About

Aaron Costin is a faculty member at the UF College of Design, Construction and Planning. His research focuses on the integration of design, construction, and planning processes, emphasizing the development of innovative methods and tools to improve project outcomes. He has contributed to advancing knowledge in the field through his work on project management, construction technology, and design collaboration. His background includes extensive experience in the construction and design industries, which informs his academic and research pursuits. Costin's work aims to bridge the gap between theoretical frameworks and practical applications, fostering more efficient and sustainable building practices. His contributions are recognized for their impact on improving construction workflows and enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration within the built environment.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Data science
• Engineering
• Political Science
• Business
• Data Mining
• Artificial Intelligence
• Engineering management
• Marketing
• Transport engineering
• Internet privacy
• Management science
• Risk analysis (engineering)
• Advertising
• World Wide Web

Selected publications

• Autonomous Building Design for Manufacturing and Assembly: A Systematic Review of Design Application, Challenges, and Opportunities

  Journal of Construction Engineering and Management · 2024-06-25 · 5 citations

  reviewSenior author

  The growing demand for sustainable and affordable construction, paired with labor shortages, requires more efficient tools and methodologies. Industrialized construction (IC) is one solution that has the ability to address construction efficiency by utilizing techniques such as modularization, construction automation, and building information modeling. One particular aspect of IC is Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) since the design phase determines up to 80% of the operating costs. However, DfMA is yet to be implemented in the construction industry due to some challenges in DfMA that inhibit full implementation. The majority of construction manufacturers have to regenerate the construction drawings for manufacturing which add substantial time to the schedule. Delays are caused by the lack of coordination of these components, as well as assemblies’ connections, compliance with building codes, and other related policies. Although many scholarly manufacturing and assembly works have studied and reviewed various aspects, techniques, and applications of DfMA, none have looked at the design process, tools and methods, or challenges in design automation. Using a systematic literature review, this study reviews the most recent innovative design responses for manufacturing and assemblies, and tools and methods. The study then analyzes the identified challenges of DfMA automation and processes in the existing literature on the construction industry, such as the lack of autonomous design and construction manufacturing. The literature analysis suggests future studies are required to improve DfMA not only as a technique but as a design strategy, particularly during the design process and prior to the production phase. Finally, future directions are provided to lead the next generation of research to advance building construction. Significantly, the results of this research provide an up-to-date status on autonomous DfMA and contribute to the body of knowledge of IC by synthesizing the state-of-the-art of building design automation and methods for manufacture and assembly.

  PublisherDOI

• Novel framework for BIM interoperability for sustainability and green buildings - an application for concrete structures

  Journal of Information Technology in Construction · 2024-02-06 · 6 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The construction industry has a great impact on the environment, therefore sustainable construction presents itself as a growing requirement of society. However, the concern with green buildings must not only be considered during the construction stage, but also during the entire life cycle of the building, integrating all stages from the design up until the demolition. Ensuring that the information permeates this lifecycle without data losses is vital. This way, efficient interoperability can support sustainability, allowing data to feed the process, and promoting the creation of more sustainable buildings. BIM (Building Information Modeling) arises as a means to support interoperability improvements in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry, by sharing models through open formats and enabling communication amongst actors. This paper presents a framework for BIM interoperability, with the goal to support knowledge organization and aid users in the decision-making processes. It will allow users to track sustainability concepts throughout the entire green BIM lifecycle and to improve processes in the construction industry toward more interoperable processes, minimizing data loss, and improving communication and efficiency. The framework is presented through process mapping techniques to analyze and integrate sustainability concepts using BIM throughout the lifecycle of a building. This framework considers not only data interoperability but also other aspects such as process, business, and service interoperability. Also, an application of the framework is described, using the case of cast-in-place concrete structures. Research findings identified the critical data points in the lifecycle of concrete structures which can influence sustainability.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Digital Twin for Bridges and Structures: Practical Applications and Challenges

  American Society of Civil Engineers eBooks · 2024-09-23 · 1 citations

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Poster: Hardware Security for IoT Wireless Network

  2024-06-24 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author

  This composition describes an Internet of Things (IoT) system designed for applications typical to the construction industry, focusing on the protection of IoT devices against hardware attacks. An experimental test bed was designed, consisting of a heterogeneous set of sensors on five wireless nodes. The main goals of this work are to test the network’s functionality and performance before and after incorporation of a hardware security module. Observations were made regarding how the hardware security enhancements impacted the network’s efficiency. Specifically, the integration of the Hardware Security Module (HSM) has resulted in a 6.08% reduction in network latency; a 5.97% reduction in network connection time; and most notably, a reduction in encryption and decryption delay of 44.69% and 57.17%, respectively, over related techniques.

