Mani Golparvar-Fard

Mani Golparvar-Fard

Mani Golparvar-Fard, Ph.D.

Professor and Faculty Entrepreneurial Fellow (FEF)

Co-Lead, Center for AI in the built Environment
Director, Engineering Faculty Leadership Forum
Director of the Real-time and Automated Monitoring and Control (Raamac) Lab
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department of Computer Science
Technology Entrepreneurship Program
Computational Science and Engineering Program
Illinois Informatics Institute

E-mail: mgolpar [at] illinois [dot] *crawl* edu
ADDRESS: 3129D, Newmark Civil Eng. Lab., 205 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801

Short Bio

Dr. Mani Golparvar is a Professor of Civil Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He co-leads the Center for AI in the Built Environment, a university-industry initiative engaging more than 85 architecture, engineering, construction, operations (AEC/O), construction technology, and investment organizations. His research focuses on advancing computer vision, machine learning, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and, more recently, Vision-Language Models (VLMs) and Vision-Language-Action Models (VLAs) for planning, monitoring, controlling, operating, and inspecting the built environment.

With more than 28 years of experience spanning academia, the construction industry, and technology and product development, Dr. Golparvar has built a research program at the intersection of artificial intelligence and the built environment. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in construction engineering and management, computer vision, and BIM, and has been repeatedly named to the University of Illinois “List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students.” He has led and collaborated on numerous research projects supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), and other public- and private-sector organizations.

His research has resulted in more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, including papers in leading computer vision venues such as CVPR and ICCV, and more than 17 patents. A defining aspect of his work has been translating fundamental research into technologies with real-world impact. He is the CSO and co-founder of Reconstruct, an AI-powered platform for the built environment that emerged from his research and has attracted more than $31 million in venture capital funding. Technologies resulting from his research, including PARWORKS and Reconstruct, have been deployed on projects around the world.

Dr. Golparvar’s contributions to computer vision, artificial intelligence, and construction engineering have received numerous national and international recognitions, including the 2018 Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), ENR’s 2017 National Top 20 Under 40, the 2016 Daniel W. Halpin Award for Scholarship in Construction, the 2013 ASCE J. James R. Croes Medal, the 2013 and 2010 FIATECH CETI Awards, and more than ten best journal and conference paper awards from ASCE and Wiley.

Dr. Golparvar has also held significant leadership roles within the construction engineering research community, including serving as Chair of the ASCE Construction Research Council, a leading national forum for construction engineering and management research. He has provided testimony to the United States Congress on the role of robotics in the construction, management, and operation of infrastructure assets and has delivered keynote addresses at major academic and industry conferences around the world.

He has served in editorial and leadership roles for leading journals in construction engineering, computing, and the built environment, including the ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, ASCE OPEN: Multidisciplinary Journal of Civil Engineering and Elsevier Journal of Automation in Construction.

 

Education/Appointments

 

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

  • 2010: Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL

  • 2010: M.Cs. in Computer Science, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL

  • 2006: M.A.Sc. in Civil Eng., Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

  • 2005: M.Sc. in Civil Engineering, Iran Univ. of Sci & Tech, Tehran, Iran

  • 2002: B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, Iran Univ. of Sci & Tech, Tehran, Iran


ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

  • Associate Professor, Faculty Entrepreneurial Fellow, and Faculty Excellence Fellow, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2016-present

  • Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Computer Science, 2016-present

  • Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Technology Entrepreneurship Program, 2017-present

  • Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2013-present

  • Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Computer Science, 2013-present

  • Faculty Affiliate, Illinois Informatics Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2013-present

  • Faculty Affiliate, Computational Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2013-present

  • Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech, Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Myers-Lawson SChool of Construction, 2010-2012

  • Research Assistant, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2006-2010

  • Mentoring Civil, Mechanical and Architecture Undergraduate Students, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Civil and Environmental Eng, 2006-2009

  • Research Assistant, University of British Columbia, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2005-2006

  • Assisting Teaching Assistant, University of British Columbia, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2005-2006

