2026 NSF Workshop on Research Data Management in Construction Engineering: Challenges and Opportunities
May 07–08, 2026 | Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
About the Workshop
This workshop, supported by NSF CI PAOS program (Award No. 2541825), aims to identify challenges and opportunities in research data management in the construction (RDMC) research community. In recent years, a huge amount of computational research data has been collected and produced in the construction research community, such as visual data (e.g., images/videos of sites), Building Information Models (BIM), and infrastructure asset data. This digitalization trend creates challenges to the research data accessibility, discoverability, reproducibility, and sustainability for the community. This interdisciplinary two-day event will bring together leading scholars and industry professionals to identify the roadmap of RDMC and foster collaboration between construction and open science communities to promote FAIR data practices and advance NSF’s Public Access Initiative.
Discussion Themes:
The workshop will explore four themes: 1. Technical and social challenges of RDMC; 2. RDMC best practices and ethics; 3. RDMC security, sharing, and lifecycle management; 4. Building collaborations among construction, open science, and NSF CI communities. Various topics will be discussed.
Intended Participants:
The workshop is designed for a diverse group of stakeholders involved in generating, managing, or using research data in the construction domain, including academic researchers in construction, civil and infrastructure engineering, computer science, and information science; early-career scholars and students interested in advancing RDMC practices; industry professionals such as technology developers, engineering firms, contractors, and asset owners; data and cyberinfrastructure experts working in areas like data curation, cybersecurity, digital twins, and AI/ML model management.
Mode:
In-person only; no hybrid option.
Application
Applications are welcome from individuals who wish to attend the workshop at their own expense. Due to the limited funding, we will not provide travel support. There is no registration fee, and meals will be provided for all participants. Please use the portal below to submit your application. We will notify applicants of decisions by the end of February 2026.
Important Dates
Speaker and Program Finalized
Jan 31, 2026
Registration Deadline
February 28, 2026
Participants Notification
March 23, 2026
Conference Dates
May 07–08, 2026
Workshop Program
Invited Speakers and Panelists
Edward R. Griffor, Associate Director for Cyber-Physical Systems and Internet of Things, Smart Connected Systems Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Lucio Soibelman, Fred Champion Chair in Engineering and Professor, Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California
Yu Chen, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Binghamton University
Yong Kwon Cho, Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Mani Golparvar-Fard, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Carrie S. Dossick, John E. Schaufelberger Endowed Professor, Department of Construction Management, University of Washington
Qingbin Cui, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park
Nitin Sukhija, Professor, Department of Computing and Security, Slippery Rock University
Taeho Jung, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Notre Dame
Zhenhua Zhu, Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Pingbo Tang, Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
Dong Zhao, Associate Professor, School of Planning, Design and Construction, Michigan State University
Agenda – Day 1
Thursday, May 07, 2026
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 – 8:30 | Breakfast and Registration | MUB Ballroom |
| 8:30 – 8:50 | Opening Remarks: Dean of Engineering, CEGE Department Chair, and ICC Director | MUB Ballroom |
| 8:50 – 9:00 | Workshop Briefing: Vinh Nguyen | MUB Ballroom |
| 9:00 – 9:15 | Introduction of NSF FAIROS Program: Plato Smith, CISE/OAC | MUB Ballroom |
| 9:20 – 10:00 | Sharing Civil Engineering Data: Technical, Cultural, and Practical Lessons from Two Open Databases, Lucio Soibelman, University of Southern California [link] | MUB Ballroom |
| 10:00 – 10:40 | Title TBD, Edward R. Griffor, National Institute of Standards and Technology [link] | MUB Ballroom |
| 10:40 – 10:50 | Group Photo | MUB Ballroom |
| 10:50 – 11:10 | Coffee Break | MUB building front |
| 11:10 – 12:10 | Panel Discussion 1: Challenges and Opportunities in Research Data Management in Construction [link] | MUB Ballroom |
| 12:10 – 1:30 | Lunch | MUB Ballroom |
| 1:30 – 2:10 | Data Papers in Civil Engineering: Requirements, Preparation, and Best Practices, Yong Kwon Cho, Georgia Institute of Technology [link] | MUB Ballroom |
| 2:10 – 2:50 | From Data Deluge to Discovery: Harnessing Accessible, Human-Driven, and Synthetic Data for the Future of Research, Mani Golparvar-Fard, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign [link] | MUB Ballroom |
| 2:50 – 3:10 | Coffee Break | MUB Ballroom |
| 3:10 – 3:50 | Human-AI Co-Evolution in Research Data Management: Building Trustworthy and Adaptive Data Ecosystems for Construction Engineering, Pingbo Tang, Carnegie Mellon University [link] | MUB Ballroom |
| 3:50 – 4:30 | Values of Data for Architecture, Engineering and Construction, Dong Zhao, Michigan State University [link] | MUB Ballroom |
| 4:30 – 4:50 | Coffee Break | MUB Ballroom |
| 4:50 – 5:30 | Breakout Session | MUB Ballroom |
| 5:30 – 7:00 | Dinner | MUB Ballroom |
Agenda – Day 2
Friday, May 08, 2026
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 – 8:30 | Breakfast | MUB Ballroom |
| 8:30 – 9:10 | Data Privacy and Security: Reflections on Construction Management Research, Carrie S. Dossick, University of Washington [link] | MUB Ballroom |
| 9:10 – 9:50 | From Data Management to Data Trust: Securing AI-Driven Construction Systems in the Physical World, Yu Chen, Binghamton University [link] | MUB Ballroom |
| 9:50 – 10:10 | Coffee Break | MUB Ballroom |
| 10:10 – 11:10 | Panel Discussion 2: Cross-Community Collaboration in Research Data Management in Construction [link] | MUB Ballroom |
| 11:10 – 11:50 | Security by Design: Building Cyber Resilience for Modern Software Development Life Cycle, Nitin Sukhija, Slippery Rock University [link] | MUB Ballroom |
| 11:50 – 12:30 | Secure Cross-domain Research Data Sharing and Management, Taeho Jung, University of Notre Dame [link] | MUB Ballroom |
| 12:30 – 12:40 | Closing Remarks: Bo Xiao | MUB Ballroom |
| 12:40 – 1:30 | Lunch | MUB Ballroom |
| 1:30 – 2:00 | Transport to Hotel/Airport | |
| 2:00 – 3:00 | Campus Tour (Optional) | |
| 3:00 – 4:00 | A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum (Optional) | |
| 4:00 | Back to Hotel |
Venue
The RDMC Workshop will be hosted at the Memorial Union Building (MUB) at Michigan Technological University Campus. The MUB is centrally located on campus and offers modern meeting facilities, dining services, and scenic views of the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Workshop Spaces
- MUB Ballroom – Primary space for workshop meetings serves 100 guests.