  PublisherDOI

• Efficacy of Bluetooth-Operated Heart Rate Monitors for Use in Construction

  UF Journal of Undergraduate Research · 2023-10-16

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  In the construction industry, workers are constantly exposed to different environmental and other hazards that pose risks to their health. Bluetooth-connected devices host the potential to reduce health risks to workers by tracking heart rate (HR), particularly upon implementation into an Internet of Things (IoT) framework. An Internet of Things (IoT) system is one in which multiple devices are connected to transmit information to each other in real-time. A literature and industry review has been conducted to determine which devices would be most applicable to monitor HR in an IoT system to accurately portray real-time worker conditions. Experimentally, the most applicable devices found were then put under field tests imitating traditional work conditions through the performance of specific activities. The performance and accuracy of the devices under these conditions were then evaluated from the data collected. The study has been designed to determine whether chest, finger, and wrist devices could be used to actively track HR. The devices used included the Viatom Wellue O2Ring finger monitor, Polar Ignite GPS Fitness Watch wrist monitor, and the Polar H10 chest monitor, serving as test cases to see if and by how much the location of the device on the body differed with the HR found. All three devices could connect to the IoT system and transmit data within a specific timeframe correctly. Covariance and standard deviations measured by the Viatom Wellue O2Ring finger monitor and the Polar Ignite GPS Fitness Watch trials among participants were above the normal thresholds, indicating non-negligible differences around the mean and showing disparities in the accuracy of these devices. Furthermore, the results were found to be too inaccurate for widespread commercial deployment for tracking mid to high HR levels while performing construction-related labor. Overall, the use of Bluetooth-connected devices to track workers’ HR and other vitals has the potential applicability to improve safety in hazardous environments. However, future technological development must occur before implementing predictive safety systems into real-time monitoring to effectively monitor laborers performing strenuous tasks in harsh environments.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• BIM and Ontology-Based DfMA Framework for Prefabricated Component

  Buildings · 2023-02-01 · 37 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The integration of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) into the design process of industrialized construction has the potential to reduce errors and changes occurring after the design has been finalized, ultimately improving overall productivity. Based on DfMA, the designers would need to consider whether their designs meet the architectural and performance requirements, as well as the manufacturing and assembly requirements from assembly and manufacturing technicians. However, some limitations present challenges for DfMA-oriented prefabricated design, such as lack of information interoperability, lack of conflict detection and management, and inefficient data processing and requirement checking. Thus, this research presents a novel BIM and ontology-based framework for DfMA of prefabricated and modular components. Various types of algorithms, plugins, and programming are also integrated to support the operation of the framework. The primary functions of this framework include: (1) collection of various stakeholder requirements in a standardized data format; (2) conflict detection and resolution between the design, manufacturing, and assembly requirements; and (3) automated compliance checking of whether the designed BIM models meet DfMA requirements. This research applies the framework on a prefabricated hotel project as a case study to validate the feasibility of the framework. Based on the results of a user experience survey, the developed framework shows promise for improving the DfMA process and stakeholder communication. Although a few limitations were encountered, such as the low computer operating speed and the limited ontology, the framework has been validated and shows great potential in advancing prefabricated component design applications

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Review and assessment of technical and legal challenges in application of unmanned aerial vehicles in monitoring and inspection of bridges

  Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure · 2023-01-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) initiated a paradigm shift in the operation and management of transportation infrastructure by automating data collection, processing, and management. The drive toward using robotics to automate operational tasks in infrastructure management has gained significant momentum in recent years, with the introduction of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), widely known as drones, being a notable milestone in this endeavor. UAVs reduced cost, time, and labor for tasks such as bridge monitoring while accelerating speed and precision such as structural scanning. Although not explicitly classified within the existing ITS categories, UAVs are becoming widely acknowledged as a valuable tool for improving the intelligent operation and management of transportation systems. Their potential to gather and transmit data in real time offers new opportunities for more accurate and timely decision-making as well as improved safety and efficiency within transportation infrastructure. Nevertheless, significant concerns remain regarding the use of UAVs, particularly in busy highways or densely populated metropolitan areas. Engineering and technical challenges, privacy and safety concerns, potential liabilities, and audio-visual disturbance for the public are among the issues that have impeded the widespread adoption and full integration of UAVs as complementary tools for ITS. This paper conducts a comprehensive review of the potential applications of UAVs for infrastructure and bridge structural health monitoring, while also evaluating the challenges associated with their utilization in this context. Furthermore, the paper discusses the ramifications of these challenges and emphasizes the areas that necessitate further attention and investigation by future research.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• DETERMINING THE OPTIMUM LOCATION OF TWO-FLEXIBLE OUTRIGGER SYSTEMS IN TALL BUILDINGS USING ENERGY METHOD

  Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction · 2023-08-01

  article

  Construction of tall buildings has been rapidly increasing worldwide, introducing new challenges that demand rigorous engineering. Structural and nonstructural damage to tall buildings can be minimized by implementing appropriate lateral resisting systems, such as the outrigger and belt-truss system. The location of outrigger and belt-truss systems plays a critical role in the behavior, structural integrity, safety, and overall construction cost of tall buildings subjected to lateral loads; thus, they should be selected carefully. This research develops a framework that can determine the optimum location of two flexible outrigger and belt-truss systems in skyscrapers subjected to uniform lateral loading. To achieve this goal, an energy method is applied to maximize the outrigger and belt-truss system’s strain energy. In this approach, the framed tube and effect of outrigger and belt-truss systems on shear core are modeled as a cantilevered hollow section beam with orthotropic plates and rotational springs placed at outrigger and belt-truss location respectively. The optimal location is determined where the rotational spring absorbs the most amount of energy; and this is accomplished by setting the first derivative of the energy equation with respect to the spring’s location, as measured from the structure’s base, to zero. The practical graph developed in this research can aid engineers during the preliminary design of tall buildings for quick calculation of the optimum locations of outrigger and belt-truss systems.

  PublisherDOI

• Integration of Building Information Modeling Interoperability into Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of Bridge Substructures

  Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board · 2023-04-04 · 5 citations

  article

  Acceptance of building information modeling (BIM) throughout the bridge industry is widely recognized as inevitable. However, while adoption of BIM technologies has proliferated throughout the building industry, advances pertaining to BIM for bridges and other structures remain underway. The present study aims to increase the potential for integrating BIM processes into software packages that possess capabilities for nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) of bridge substructures. Moreover, the present study is intended to galvanize stakeholders within the area of soil–structure interaction (SSI) modeling and analysis to more effectively participate in interoperability workflows as part of bridge design. A proof-of-concept exporter tool was formulated in a modular manner to robustly export finite element model data stored in a selected SSI analysis package into the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard, with the IFC standard chosen as the target schema owing to its widespread usage in the construction industry. The ability of the exporter tool to—with fidelity—convert a model from the selected analysis software to the IFC standard is showcased through an illustrative case study. In carrying out the case study, collections of geotechnical modeling parameters were identified that, while being common to numerous nonlinear SSI analysis packages, are not present in the existing IFC schema. Inclusion of these parameters in the IFC schema is proposed, serving to: 1) lower the barrier for entry of SSI modeling and analysis stakeholders to take part in interoperability processes and 2) encourage adoption of novel BIM processes in the bridge industry.

  PublisherDOI

• Poster Abstract: An IoT Mesh Network for a Smart Refrigeration Monitoring System

  2023-04-26

  article

  A major challenge of the next decade is food scarcity and food waste. Smart automation refrigeration systems have emerged, but the devices, methods and outcomes vary significantly. In this work, a smart refrigerator IoT infrastructure is built to investigate system reliability and consistency across heterogeneous data collection devices. The system uses IP-based communications, wireless sensor data, cloud storage and processing, controller actuation, and an mobile app. A temperature report case study provides preliminary results.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Elements: Cyberinfrastructure Service for IoT-Based Construction Research and Applications

  NSF · $455k · 2020–2023

Frequent coauthors

• N. Pietralla

  Technical University of Darmstadt

  153 shared

• O. Möller

  Horia Hulubei National Institute for R and D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering

  151 shared

• C. Fransen

  University of Cologne

  132 shared

• P. Petkov

  128 shared

• A. Gadea

  125 shared

• D. Tonev

  Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

  124 shared

• M. Nespolo

  Université de Lorraine

  123 shared

• B. Melon

  Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Firenze

  123 shared

Labs

• DCP (Design, Construction and Planning) LabPI