P001 Team — DC-LAB

Work with us

Email:
weiwei.chen@ucl.ac.uk

Address:
1-19 Torrington Place London WC1E 7HB

P001Team

Principle Investigator

Dr Weiwei Chen

Dr Weiwei Chen is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction (BSSC), University College London, specialising in Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Digital Twins. She earned her PhD in Civil Engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where she was awarded a prestigious postgraduate scholarship. In 2018, Dr Chen expanded her research through an overseas research opportunity at Carnegie Mellon University, supported by a research award. In 2021, she served as a postdoctoral fellow at the Construction Information Technology lab at the University of Cambridge under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship.

Dr Chen's research encompasses key areas such as BIM, Digital Twins, the Internet of Things, 3D Reconstruction, Information Interoperability, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), and Facility Management across roads, bridges, buildings, and other infrastructure. She currently serves as Deputy Director of Research at the departmental level and contributes to the MSc Digital Engineering Program as Deputy Program Leader at UCL's BSSC. As Principal Investigator, Dr Chen manages three ongoing projects funded by Horizon Europe, UKRI, and UCL.

Additionally, Dr Chen is a dedicated reviewer for leading international journals, including Automation in Construction, Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, Advanced Engineering Informatics, and Computing in Civil Engineering. She is an active committee member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the European Council on Computing in Construction (EC3), and the Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM). With her expertise, Dr Chen is committed to advancing research and education in sustainable construction and digital transformation within construction engineering.

PhD Student

Nicholas Nisbet (co-supervise)

Nicholas Nisbet is a PhD candidate at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London. He obtained his degree in Architecture from the University of Cambridge and his Diploma in Architecture from London Metropolitan University (previously PNL). After a forty year career in the use, application development and standardisation of the around information management in the AECO sector, his research is now focussing on how regulatory knowledge can be made more accessible and operable. His literature review shows that automatic compliance checking has followed a narrow and reductive path and that a broader perspective should produce more accurate, economic and comprehensive results. He is therefore applying ideas from mathematics, linguistics and epistemology to eliminate the gap between written text and tables and operable applications. The culmination of his research is the development and validation of a conceptual framework of operable knolwedge aimed at making rule making and rule enforcement more accessible. His contributions to the field are reflected in numerous publications. Nick is also actively engaged in academic activities, preparing and facilitating doctoral workshops, and presenting at academic conferences.

Honghu Chu (Visiting PhD)

Honghu Chu is a distinguished scholar currently engaged in a joint Ph.D. program in Sustainable Construction at Hunan University and University College London, under the supervision of Prof. Lu Deng and Dr. Weiwei Chen, respectively. Having earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil and bridge engineering from Changsha University of Science & Technology and Hunan University, Honghu has consistently ranked within the top percentile of his class. His academic journey is marked by numerous accolades, including being a Merit Student and receiving multiple scholarships and awards for his outstanding academic and leadership contributions. Honghu's research primarily focuses on innovative methods for structural health monitoring and crack segmentation in civil engineering, with numerous publications in respected journals. Honghu is also actively involved in research projects funded by prestigious grants, including the Hunan Provincial Innovation Foundation and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. His technical skills span across various software, including Python and Adobe Creative Suite, and he has a keen interest in video production and fitness.

Kehan Ma (co-supervise)

Kehan Ma is a PhD candidate at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London. Her research focuses on how online transaction platforms can facilitate the adoption of net-zero innovations in buildings. With a hybrid cross-disciplinary background, including an MSc in Digital Innovation in Built Asset Management and an MA in Financial Economics and Accounting, she applies a sequential exploratory mixed methodology. Her PhD work starts with a systematic literature review to identify key factors in digital matchmaking. This is followed by extensive qualitative and quantitative research, including over 25 hours of semi-structured expert interviews and 245 valid questionnaire responses, to uncover industry-specific insights. The culmination of her research is the development and validation of a conceptual framework aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of digital platforms in promoting sustainable practices within the built environment. Her contributions to the field are reflected in numerous publications. Kehan is also actively engaged in academic activities, co-preparing and facilitating doctoral workshops, and presenting at academic conferences. Additionally, she has been serving as a Postgraduate Teaching Assistant at UCL for three years, with rich experience in teaching courses on risk modeling, asset management, and construction enterprise management.

