Advances in robotics, AI, digital twin technologies, and new construction materials and manufacturing methods are radically changing the construction industry.
The construction industry is undergoing rapid transformation driven by emerging technologies, evolving environmental conditions and changing societal demands.
Advances in robotics, AI, digital twin technologies, and new construction materials and manufacturing methods are creating significant opportunities while also introducing complex challenges. These developments raise several critical questions which are central to construction management research at the USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering.
How can construction engineering research adapt to and anticipate these changes? What role does interdisciplinary collaboration play in shaping future research? And how can academia and industry collaborate more effectively to ensure real-world impact?
In response to these questions, a specialized NSF-funded workshop was convened at the ASCE Headquarters in Reston, Virginia, on July 14-15, 2025, and a report on the workshop’s findings has now been produced. Organized by Lucio Soibelman, Fred Champion Chair in Engineering and professor of civil and environmental engineering at USC, the workshop brought together leading experts in construction engineering, including representatives from academia, professional organizations and private industry.
Creating the conditions for change
Professor Soibelman’s research focuses on construction informatics, project-based data integration, decision support systems and the interaction between technology, organization and practice – all areas that are key priorities for future NSF investments in construction research. Soibelman’s work has consistently emphasized that technological innovation in construction must be grounded in an understanding of real project conditions, contractual structures and human behavior.
“This workshop represented a timely and strategic effort to realign construction engineering research with contemporary societal, environmental and technological needs,” said Soibelman.
The motivation for the workshop was a well-documented imbalance: while construction accounts for a significant share of U.S. employment and economic output, it invests far less in research and development than other established industries. At the same time, the sector faces mounting pressures related to labor shortages, safety, climate resilience and the uneven adoption of emerging technologies.
“The workshop was designed to move beyond general observations by identifying specific research gaps, framing foundational questions and clarifying where federal investment could have the greatest impact,” said Soibelman.
The two-day workshop combined talks by invited speakers, panel discussions, facilitated large-group conversations and breakout sessions. The first day focused on establishing shared context. Speakers and panelists addressed the role of existing institutions, the integration of social and behavioral sciences into construction research and the opportunities and limits of current approaches to artificial intelligence, robotics and digitalization in practice.
The second day shifted toward synthesis and prioritization. Participants split into four breakout groups that addressed AI, data and digitization; physical technologies such as robotics and automation; performance of the built environment across its full lifecycle; and management, organization and workforce.
Attendees of the USC-led construction engineering research workshop at the ASCE Headquarters in Reston, Virginia
From insights to results
Across all groups, several common findings emerged. First, participants agreed that construction engineering research needs clearer intellectual boundaries and stronger articulation of its foundational science. Many challenges – such as unstructured worksites, project-specific risk and human-technology interaction under safety constraints – do not map cleanly onto manufacturing, computer science or traditional civil engineering models.
Second, the workshop highlighted persistent barriers to data access and knowledge exchange. While large volumes of project data exist, they are often siloed, poorly structured or legally constrained, limiting their usefulness for research and for scalable AI applications. Rather than calling for new standards in the abstract, participants emphasized practical frameworks and shared infrastructures that reflect real industry workflows.
Third, workforce and organizational issues were treated as research problems, rather than background conditions. Labor shortages, mental health, aging workers and fragmented organizational structures were identified as factors that directly shape technology adoption, safety outcomes and productivity. Participants argued that construction engineering research must more directly engage with social sciences, public health and organizational research to address these issues rigorously.
Finally, there was broad consensus on the need for realistic testbeds and research infrastructure. Many participants noted that laboratory-scale studies are insufficient for validating robotics, automation and digital twin technologies intended for large, dynamic construction environments.
A central role for construction engineering research
The workshop concluded with a set of next steps, including continued cross-sector working groups, refinement of research questions that distinguish construction engineering from adjacent fields, and the development of publications to inform NSF programmatic decisions. Rather than proposing a single solution, the workshop provided a structured assessment of where the field stands and where focused research investment could address persistent and emerging challenges.
In doing so, it positioned construction engineering research not as a narrow technical specialty, but as a vital factor in civic development, concerned with how complex projects are designed, built, operated and experienced over time.
Published on February 12th, 2026
Last updated on February 12th, 2026