  • Research Assistant, Iran University of Science and Technology, Structures and Hysrostructures Center, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2003-2005

  • Teaching Assistant, Iran University of Science and Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2003-2004

  • Instructor and Tutor, Linear Algebra, Analytical Geometry and Calculus, 1999-2005

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • Co-Founder and CTO, Reconstruct Inc., Champaign, IL, Chicago, IL and Menlo Park, CA, 2018

  • Co-Founder and CEO, Reconstruct Inc., Champaign, IL, 2016-2018

  • Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), CloudPoint Labs., Boston, MA, 2014-2018

  • Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Precision Augmented Reality Works (Parworks) Inc., Boston, MA, 2012-2014

  • Co-Founder and President, Vision Construction Monitoring LLC, Blacksburg, VA, Oct 2011-2014

  • Project Engineer/ PhD Intern, Turner Construction Company, Chicago, IL, 2008-2010

  • Project Engineer, Tarahan Darya Sahel and Talan-Sazeh Design and Construction Co., Tehran, Iran, 2003-2005

  • Junior Design Engineer, Tehran-Berkeley Managers and Consulting Engineers, Tehran, Iran, 2001-2002

  • Project Monitoring and Control Intern, Joint Venture of Perlit Construction Co. & Tehran-Berkeley Managers and Consulting Engineers, Tehran, Iran, 1999

Honors and Awards

 

Research

  • 2018, Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

  • 2018, Outstanding Reviewer, ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering

  • 2018, Best Journal Paper Award, Wiley Journal of Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering

  • 2018, Hojjat Adeli Award for Innovation in Computing, Wiley-Blackwell

  • 2017, National Top 20 Under 40 list, Engineering News Record (ENR)

  • 2017, Top Young Professional, Engineering News Record (ENR) Midwest

  • 2017, World Economics Forum (WEF)'s Future of Construction Ideas

  • 2016, Campus Distinguished Promotion Award, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • 2016, Daniel H. Halpin Scholarship Award in Construction, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

  • 2016, Outstanding Reviewer, ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering

  • 2016, Excellence Faculty Fellowship, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • 2016, Dean's Award for Excellence in Research, College of Engineering, University of Illinois

  • 2015, Best Paper Award, International Conference on Construction Engineering and Project Management

  • 2015, Best Data Sensing and Analysis Conference Paper Award, ASCE International Workshop on Computing in Civil Engineering

  • 2014, FIATECH CETI Award, Outstanding Early Career Researcher

  • 2014, Best Conference Paper Award (Second Place), Construction Research Congress

  • 2014, Two Second-Place and One Third-Place Best Poster Awards, Construction Research Congress

  • 2013, Best Conference Paper Award, Data Sensing and Analysis, ASCE International Workshop on Computing in Civil Engineering

  • 2013, James R. Croes Medal, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

  • 2013, Faculty Fellowship (2), National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)

  • 2013, Faculty Fellowship (1), National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)

  • 2012, Best Journal Paper Award, ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management

  • 2012, Best Conference Paper Award, 12th International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality

  • 2012, First-Place Best Poster Award, Construction Research Congress, ASCE

  • 2011, Paul E. Torgersen Research Excellence Award, Virginia Tech

  • 2010, Best Poster Award, Construction Industry Institute Annual Conference

  • 2010, Nova CM Innovation Award Nominee, Construction Innovation Forum

  • 2010, Best Student Paper Award, 10th International Conference on Innovation in AEC

  • 2010, FIATECH CETI Award, Outstanding Student Researcher

  • 2010, FIATECH Scholarship

  • 2009, First-Place Poster Award, Construction Research Congress

  • 2009, Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Scholarship

  • 2009, Intel Scholars Research Program Scholarship

  • 2008, William E. ONeil Pre-Doctoral Fellowship

  • 2008, Shell Scholars Research Program Scholarship

  • 2008, University of Illinois Innovation Tournament Award

  • 2006, Faculty of Graduate Studies Travel Award, University of British Columbia

  • 2006, Institute of Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems Travel Award, University of British Columbia

