CCEE Ph.D. candidate Liannian Wang was selected for a Chishiki-AI in Civil Engineering Graduate Fellowship from The University of Texas at Austin. Chishiki-AI is collaborating with SCIPE (Strengthening the Cyberinfrastructure Professionals Ecosystem) to focus on Artificial Intelligence in Civil Engineering. The initiative is supported by National Science Foundation funding and is dedicated to fostering the next generation of experts in this dynamic field.

Fellows will receive a $37,000 stipend, up to $12,000 in tuition allowance throughoutthe year, and travel support to present research results at a user community event and/or professional conference.

Wang, who is advised by Associate Professor and Edward I. Weisiger Distinguished Scholar Kevin Han and Professor Abhinav Gupta, said she was excited and honored to feel the fellowship.

“This fellowship offers essential resources such as data analysis and computing infrastructure, and a collaborative environment with experts and peers at the University of Texas at Austin and Texas Advanced Computing Center,” said Wang, who is part of NC State’s Center for Nuclear Energy Facilities and Structures (CNEFS). “These resources will enable me to efficiently implement and scale my proposed research. I believe that this experience will enrich my understanding and knowledge of AI applications within construction engineering.”

About 98% of megaproject construction experience cost overruns of 80% and a delay of 20 months on average, partly due to ineffective construction requirements (i.e., qualities and safety) management.

Wang’s Ph.D. research aims to enhance requirements for management of construction projects. 

“Specifically, my research topic is to develop a comprehensive framework that can be used to assist project stakeholders in organizing, identifying and inspecting construction requirements by integrating 4D BIM and generative AI.”