Hyunjung Yoo (co-supervise)

Hyunjung Yoo, also known as Jennifer, is an emerging scholar in the field of Sustainable Construction at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London, where she conducts her research under the guidance of Prof. Tim Broyd and Dr. Weiwei Chen. Her research interests include Building Information Modelling (BIM), Digital Twin, Asset Management, and various facets of Project and Construction Management, particularly in the context of rail infrastructure. Hyunjung holds a Master’s degree in International Construction Management and Engineering from the University of Leeds, where she explored comparative governance in railway project delivery between the UK and South Korea. She earned her Bachelor's in Civil Engineering from Chungbuk National University in South Korea, participating in an exchange program at the University of Sheffield during her undergraduate studies. Hyunjung has contributed to the development of guidelines and technological advancements in her field, enhancing life cycle management of railroad infrastructure through BIM-based systems. In addition to her academic pursuits, Hyunjung has been recognized with awards like the BSSC PhD Studentship and has patents related to construction methodologies and technologies.

Diran Yu (co-supervise)

Diran Yu is a Ph.D. student at University College London (UCL), studying under Dr. Abdul-Majeed Mahamadu and Dr. Weiwei Chen. His research focuses on the cutting-edge applications of Digital Twin and Mixed Reality in building operation systems. Diran holds a Master’s degree in Digital Engineering Management from UCL, where he specialized in AEC project management and digital twin technology, and a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Environment Engineering from the University of Nottingham. Professionally, Diran has contributed significantly to the field as a Green Building Consultant and Research Assistant at the China Academy of Building Research. During this time, he honed his expertise in building energy optimization, construction sustainability consultancy, and environmental analysis. He is proficient in several industry-relevant software, including Python, IESVE, and Rhino, and is a BREEAM Accredited Professional, enhancing his contributions to green and sustainable building certifications. Currently, Diran is part of the Global Research Immersion Program for Young Scientists (GripS) and obtain UCL-ZJU Strategic Partner Fund 2023-2024, which will see him exchange to Zhejiang University in China for three months. There, he plans to delve into the carbon management strategies during the construction and operation phases of buildings, integrating digitalization with sustainability to explore future technologies in architecture.

Fujia Lyu (co-supervise)

Fujia Lyu is currently pursuing a PhD in Sustainable Construction at University College London, focusing on the application of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Virtual Reality (VR) in healthcare buildings. Under the supervision of Prof. Grant Mills and Dr. Weiwei Chen, her research explores how digital technologies can enhance multi-professional collaboration in healthcare environments. Fujia holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in architecture from Harbin Institute of Technology. Throughout her studies, she has consistently excelled academically while maintaining a strong interest in improving user well-being in the built environment. She has actively participated in various design competitions and practical projects, driving the use of emerging digital tools to enhance user satisfaction and well-being. Fujia’s master's research focused on the impact of the built environment on users’ psychology, giving her a unique perspective that she applies to her current research, pushing the boundaries of innovation in the field.

Postdoc

Jiaxin Ling

Jiaxin Ling is a distinguished scholar who recently earned a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Tongji University, specializing in Tunnel Intelligent Construction, Infrastructure Digital Twins, AI-supported decision making, and Knowledge Extraction and Management. Jiaxin has demonstrated academic excellence throughout his career, ranking first for the 2021-2022 academic year and earning a National Scholarship. Jiaxin's academic journey includes a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Wuhan University, where he also graduated as the top student. His research focuses on innovative methods for intelligent tunnel construction, digital twins, and decision-making processes in engineering, which has led to numerous publications in respected journals and prestigious presentations at international conferences. Jiaxin has also been actively involved in significant research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Key Research and Development Project. His technical skills include proficiency in BIM modeling, virtual reality integration, and various AI techniques, with a keen interest in developing virtual simulation systems for practical engineering applications. Now Jiaxin is working on the INHERIT project, which is Next Generation Solutions for Sustainable, Inclusive, Resource-efficient and Resilient Cultural Heritage. In this project, he will develop AR-/VR-enabled interfacesand provide different maintenance/renovation scenarios in the Digital Twin system to support on-the-job training and pre-intervention planning to reduce maintenance and renovation time and improve work quality.

Yang Su

Yang Su is a distinguished scholar who recently earned a Ph.D. in Construction Management from Curtin University, Australia. And he is currently working as a research fellow on the D-Hydroflex project. With a strong foundation in civil engineering, Yang’s academic journey includes a Master’s degree in Architectural and Civil Engineering from Chongqing University and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Dalian University. His research focuses on Digital Twin applications, infrastructure management, and smart city solutions, alongside deep learning, computer vision, and construction robotics. Yang has published in several high-impact journals, advancing the field of underground utility life-cycle management with deep learning algorithms. Throughout his career, he has been actively involved in significant research projects, such as an Australia Research Council project on asset intelligence and the development of decision support platforms for smart city management in China. His technical proficiencies include AI algorithm design and development, computer vision technologies, and construction robotics, driven by a passion for transforming the built environment through technology.