About

Ahmad Hadavi is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University, an M.B.A. affiliated with Harvard at the Iran Center for Management Studies, and a B.S. from Iran University of Science and Technology. His research interests include the Metaverse, VR/AR/MR applications in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC), construction methods and innovations, lean construction, international construction, productivity improvement, and construction project control. Hadavi has contributed to advancing the integration of emerging digital technologies such as BIM, VR, and extended reality in the AEC industry, focusing on enhancing project delivery, design, and construction education.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Engineering
• World Wide Web
• Engineering management
• Human–computer interaction
• Business
• Systems engineering
• Software engineering
• Knowledge management
• Operations management
• Process management

Selected publications

• Leveraging AI to Enhance XR in the AEC Industry

  Lecture notes in civil engineering · 2025-01-01

  book-chapterSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• From BIM to metaverse for AEC industry

  Automation in Construction · 2024 · 59 citations

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Computer Science
  • Computer Science
  • Software engineering

  BIM-to-Metaverse offers benefits to the AEC industry, but the challenge of efficiently and effectively implementing it will be formidable and require several years. The objective of this study is to identify the outsourcing forms of this new technology for construction project stakeholders and to explore its associated implementation challenges. Specifically addressed will be (a) innovations in XR technologies and how to convert BIM models to XR models for visualization in the metaverse, (b) an integrated definition function (IDEF0) model that describes how to prepare the BIM model for metaverse, (c) a use case for utilizing metaverse in the AEC industry and an evaluation of the concerns that must be resolved prior to successful implementation, and (d) an example illustrating the process. The metaverse implementation in design and construction can enhance collaboration, productivity, and quality but implementation cost, data security, and hardware and software interoperability are major challenges in its implementation.

  PublisherDOI

• Metaverse for AEC: A SWOT Analysis

  2024-01-25 · 6 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding

  The metaverse concept as a science fiction concept has been around for a few decades, but new computing technologies have made it a reality in 2021 with Microsoft Mesh for Teams for Hololens, Meta Horizon Worlds and Workrooms for Oculus Quest, Nvidia Omniverse, HTC Viveverse, and many other apps for any type of head-mounted devices. While analysts estimate a market size as high as $13 trillion by 2030, there are challenges ahead. Despite growing interest in the metaverse across various industries, there is currently a lack of literature and research on the topic in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. The objective of this paper is to present the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of this new mode of communication based on published articles in other industries. This study highlights the challenges for future efforts involving the implementation of metaverse in the AEC industry.

  PublisherDOI

• Integrating The Last Planner System and Metaverse

  2024-01-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  This paper presents an exploration of integrating the Last Planner System (LPS) and metaverse to transform project management in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. By combining LPS with metaverse's virtual collaborative environments, this study highlights the potential for improved visualization, communication, and global collaboration with the ultimate goal to enhance project outcomes in efficiency, cost, and quality. Through a use case study utilizing Meta Quest 3, the paper demonstrates the practical applications and benefits of this integration. The study presents a roadmap for future efforts to implement LPS within metaverse virtual environment for the AEC industry and introduces a new approach for digital age project management.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Synergies of Lean, BIM, and Extended Reality (LBX) for Project Delivery Management

  Sustainability · 2023-03-10 · 24 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry stands to benefit tremendously from the integration of lean construction (LC), building information modeling (BIM), and extended reality (XR) technologies at all stages of a project. These technologies enable multidimensional content viewing and collaboration through cloud-based systems and in real-scale environments, resulting in higher levels of efficiency. The aim of this research is to offer an integrative approach that combines project management philosophies, systems, technologies, and tools. The sections containing the results of this study are as follows. (1) A concise review of the benefits of LC, BIM, and XR technologies in the AEC industry, including BIM-based visualization support for LC (Lean-BIM) and BIM visualization in XR (BIM-XR). This section also presents an overview of the most commonly used wearable XRs on the market. (2) The presentation of an LBX process flow diagram and an IDEF0 diagram for the LBX project delivery management system at each stage of AEC projects, including design, construction, and operation. (3) Two possible scenarios for integrated lean, BIM, and XR implementation are suggested, referred to as “in the office” and “online or semi-online LBX meetings”. (4) An analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the LBX management system, practical implications, and open challenges of applying LBX to project management tasks. Overall, this study presents an enormous opportunity to increase the quality of construction project planning, understanding, and performance, and provides a roadmap for future efforts to implement the integration of LC, BIM, and XR technologies in the AEC industry.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Assessment of AEC Students’ Performance Using BIM-into-VR

