PhD Candidate at the University of Alberta, Department of Computing Science
Education:
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Computing Science, University of Alberta, Canada 2020 - Current
Master of Science (MSc) in Computing Science – Thesis Based Program, University of Alberta, Canada 2017 - 2019
Bachelor of Science (BSc) with Specialization in Computing Science - Science Internship Program, University of
Alberta, Canada 2011 - 2016
University Exchange, University of Sydney, Australia 2014 - 2014
Bio:
I am a 4th Year PhD candidate at the University of Alberta, working with Dr. Eleni Stroulia in the Software Systems Research Group (SSRG).
While my studies are in the field of Computing Science, my research has primarily been in the area of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and its applications.
This includes building model evaluation/checking, automated design, occupancy simulation, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) model viewing, and cloud-based model repositories and services.
International Structural Engineering & Construction Conference (ISEC)
07/2017
* Received Best Student Paper Award
Project List
Title
Info
Research Group
Year
Highway Generative Design
Applying the generative design from BIMkit to automated sign placement on highway road segments.
Existing highway data is input as Point Clouds from LiDAR sensors and converted to 3D mesh representations for evlaution and design.
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UofA
2023
University Commons Demo
Imported a model of the new University Commons building on Campus to BIMkit. Added functionality for
doing some basic room searches and path planning.
Software Systems Research Group, UofA
2022
Virtual Reality Room Design
Using Oculus VR headsets, we extract room information (walls, windows, doors, floors) and upload to BIMkit.
From there all BIMkit services (Model checking and automated interior design) can be called and displayed
in the VR environment.
Software Systems Research Group, UofA
2022
Rule Learning via Generated Examples
Learning design rules from a series of examples. Examples are generated using original more expressive ruleset.
Resulting learned rules are then used to generate new examples which can be evaluated against original rules to
determine closeness between original rules and learned rules.
Software Systems Research Group, UofA
2022
Improved Rule-based Generative Design
Improving on the generative design process in BIM-kit. Generally looking to improve on the solution convergence speed
and resulting layouts. Also new evaluations (simulation and subjective rules) and over time more operations (wall movement).
Software Systems Research Group, UofA
2021
Building Model Rule-Editor Comparison
Ongoing project that looks to compare different methods for creating and editing Building Codes into
the Model-Checking Rule Language developed during my MSc. The comparison includes three editors:
1) Simple constraint-based editor in Windows Forms by me. 2) Blockly GUI editor by Samuel Jaeger.
3) Natural Language-based editor developed by a CMPUT401 Team as part of their final project with
myself acting as "client".
Collection of Tools/Applications and Web Services that together store, modify, and evaluate Building Information Modeling (BIM) models.
Preliminary Work for PhD research as a testbed for BIM related research. New tools being added over time.
Software Systems Research Group, UofA
2021
Occupancy Simulator for Contact Tracing
Due to the 2020 pandemic, we shifted some efforts towards creating a tool for simulating occupant behaviour
within a building. This was done to create an informative tool for determining and comparing building management scenarios
and the extent to which they reduce virus transmission.
Software Systems Research Group, UofA
2020
Virus Risk Predictor
A simple Unity simulation that has agents run around a field, predicting their risk of contracting a virus
based on different virus and population parameters. It then validates its prediction by injecting a virus and
observing the resulting effects. Done as part of an individual course project under Dr. Omid Ardakanian.
Department of Computing Science, UofA
2020
Image-To-Level Game Generator
Generated 2D game levels, such as Super Mario Bros, from images. The generated game levels were then
modified to better match true game levels using a repair phase, which was either using a trained Markov Chain
or Autoencoder. Done as part of a course project under Dr. Matthew Guzdial.
Department of Computing Science, UofA
2020
Rule-Based Building Model Checking and Automated Design
MSc Thesis. Developed a domain specific rule language for automatically checking 3D
building models. Language was then further utilized for a simplistic generative interior design case study.
Virtual Building Tour for City of Edmonton Proposed Designs
Served as a co-client with the City of Edmonton for a CMPUT401 group project. The group developed a virtual
building tour mobile application for proposed city building projects.
Software Systems Research Group, UofA
2018
Missing Data Imputation for Wireless Sensor Network
Comparison of missing data imputation techniques for wireless sensor networks given different sensor data
correlations from a real-world dataset. Done as part of an individual course project under Dr. Ioanis
Nikolaidis.
Department of Computing Science, UofA
2018
Augmented Reality on Building Information Models
Individual Course Project under Dr. Eleni Stroulia using BIMServer to store Ifc building models and Unity to
display them in an Augmented Reality scene, using QR codes for localization.
Software Systems Research Group, UofA
2017
Crane Simulator
Unity Game Engine based simulator for lift analysis and training. Supported the use of multiple users in a
single synchronized environment. Work done during the SIP with Dr. Zhen Lei.
Hole School of Construction Engineering, UofA
2016
Roof Sheathing Optimization
Application that uses Particle Swarm Optimization to search for roof sheathing configurations that reduce
waste and minimize the number of required cuts. Also included shop drawing for sheathing cutting and layouts.
Work was done with Dr. Hexu Liu during Science Internship Program (SIP).
Hole School of Construction Engineering, UofA
2016
FrameX: Automated Building Framing Addon to Autodesk Revit
Autodesk Revit Addon which automatically frames buildings based on user specifications. Other features
include automated drywall layout, shop drawing generation, multi-wall configuration, and CNC code generation.
Initial work started by Benjamin Holmwood and I during our SIP. Has since had a number of interns
work on it over the years which I trained and supervised.
