The University of Florida (UF) is allocating $2.5 million from its $130 million strategic funding to propel advancements in industrialized construction engineering. Spearheaded by the College of Design, Construction and Planning (DCP) and the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, UF aims to reshape the industry using cutting-edge technologies.

President Ben Sasse emphasized the need to adapt to the rapidly evolving construction and engineering landscape, stating, “The Industrialized Construction Engineering (ICE) project will help UF’s experts use tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic automation to transform the way we design and build.”

The Bruno E. and Maritza F. Ramos Collaboratory, a 50,000-square-foot facility, will serve as the hub for AI, design automation, and robotic construction research. The initiative seeks to enhance productivity, safety, and quality in both residential and commercial construction.

Expansion plans include the Center for Advanced Construction Information Modeling and the Smart Industrialized Design and Construction (Smart IDC) Lab, focusing on education and research related to emerging technologies for civil infrastructure.

UF is also set to introduce a tech-centered undergraduate degree program in industrialized construction engineering, emphasizing environmental stewardship and resilient construction practices. This innovative curriculum will provide hands-on learning opportunities through industry partnerships, tackling challenges like affordable housing, labor shortages, and natural disaster impact.

Forrest Masters, interim dean of the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, expressed optimism, stating, “These technologies will open up new pathways to tackle some of society’s most vexing problems.” The strategic funding underscores UF’s commitment to leading advancements in the construction engineering field.

References

Lawson, Lillian 2024, ‘UF strategic funding to help improve industrialized construction engineering’, The Gainesville Sun, viewed 11th January 2023, <https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/education/campus/2024/01/11/university-of-florida-strategic-funding-for-construction-engineering/72178898007/>