Reimagining the future of construction engineering research

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of attending the NSF Future of Construction Engineering Research Workshop at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) headquarters. This gathering brought together leading academic researchers, industry professionals, non-profit organizations, and federal agency leaders with a shared goal: to reimagine the research agenda for construction engineering.

The workshop provided a unique opportunity for open and thoughtful discussions about the critical challenges and transformative opportunities facing the construction industry. Topics ranged from workforce health and safety to robotics and automation, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and sustainability—areas that impact not only the way we design and build, but also the daily lives of people around the world.

One of my biggest takeaways was the clear commitment from both academia and industry to invest in addressing long-standing issues in construction and infrastructure development. The alignment of research, practice, and resources is essential for developing innovative solutions that can truly move the industry forward.

I am deeply grateful to Lucio Soibelman for his leadership in organizing this event, and to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for their support in making it possible. I look forward to contributing to the next steps in shaping a more responsive, innovative, and forward-thinking construction research agenda.