  • 2005, International Student Scholarship Award, University of British Columbia

Entrepreneurship

  • 2017 World Economics Forum (WEF)'s Future of Construction Ideas

  • 2016, Entrepreneurial Excellence: New Venture Award, The Champaign County Economic Development Corporation

  • 2016, Cozad New Venture Competition Winner, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • 2015, Faculty Entrepreneurship Fellowship (FEF), College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • 2013, Design and Eng. Awards Honoree in the Software & Mobile Apps product category, 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

  • 2013, Finalist for SXSW2013 Trade Show "Accelerator Award"

  • 2013, Finalist for SXSW2013 Trade Show "Interactive Award"

Editorship/Committees

 

Editorship

  • Guest Editor, Elsevier Journal of Automation in Construction, Special issue on IoT for Smart Infrastructure, 2017.

  • Associate Editor, Elsevier Journal of Automation in Construction, 2015-present

  • Editorial Review Board Member, Emerald Journal of Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 2015-present.

  • Guest Editor, IEEE Proceedings, 102(2), Special Issue on Applications of Augmented Reality, 2014.

  • Associate Editor, ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 2012-present

  • Assistant Specialty Editor, ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 2012-present

  • Member of the Editorial Board, Elsevier Journal of Automation in Construction, 2013-present

  • Member of the Editorial Board, IPMA Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management, 2011-present

Conferences Organized/Chaired

  • International Committee Member, The 8th International Conference on Innovative Production and Construction (IPC 2019), 4-7 December 2019 in Hong Kong

  • Technical Committee Member, 2019 Winter Simulation Conference "Project Management and Construction Track", National Harbor, Maryland.

  • Technical Committee Member, 2019 26TH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON INTELLIGENT COMPUTING IN ENGINEERING, Leuven, Belgium.

  • Technical Committee Member, 2019 CIB W78 – Information Technology for Construction, Chicago, IL.

  • Technical Committee Member, 2018 ASCE Construction Research Congress, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Technical Committee Member, 25th International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering, June 10th - June 13th 2018, Lausanne Switzerland.

  • Technical Committee Member, Second European and Mediterranean Structural Engineering and Construction Conference, July 23-28, 2018, in Beirut, Lebanon

  • Technical Committee Member, 2017 International Conference on Civil and Building Engineering Informatics (ICCBEI 2017), Taipei, Taiwan.

  • Technical Committee Member, 2017 ASCE International Workshop on Computing in Civil Engineering, Seattle, WA.

  • Technical Committee Member, 2017 Canadian Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE) Construction Specialty Conference, Vancouver, BC

  • Technical Committee Member, 16th International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality, 11-13 December 2016, Hong Kong

  • Technical Committee Member, 2016 ASCE Construction Research Congress, San Juan, Porte Rico, 2016.

  • Scientific Committee Member, 2015 International Conference on Innovative Production and Construction (IPC 2015), Jul 28-31, 2015.

  • Technical Committee Member, International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality in Construction (CONVR), Banff, AB, Oct 7-9, 2015.

  • Technical Committee Member and Track Chair, 2015 International Working on Computing in Civil Engineering, Austin, TX , Jun 23-25, 2015.

  • International Scientific Committee Member, 30th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC), 15-18 Jun 2015, Oulu, Finland. 2015.

  • Technical Committee Member, the CSCE International Construction Specialty Conference (ICSC15), Vancouver, BC, June 7 - 10, 2015.

  • Technical Committee Member, the 6th International Conference on Construction Engineering and Project Management, Buson, Korea, Oct 11-15, 2015.

  • Technical Committee Member, 2014 ASCE Construction Research Congress, Atlanta, GA, May 19-21, 2014.

  • Technical Committee Member, 2014 ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering, June 2014.

  • Technical Committee Member, First Int Conference on Infrastructure Management, Assessment and Rehabilitation Techniques, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, March 4-6, 2014.

  • Technical Committee Member, 13th International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality (CONVR 2013), London, England, Oct 30-31, 2013.