  Applied Sciences · 2021 · 89 citations

  • Computer Science
  • Engineering
  • Engineering management

  Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Virtual reality (VR) have attracted growing attention within the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry in recent years. Integration of BIM and VR technology can develop workflow efficiency through enhanced common understanding and prepare students in architecture and engineering programs to become leaders of the AEC industry. However, the current shortage of AEC professionals trained in BIM and VR is still a barrier to collaborative working practice in this industry. This paper reviews previous work on the BIM, VR, and BIM-into-VR in AEC education/training to bridge this gap. It also presents an advanced framework to clarify creating and using the BIM model into VR workflow in the AEC industry through the integrated definition function (IDEF0) model. The authors further evaluated the BIM-into-VR applications in literature and real-life by surveying students’ learning performance in terms of eight characteristics relevant to the VR environment and students’ performance within two projects, one involving the “NASA Mars Habitat Project” and the other involving the “Norris Center Project” at Northwestern University. The results confirmed that BIM-into-VR usability and efficiency in improving students’ main learning performance characteristics: Learnability, Interoperability, Visualization, Real-world, Interaction, Creativity, Motivation, and Comfort. This study addresses the advantages of using BIM-into-VR in AEC programs. It also offers suggestions to AEC educators and students in implementing BIM-into-VR in different courses and creating a roadmap for their future as professionals in the AEC industry.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• From BIM to extended reality in AEC industry

  Automation in Construction · 2020 · 452 citations

  • Computer Science
  • Engineering management
  • Computer Science
  PublisherDOI

• Educating Project Managers For The Construction Industry

  2020-09-03 · 2 citations

  articleSenior author

  With the increasing complexity of constructing and maintaining infrastructure facilities, there has been a growing need for civil and environmental engineers to supplement their technical and managerial skills through advanced degrees in engineering and management.ASCE has clearly supported this idea by adopting the master's degree (or its equivalent) as the first professional degree.The means to acquire additional technical expertise has been addressed quite adequately by a variety of master's degree programs at many universities throughout the country, but the challenge to impart the requisite managerial skills has not been satisfied very effectively.The latter is based on the premise that an MBA education is not ideal for managing large public and private projects which require managers with considerable technical expertise, as well as managerial skills.The Master of Project Management (MPM) program at Northwestern University has been established in response to this specific need in the construction industry.The program's multidisciplinary approach combines essential components of civil engineering design with concepts of business management and behavioral science to develop technically qualified individuals for responsible management roles in the design, construction, and operation of major engineering projects.The particular features that make this program particularly responsive to this need are (a) it is taught almost exclusively by a faculty of more than 20 highlevel practitioners, (b) the student body is truly global to enhance the multicultural aspects of the current market, (c) the course selections are very flexible and custom-designed to meet the needs and objectives of each individual, (d) the program is dynamic and courses are continually added or deleted as the situation dictates, (e) courses are scheduled to accommodate both full-time and part-time students, and (f) strong emphasis is placed on the development and improvement of communication skills, both oral and written.One of the major impediments to the more widespread implementation of this program is the fact that the industry, as a whole, is not very supportive of employee participation -both in terms of financial remuneration for tuition and time-off to attend classes.In addition to the degree program, individual courses can be taken to earn a credential or to satisfy PDHs for professional registration.

  PublisherDOI

• BIM/MR-Lean Construction Project Delivery Management System

  2019-06-01 · 43 citations

  article

  The objective of this research is to create and conceptualize an integrative approach based on project management philosophies, systems, technologies, and tools. Some of the major issues that construction companies face with projects are finding design and construction mistakes before implementation; understanding details, processes, change orders, and requests for information; and lack of collaboration among project stakeholders. This paper aims to address these gaps, using a project delivery method that incorporates early stakeholder engagement. It is organized as follows: first, to define the status of this research area, the paper provides a concise review of the most recent papers about BIM, Lean, MR, BIM-Lean, and BIM-MR technologies that have appeared in peer-reviewed journals and international conference proceedings. Second, to guide the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, the paper presents a BIM/MRLean-based project delivery management model that is based on flowchart and integrated definition function modeling (IDEF0) language. Finally, the paper highlights the advantages and challenges of the system under discussion. This paper provides a roadmap for future efforts toward implementing a BIM/MR-Lean-based management system in all stages of the construction industry. Such a management system provides significant opportunities to improve the quality of planning, understanding, and also performance of construction projects.

  PublisherDOI

• Virtual Reality for Design and Construction Education Environment

  2019-04-02 · 81 citations

  article

  In the last few years, the application of VR has exponentially grown to give visually large field-of-view from planning to execution stages of any types of civil infrastructure systems. Handling the complexity and uncertainty of construction projects, however, requires well-prepared architects and engineers. Architecture and civil engineering students are also expected to go through the proper training to be well-equipped for this challenge. VR has proved a helpful tool for architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) education environments with the aim to leave a lasting impact on a student’s learning and experience. The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief review of the most recent VR systems in the design and construction industry and the education environment. The paper also evaluates the use of VR in a two-pronged approach by conducting a comprehensive literature review and interviewing students in the master of project management (MPM) program. This paper could provide a roadmap for future efforts to implement VR into the architectural and construction industry as well as the education environment.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Raymond J. Krizek

  19 shared

• Sepehr Alizadehsalehi

  Northwestern University

  8 shared

• Joseph Chuenhuei Huang

  Northwestern University

  4 shared

• David Novick

  3 shared

• Chian-Hsueng Chao

  National University of Kaohsiung

  3 shared

• Wei Lo

  Guangxi University of Finance and Economics

  3 shared

• Yingchun Zhang

  North University of China

  2 shared

• Dansong Wang

  Zhongshan Hospital

  2 shared

Education

• PhD, Civil Engineering

  Northwestern University

  1991