribbean Region. She also served on task forces for LEED Advisory Committee, Education and Events committee, a subject matter expert, and a Pro- Reviewer for USGBC education courses. Currently, Bahar is serving on FL USGBC Market Leadership Advisory Board, ACG Certification Council, Chamber of Commerce International Council board, and director of Sister City program Gainesville/ Duhok. Bahar has served as an international advisor, and introduced green buildings and LEED rating system to the public and private sectors in Jordan, Republic of Georgia, and Iraq (Kurdistan). She has delivered green building design, construction, and operation workshops in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sweden, and Singapore. She played a leading role in establishing the Jordan Green Building Council. Most recently, she established Kurdistan Green Building Interest group. She presents in International and National conferences Bahar is a University of Florida graduate with a MS in Civil Engineering and BS in Environmental Engineering.

Bahar Armaghani Read More »

Russell C. Walters

Russell C. Walters

M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management
William G. and Aneice R. Lassiter Instructional Assistant Professor
352-273-1173
RINKER 328
rwalters@ufl.edu

BS Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois, 1987
MS Electrical Engineering, University of Florida, 1988
Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Florida, 1993

Special Fields: Construction Information Technology, Alternative Energy Systems, Construction Contract Administration, Emerging Issues in Construction Management

Employers: Assistant Professor, Iowa State University; Project Manager, J.M. Walters & Son

Member: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Transportation Research Board (TRB)

Russell C. Walters Read More »

Ravi Srinivasan

Ravi Srinivasan

College of Design, Construction and Planning, M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management
Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives, Professor
352-294-1406
AH 331C
sravi@ufl.edu
https://urbsys.org/

Ph.D. in Architecture (Building Technology), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
MS in Architecture (Building Technology), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
MS in Civil Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Download C.V.

Areas of Focus:
Sustainability (Building Energy, Building Materials, Built Environment Resilience, Renewable Energy, Smart Buildings/Cities, Sustainable Architecture and Design, Sustainable Construction,, Sustainable Technology)
Developing dynamic sustainability information modeling (dSIM) platform; more info is available here: https://built-ecologist.com/2019/05/11/dynamic-sustainability-information-modeling-d-sim-for-smart-cities/

Bio:

Dr. Ravi Shankar Srinivasan, Rinker School Full Professor hold a M.S. degree in Civil Engineering from University of Florida; and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Architecture (Building Technology) from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), LEED Accredited Professional, Green Globes Professional (GGP), Certified U.S. Institute of Building Documentation (USIBD) Level of Accuracy v3.0., and FAA Certified Remote (Drone) Pilot. He is the Director of UrbSys (Urban Building Energy, Sensing, Controls, Big Data Analysis, and Visualization) Lab at the Rinker School, DCP. He is an external faculty collaborator with the Center for Environmental Building & Design at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design; and a faculty collaborator with UF Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases.

Dr. Srinivasan has served as PI and Co-PI on projects funded by external sponsored agencies including National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Veteran Affairs (VA), National Research Council (NRC) of Canada, Diakin Open Innovation Lab in the Silicon Valley, Nesta Enterprises UK, and other private companies. He has published one book as a lead author titled, “The Hierarchy of Energy in Architecture: Emergy Analysis,” Routledge and co-edited a book titled, “Smart Cities: Foundations, Principles, and Applications,” John Wiley & Sons. His research has been disseminated as high-quality technical articles that have gained several citations, Google Scholar. He holds eight patents issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Dr. Srinivasan has advised undergraduate honors theses, chaired ten masters’ theses and seven Ph.D. dissertations. His Ph.D. students were successfully employed in the industry including NVIDIA and academia. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including Building Energy Modeling. Currently, he serves on the board of directors at the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) and chairs the handbook subcommittee (Technical Committee 4.5) for the American Society for Heating, Refrigeration and Air conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Handbook of Fundamentals.

 

Ravi Srinivasan Read More »

Larry C. Muszynski

Larry C. Muszynski

M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management
Holland Associate Professor
352-273-1160
RINKER 327
larrym@ufl.edu

Ph. D., Civil Engineering, Purdue University, 1978
MS, Purdue University, 1973
BS in Chemistry, Purdue University, 1972

Larry C. Muszynski is an Associate Professor in the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction. Management. He received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Purdue University in 1978. Since his time as a tenure-track assistant professor and tenured associate professor in M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management, his teaching duties over the last 24 years have been in the area of the “structures” group.  These classes consist of construction materials; mechanics; concrete construction and formwork; and soils and foundations. He has revised the BCN 1210, Construction Materials class to focus on the materials of construction such as soils, concrete, asphalt, timber, masonry, steel and sustainable practices for each of these materials.  This past semester he has developed a new class called ‘The Building Envelope’ that evolved from the previous ‘Roofing Class’ that covers the all of the elements of a building envelope that are exposed to the outside environment.

He has been teaching BCN 3223, the Soils and Concrete Construction class that requires students to work in groups during seven different laboratory exercises and manages a Ph.D. student as the laboratory supervisor. He works with the American Concrete Institute, the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Concrete Products Association to make the laboratory exercises relevant to the real world of construction. His areas of research include: cement and concrete material properties, utilizing waste materials in blended cements, chemical and mineral admixtures, sustainable concrete, and corrosion of steel in concrete.

He has been an effective advisor and mentor to both undergraduate and graduate BCN students. He encourages and helps students procure internships and permanent jobs with organizations that he has had contact with and helps students determine what they want to do in life and instruct them on how they might get there.

Larry C. Muszynski Read More »

Masoud Gheisari

Masoud Gheisari

M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management
Director of Graduate Programs and Research, Associate Professor
352-273-1166
RINKER 304B
masoud@ufl.edu
https://hctclab.dcp.ufl.edu/

Ph.D. in Building Construction, Georgia Tech

Download C.V.

Research Interests: Aerial and ground robots, AI integration in construction work and education, technology-supported education innovation, VR/AR/MR, human-robot interaction, safety

Biography: Dr. Masoud Gheisari is the Director of Graduate Programs & Research and an Associate Professor in the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management at the University of Florida. He leads the Human-Centered Technology in Construction (HCTC) research lab: https://hctclab.dcp.ufl.edu/. His research focuses on the theoretical and experimental investigation of human-robot interaction in construction and technology-supported education innovation. He earned his Ph.D. in Building Construction (2013) from the Georgia Institute of Technology. To date, he has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed papers in the fields of virtual/augmented/mixed reality (VR/AR/MR) and safe human-drone/robot interaction in construction.

His work has received support worth over $3m in grants from external funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Labor, NIOSH’s Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), and ELECTRI International. Dr. Gheisari’s contributions to research and teaching have earned him numerous awards, including the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) International Outstanding Researcher Award (2021), ENR Southeast’s Top Young Professional (2020), Russell J. Alessi ELECTRI International Early Career Award (2018), and ASCE ExCEEd Fellowship (2015), among others. He is also an Associate Editor for ASCE’s Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering and serves as the Secretary of the Education Committee within the ASCE Computing Division.

Externally Funded Research Projects:

  • Go to Dr. Gheisari’s funding page

Publications:

Future Students: Strongly motivated students are always invited to join HCTC Lab. Please email Dr. Gheisari at masoud@ufl.edu with a current CV and a statement of research interest.

Further information about our ongoing research is available on our research lab website: Human-Centered Technology in Construction (HCTC) Lab

Masoud Gheisari Read More »

GIVE
GIVE

Start typing and press enter to search

Scroll to Top