- Alumni Lounge – Dining space and receptions serves 50 guests.
Campus Map
Explore the Michigan Tech campus and Memorial Union Building location using the link below:
📍 Open Michigan Tech Campus MapLodging & Transportation Information
Please see below for the convenient lodging and transportation for you to attend this workshop. The workshop participants will receive a special discount from Hampton Inn & Suites. And we will provide shuttle service from Hampton Inn to Michigan Tech Campus.
Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX)
Address: 23810 Airpark Blvd Suite 113, Calumet, MI 49913
Phone: +1 (906) 482-3970
Childcare & Family Care Resources
Convenient and trusted childcare facilities near Michigan Technological University for workshop participants with families:
Little Huskies Child Development Center
Address: 500 MacInnes Dr, Houghton, MI 49931
Phone: +1 (906) 487-3528
Parking Assistance
Find essential information for traveling to Michigan Technological University and getting around Houghton, MI.
Parking Finder: ParkMobile App
Visitor parking is available near the Memorial Union Building (MUB) and other designated visitor lots.
Places to Visit Nearby
Explore scenic natural areas and local attractions around Houghton, MI.
Travel Guide Websites:
• TripAdvisor – Things to Do in Houghton
• Michigan.org – Visit Houghton
• Visit Keweenaw – Explore Houghton
Organization Committee
Bo Xiao, Assistant Professor, Michigan Technological University (Chairperson)
Ronghua (Sam) Xu, Assistant Professor, Michigan Technological University (Co-Chair)
Vinh Nguyen, Assistant Professor, Michigan Technological University (Organization committee member)
Abdolmajid Erfani, Assistant Professor, Michigan Technological University (Organization committee member)
Zhenhua Zhu, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin–Madison (Organization committee member)
Yuan Sun, Assistant Professor, University of Southern Mississippi (Organization committee member)
Yu Chen, Professor, Binghamton University (Organization committee member)
Deeraj Nagothu, Research Scientist, Intelligent Fusion Technology, Inc. (Organization committee member)
Qian Qu, Assistant Professor, Virginia State University (Organization committee member)
Taeho Jung, Associate Professor, University of Notre Dame (Organization committee member)
Coordinators
James Townsend, Institute of Computing and Cybersystems, Michigan Technological University
Amanda Stump, Institute of Computing and Cybersystems, Michigan Technological University
Pam Hannon, Michigan Tech Transportation Institute, Michigan Technological University
Graduate Students
Yifan Wang, Ph.D. Candidate, Michigan Technological University
Aakash Walavalkar, Graduate Student, Michigan Technological University
Disclosure
Michigan Tech Equal Opportunity Institution/Employer Statement
Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Conference Code of Conduct and Harassment Policy (CoC)
What is Harassment
Harassment includes – but is not limited to – unwelcome conduct or speech related to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, height, weight, genetic information, marital status, disabled veteran status, veteran status, or disability, or other characteristics not related to scientific content or merit.
Harassment may include deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, unnecessary touching, unwelcome attention, unauthorized photography or recording, and sustained disruption of talks or other events.
Encouraging such behavior by others is not permitted. Retaliation for reporting harassment is not permitted, nor are false harassment accusations.
Who is covered by this CoC?
All attendees—including speakers, non-speakers, sponsors, staff, and volunteers—are covered by this CoC. The workshop organizers will enforce this policy throughout the event.
Guidelines for Speakers
The content of presentations is the responsibility of speakers. Organizers request that speakers avoid potentially offensive actions, language, or imagery.
Reporting Harassment
Michigan Tech is committed to supporting a safe and productive environment. Clear mechanisms for reporting harassment are outlined within Michigan Tech’s Discrimination and/or Harassment Reporting Form.
In case of emergency, dial 911 or contact Public Safety and Police Services at 906-487-2216.
If an incident is reported, organizers will consult trained university professional staff to conduct an investigation. Consequences may include a warning, expulsion from the workshop, or prohibition from future events.
Under certain circumstances, organizers may contact venue security and/or local police. To protect all involved, detailed public statements are generally not made.
Legal Protections
Michigan Tech employees and NSF awardees are prohibited from retaliating against individuals who file a complaint or participate in an investigation.
NSF’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion investigates complaints of retaliation. Contact: 703-292-8020 or ProgramComplaints@nsf.gov.