  • Technical Committee Member, 1st International Conference on Civil and Building Engineering Informatics (ICCEBEI2013), Tokyo, Japan, Nov 7-8, 2013.

  • Session Chair for Sensing/Sensor; 30th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, 11-15 August 2013, Montreal, Canada. 2013

  • Session Chair for Remote Sensing/ Integrated Smart Systems Technologies; 30th Int Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, Montreal, Canada. 2013

  • Session Chair for IT Applications in Construction & Mining; 30th Int Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, 11-15 August 2013, Montreal, Canada. 2013

  • Technical Committee Member, 30th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, 11-15 August 2013, Montreal, Canada. 2013

  • Session Chair; ASCE International Workshop on Computing in Civil Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, 26-29 June 2013. 2013

  • Technical Committee Member, ASCE International Workshop on Computing in Civil Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, 26-29 June 2013. 2013

  • Technical Committee Member, the Fifth International Conference on Construction Engineering and Project Management (ICCEPM-2013), Jan9-11, 2013. 2013

  • Chair, 2012 Construction Research Congress Poster Session Committee, Technical Council on Computing and Information Technology), ASCE, 2012

  • Session Chair; 12th International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality (CONVR 2012), Taipei, Taiwan, Nov 1-2, 2012.

  • Technical Committee Member, 12th International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality (CONVR 2012), Taipei, Taiwan, Nov 1-2, 2012.

  • International Scientific Committee Member, CiB (Computer Knowledge Building) W78 2012 Conference, Beirut, Lebanon. 2012

  • Chair, Data Sensing and Analysis (DSA) Best Paper Award Subcommittee, Technical Council on Computing and Information Technology, ASCE, 2011

  • Track Chair; 2012 International Workshop on Computing in Civil Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Clear Waters, FL. 2012

  • Session Chair; 2012 International Workshop on Computing in Civil Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Clear Waters, FL. 2012

  • Technical Committee Member, 2012 International Workshop on Computing in Civil Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Clear Waters, FL. 2012

  • Technical Committee Member, 2012 International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, Eindhoven, Netherlands. 2012

  • Technical Committee Member, 2012 Construction Research Congress, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), West Lafayette, IN., 2012

  • Session Chair; 2012 Construction Research Congress, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), West Lafayette, IN., 2012

  • Track Chair; 2012 Construction Research Congress, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), West Lafayette, IN., 2012

  • Technical Committee Member, 11th International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality (CONVR 2011), Weimar, Germany, Nov 3-4, 2011. 2011

  • Workshop Co-Chair, Transportation Research Board Committee on Construction Management (AFH10) Workshop, Jan 2012. 2011

  • Session Chair; Technical Committee Member, 2011 ASCE Workshop on Computing in Civil Engineering, Miami, FL., Jun 19-22., 2011

  • Technical Committee Member, the 4th International Conference on Construction Engineering and Project Management, Sydney, Australia, Feb 16-18. 2011 2011

  • Member of the Poster Session Organizing Committee, Construction Industry Institute’s Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, Jul 25-27. 2011

  • Member of the Jury, 2011 FIATECH International Technology Conference and Showcase CETI awards, Chandler, AZ, Apr 18-20. 2011

  • Technical Committee Member, 27th International Conference on Applications of IT in the AEC Industry (Cib w78), Cairo, Egypt, Nov 16-19, 2010. 2010

  • Organizing Chair, Technical Chair and Founder, the First Annual University of Illinois Student Interdisciplinary Conference, Jan 26, 2009, Urbana, IL. 2008-2009

  • Member of Organizing Committee, Int. Workshop on Construction Research Funding in XXI Century: A Partnership between Academia, Industry, and Public Sector, Urbana, IL 2009

  • Member of Organizing Committee, Graduate Student Poster and Academic Discussion Panels, Construction Research Congress 2009, Seattle, WA. 2009

  • Scientific Organizing Committee Chair, “12th Civil Engineering Student Conference.” Iran Univ. of Science & Technology, Tehran, Iran, Nov 2005. 2005

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