Houtan Jebelli

Houtan Jebelli
Houtan Jebelli he/him/his
  • Assistant Professor
2108 Newmark Civil Engineering Bldg

Primary Research Area

  • Construction Engineering and Management

Research Areas

For More Information

Biography

Dr. Houtan Jebelli is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining UIUC, he held positions as an Assistant Professor of Construction Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Jebelli earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan. He also holds a bachelor's degree from Tehran Polytechnic University, a Master's degree in Structural Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, a Master's degree in Construction Engineering and Management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a third Master's in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, with a focus on Machine Learning and Robotics, also from the University of Michigan.

As the director of the Robotic, Automation, and Intelligent Sensing (RAISE) Lab at UIUC, Dr. Jebelli's research centers around construction automation and robotics, particularly the integration of human physiology into robotic control and motion planning systems. This work enhances interactions and adaptations between workers and robots on construction sites. The RAISE lab aims to develop human-centric robotic perception and adaptation mechanisms, promote worker-robot collaborations, and emphasize safety and efficiency. Their work also incorporates physiological computing to automate construction processes and implement health monitoring systems for workers, using real-time physiological data.

Dr. Jebelli's substantial contributions to the field include authoring four books, seven book chapters, 75 peer-reviewed conference papers, and 41 peer-reviewed journal papers. His expertise in securing funding has led to over $4.5 million in grants from organizations such as the National Science Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). In recognition of his dedication and excellence, Dr. Jebelli has received several awards, including the Charles M. Eastman Top Ph.D. Paper Award, two Outstanding Thesis Awards, the Rackham Research Grant, the John L. Tishman Fellowship, and the Calvin C. Solem Foundation Fellowship.

Beyond his research, Dr. Jebelli is deeply committed to education and mentorship, nurturing the intellectual growth of both undergraduate and graduate students. He actively contributes to the broader academic community, serving as the Vice-Chair for the ASCE Global Computing committee and participating in the ASCE Data Sensing and Analysis (DSA) and ASCE Visualization, Information Modelling, and Simulation (VIMS) committees.

Education

  • Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, 2019
  • MS, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, 2016
  • MS Minor, Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2016
  • MS, Construction Engineering and Management, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, 2015
  • MS, Structural Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, 2013
  • BS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tehran Polytechnic University, 2012

Academic Positions

  • Affiliate Assistant Professor, Coordinated Science Laboratory (Robotics Group), The Grainger College of Engineering (2024–Present)
  • Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering (2023 – Present)
  • Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, U.S. (2022– 2023)
  • Assistant Professor of Construction Engineering, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, U.S. (2019-2023)
  • Affiliate of the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, U.S. (2019-2023)
  • Affiliated of the Center for Healthy Aging, College of Health and Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, U.S. (2019-2023)
  • Graduate Student Research Assistant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, U.S. (2015-2019)
  • Graduate Student Research Assistant, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, U.S. (2013-2015)
  • Graduate Student Research Assistant, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran (2012-2013)

Journal Editorships

  • Guest Editor for the Elsevier Journal of Developments in the Built Environment, Special Issue on Human Emergency Response, 2024.
  • Editor for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Special Issue on 'Digital Twins for Construction and the Built Environment' (Expected 2024).
  • Editor for the Springer Nature Special Issue on 'Automation and Robotics in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Industry' (2021).
  • Editor for the Springer Nature Special Issue on 'Application of Machine Learning and Deep Learning Methods to Power System Problems' (2021).
  • Editor for the Springer Nature Special Issue on 'Renewable Energy for Buildings: Technology, Control, and Operational Techniques', part of the Green Energy and Technology series (2022).

Professional Societies

  • Chair, Global Center for Excellence in Computing Committee, Technical Council on Computing and Information Technology (TCCIT), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (2023 – Present)
  • Committee Member, Data Sensing and Analysis (DSA) Committee, Technical Council on Computing and Information Technology (TCCIT), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2018–Present.
  • Committee Member, Visualization, Information Modeling, And Simulation (VIMS) Committee, Technical Council on Computing and Information Technology (TCCIT), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2018–Present.
  • Vice Chair, Global Center for Excellence in Computing Committee, Technical Council on Computing and Information Technology (TCCIT), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (2021– 2023)
  • Secretary, Global Center for Excellence in Computing Committee, Technical Council on Computing and Information Technology (TCCIT), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (2019– 2021)

