Research Statement

My research interests range across intelligent information and knowledge-based systems for construction, productivity improvement, sustainable building technologies and more recently the globalization of construction engineering education. The focus of my doctoral research was intelligent information and knowledge-based systems for the specification and procurement of construction products. I conducted my doctoral research within the context of the industry-based doctoral program which entailed working for Building Information Warehouse as a Research Engineer. My primary role was developing a Web-based prototype system that addressed some of the challenges of information integration. Upon graduation, I took up employment with the Balfour Beatty Group in the UK. I had a loose job description that involved researching and developing solutions within the Business Improvement department. In my present job as an assistant professor at UF, I have continued to make refinements on the underlying architecture for the prototypes that I developed both as a doctoral student and as a Balfour Beatty employee. For example, I have packaged my work into 2 CAREER proposals for early stage investigators to the NSF. I received a travel fellowship as an invited speaker to attend a “Collaborative Futures” workshop that was held in Hong Kong in November 2007. I also submitted a proposal to the NSF’s CMMI division for a Virtual Design and Construction Workshop that I will be chairing in November 2008. I am also working with the ASCE Global Center for Excellence in computing to solicit the participation of the sub-Saharan countries through a pending NSF proposal in which I am the principal investigator. I have published 3 journal papers in leading international journals and made several presentations at several international conferences.

Environmental design was at the core of my graduate training in Architecture at the University of Nottingham. I was a member of a team that won a merit award in a European Competition for developing schemes for Energy Efficient Office Complex. I have continued to further my interest in sustainable development through several undertakings both at the local and global scene. I have enhanced my understanding of some of the local issues through attending the Temperate Forest Teacher Training program in summer 2007. I also received an Environmental Leadership Fellowship (ELP) for the South East Region. I have now graduated into a Senior ELP Fellow. Partnering with another Senior ELP fellow, I obtained $5000 funding for a community-based initiative in Birmingham, Alabama. I have also aggressively pursued funding for large international research projects. I have undertaken several activities at an international level. Having international work experience in three continents, I have engaged in different activities through the support of the university. For example, I recently, obtain an internationalization of the curriculum award as well as a fellowship from the Center for African Studies to develop educational material on sustainable construction technologies. During my first semester at the University of Florida, I submitted a proposal to the Canadian-based IDRC for a project. I have also prepared two NSF proposals in this topic both of which leverage on my international education and experience. I have secured 2 NSF award in this area through the Office of International Science and Engineering’s “Developing Global Citizens and Engineers” programs and CMMI’s “Small Grants for Exploratory Research.” My research is well integrated with educational activities. Recognizing that the 21st century global economy requires well-trained and culturally-sensitive construction professionals, I championed the establishment of an NSF-funded International Research Experiences for Students in the East African region. Through this project, students travel to East Africa to work with my foreign collaborators in the area of sustainable construction. The primary benefit to the participants is that they enhance their ability to work in a global environment through developing their understanding of the varied cultures of the world. Such initiatives have resulted in my being included as an invited speaker at an NSF-ASEE workshop to be held in Cape Town South Africa in October 2008. My involvement in the international scene also provides me a way of reaching out to students in elementary and high schools around UF. I share with them my expertise in globalization of education with the Alachua County Schools as a volunteer speaker to several schools.