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KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Imagine using generative AI and building information modeling (BIM) to bring your classroom construction project to life. Students at Western ��һ�鶹��Ƭ�� University and across the United States may soon be doing just that. 

�²ѱ�’s Dr. Hexu Liu, associate professor of civil and construction engineering, and an interdisciplinary team of researchers throughout the country, aim to bring these tools into classrooms with funding from a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant of nearly $300,000. The team launched a pilot program at WMU in September 2024.

“This support from NSF affirms the importance of advancing construction education with innovative, AI-driven tools,” says Liu, who serves as a principal investigator at WMU for the project. “Our team is thrilled to have the opportunity to develop an AI-powered training platform that could reshape how digital skills are taught in construction, helping to close skill gaps and prepare the workforce for a technology-driven future. We’re eager to get started and make a meaningful impact in the field!”

Once complete, the platform will be adopted into �²ѱ�’s curriculum, equipping students with industry-relevant skills and preparing them for roles as future BIM professionals, researchers and engineers.

Liu is uniquely suited to develop educational tools in this arena. As a researcher, he has contributed to construction automation by developing innovative BIM technologies such as BIM- and knowledge-based construction detailing, semantic quantity take-off, and BIM-simulation in-depth integration for construction scheduling.

The training platform will feature customizable, AI-driven learning tools tailored to undergraduate construction education, addressing key challenges related to curriculum design, instructor support and individualized learning.

In addition to Liu, the project is also led by Dr. Bo Xiao, principal investigator and assistant professor of construction management at ��һ�鶹��Ƭ�� Technological University (MTU), and Dr. Shane Mueller, co-principal investigator and professor of psychology, at MTU.

The project also includes faculty partners at other civil and construction programs, strengthening the project's reach in aiming to advance AI-driven training in construction education effectively. Other project partners include researchers at California State University – Fresno, University of Washington – Seattle, Stony Brook University, University of Florida and Virginia Tech.

“Both WMU Ph.D. students and undergraduate student research assistants will also participate in this project,” says Liu.

The project, titled CyberTraining: Cognitive and Generative AI-driven Cyber-Infrastructure Training Platform for Construction Education, supports the development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive AI-driven training platform for construction education. Its objectives include the following:

• BIM-related instructional materials tailored for undergraduate students, including lectures, lab exercises, video demonstrations, assignments, and assessments focused on digital twinning and advanced cyber-infrastructure skills. 
• An automated system using AI to generate a range of practical, skill-based examples and scenarios within BIM, providing students with adaptive learning materials at various difficulty levels.
• A web-based platform, integrated with ChatGPT, to deliver an interactive, self-paced learning experience. This platform will offer real-time assistance, ask questions to students to encourage self-explanation, and provide customized feedback based on student performance.
• A rigorous evaluation process involving expert feedback and student testing will assess the platform’s usability, effectiveness, and potential for scalability to other domains and institutions.

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