Research Interests

  • Advanced Robotic Systems for Operational Excellence in Construction Projects
  • Advancing Robotics and Automation Engineering Pedagogy through the Strategic Integration of Cutting-Edge Immersive Technologies.
  • Next-Generation Wearable Sensor Technologies for Predictive Analytics in Health and Safety Management
  • Optimized Deployment of Advanced Safe Human-Robot Interaction Dynamics in Complex and Unstructured Environments

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

The Robotics, Automation, and Intelligent Sensing (RAISE) Lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign invites top UIUC undergraduate students, passionate about the future of construction and robotics, to join our pioneering research team. Under the guidance of Dr. Jebelli, our lab spearheads the effort to integrate robotics, automation, and intelligent sensing within the construction industry, with the aim of significantly enhancing safety, productivity, and health. Our objective is to transform construction sites into highly automated, efficient environments, utilizing data acquisition, simulation tools, and advanced data analytics. Participating students will gain invaluable hands-on experience in a diverse, multidisciplinary setting that prepares them for upcoming challenges. We are looking for driven students eager to contribute to significant advancements in construction automation. Interested individuals are encouraged to demonstrate their enthusiasm for technology and their dedication to innovation by sending their CV to Dr. Jebelli. This presents a unique opportunity for top undergraduates to be at the forefront of shaping the future of the construction industry.

Graduate Research Opportunities

The Robotics, Automation, and Intelligent Sensing (RAISE) Lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is actively seeking top-notch graduate students to contribute to our innovative research endeavors. Specializing in the integration of robotics, automation, and intelligent sensing within the construction industry, our lab aims to significantly enhance construction site safety, productivity, and health. We offer graduate students the chance to engage in groundbreaking research projects, benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration, and achieve professional development in a dynamic environment. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the admission criteria for both the Graduate College and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at UIUC, ensuring they meet the College of Engineering's requirements. To express interest in joining the RAISE Lab, candidates should officially apply through the university's admission process and also directly contact Dr. Jebelli with their CV and a brief statement of research interests, showcasing their enthusiasm for technology and commitment to advancing the field of construction and robotics. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a team that is not only pursuing academic excellence but also pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the construction industry, aiming to shape its future.

Primary Research Area

  • Construction Engineering and Management

Research Areas

Books Edited or Co-Edited (Original Editions)

Chapters in Books

Selected Articles in Journals

Articles in Conference Proceedings

Honors

  • NIOSH Exploratory/Developmental Grant Program (R21) Award #1R21OH012715-01: Human-Centric Assessment of Field Workers' Health Stress Exposure
  • NSF Award #2123343: Infusion of data science and computation into engineering curricula
  • NSF Award #2410255: Understanding Underlying Risks and Sociotechnical Challenges of Powered Wearable Exoskeleton to Construction Workers
  • NSF Award #2401745: Future of Construction Workplace Health Monitoring
  • NSF Award #2402008: Investigating the Impact of Immersive VR-Based Learning Environments on Human-Robot Collaboration in Construction Robotics Education.

Teaching Honors

Research Honors

  • The Calvin C. Solem Foundation Fellowship, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2013)
  • John L. Tishman Fellowship, University of Michigan (2015)
  • Outstanding Master's Thesis Award, College of Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2016)
  • Best Poster Award, 1st award in Engineering Research Symposium Technical Session Competition, College of Engineering, University of Michigan (2017)
  • Finalist of Towner Prize for Outstanding Engineering Graduate Student Instructor (GSIs) College of Engineering, University of Michigan (2018)
  • The Charles M. Eastman Best Paper Award, Best Paper Award from the 35th CIB W78 Conference: I.T. in Design, Construction, and Management (2018)
  • Best Poster Award, 2nd award at the 2020 Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) Symposium, The Pennsylvania State University. (2020)
  • Best Presentation Award, 1st Place at the "3-Minute Competition 2021" hosted by AACEI-Montreal Section, Montreal. (student advisee: Amit Ojha) (2021)
  • Finalist, 2021 AI Nittany Challenge, The Pennsylvania State University (2021)
  • Outstanding Graduate Student Award, The Pennsylvania State University. (student advisee: Yizhi Liu; ) (2023)