About

Phillip Dunston is a Professor of Civil and Construction Engineering at Purdue University and serves as the Dean's Faculty Fellow for HBCU Engagement. His research focuses on civil engineering, with particular emphasis on areas related to construction engineering and urban informatics. As a recognized leader in his field, he contributes to advancing knowledge and practices within civil engineering disciplines, fostering engagement with historically black colleges and universities, and promoting diversity and inclusion in engineering education and research.

Research topics

• Sociology
• Social Science
• Engineering
• Engineering management
• Engineering ethics
• Medical education
• Pedagogy
• Medicine
• Computer Science
• Systems engineering
• Human–computer interaction
• Simulation
• Psychology

Selected publications

• Pocket LiDAR for Dimensional Measurement of Precast Concrete Panels

  Open MIND · 2026-04-14

  otherOpen access

  This study evaluates the feasibility of pocket LiDAR as a low-cost solution for dimensional quality control (QC) of precast concrete elements. Traditional methods rely on manual tape measurements, which are labor-intensive and prone to human error. High-precision technologies such as terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) are expensive and difficult to operate. To bridge this gap, this research assesses pocket LiDAR based on comparisons with TLS and tape measurements through controlled experiments. Point cloud data of a concrete slab specimen were collected in both pre-casting and post-casting stages using TLS and an iPhone LiDAR system. The datasets were evaluated in terms of point cloud fidelity, dimensional accuracy, and compliance with industry tolerances. Results show that pocket LiDAR achieved a root mean square error (RMSE) of 5.5 mm in rebar position measurements compared to TLS, significantly outperforming tape measurements (45.8 mm RMSE). For concrete dimensional measurements, pocket LiDAR demonstrated comparable accuracy to tape measurements. Compliance analysis further indicated that pocket LiDAR can reliably identify most tolerance violations in rebar position and concrete dimension, although minor discrepancies were observed in borderline cases. Overall, pocket LiDAR demonstrates strong potential as a practical alternative for rapid and automated QC in precast construction.

  PublisherDOI

• Pocket LiDAR for Dimensional Measurement of Precast Concrete Panels

  Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026-04-14

  otherOpen access

  This study evaluates the feasibility of pocket LiDAR as a low-cost solution for dimensional quality control (QC) of precast concrete elements. Traditional methods rely on manual tape measurements, which are labor-intensive and prone to human error. High-precision technologies such as terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) are expensive and difficult to operate. To bridge this gap, this research assesses pocket LiDAR based on comparisons with TLS and tape measurements through controlled experiments. Point cloud data of a concrete slab specimen were collected in both pre-casting and post-casting stages using TLS and an iPhone LiDAR system. The datasets were evaluated in terms of point cloud fidelity, dimensional accuracy, and compliance with industry tolerances. Results show that pocket LiDAR achieved a root mean square error (RMSE) of 5.5 mm in rebar position measurements compared to TLS, significantly outperforming tape measurements (45.8 mm RMSE). For concrete dimensional measurements, pocket LiDAR demonstrated comparable accuracy to tape measurements. Compliance analysis further indicated that pocket LiDAR can reliably identify most tolerance violations in rebar position and concrete dimension, although minor discrepancies were observed in borderline cases. Overall, pocket LiDAR demonstrates strong potential as a practical alternative for rapid and automated QC in precast construction.

  PublisherDOI

• Effect of Motion Feedback on Skill Acquisition: Training Performance using an Excavator Simulator

  Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting · 2023-09-01 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author

  Excavator simulators provide the primary advantage to construction industry workers of allowing safe and cost-effective training to occur, as compared to using physical equipment. Whether training benefits from equipping the simulator with a platform that simulates motion is a subject of interest, but it has been addressed previously mainly within flight and driving simulator research. Because there are unique aspects of the motion feedback in excavator simulators, we studied its inclusion in the present experiment. Novice participants performed Block 1 of a session operating an excavator simulator without the motion platform being activated. Then, half the participants performed Blocks 2 and 3 with motion activated and half without, after which both groups were tested without the motion platform in Block 4. Substantial improvements in productivity and time to complete the task across the four blocks were evident for both groups, with no significant difference between the groups in Blocks 1 and 4 (where both groups had no motion) or Blocks 2 and 3 (in which one group had motion and the other did not). Thus, this study found no evidence that the motion platform had a benefit or cost to improvement of performance in the excavator simulator.

  PublisherDOI

• Human Interactions with an Excavator Simulator: Assessing Two Patterns of Joystick Control Mappings

  Automation, collaboration, and e-services · 2022 · 1 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Computer Science
  • Computer Science
  • Simulation
  PublisherDOI

• Development Of The Reinvigorating Engineering And Changing History (Reach) Program: A Cohort Experience For First Time Graduate Students

  2020

  • Sociology
  • Social Science
  • Engineering ethics

  Abstract NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract Development of the Reinvigorating Engineering and Changing History (REACH) Program: A Cohort Experience for First-Time Graduate Students Abstract In 2009, the Reinvigorating Engineering and Changing History (REACH) Scholars Program was developed at a Midwestern University to offer qualified Master’s and direct Ph.D. engineering students opportunities to explore multiple academic pathways and to work closely with their peers and with faculty to create a community of scholars who will be prepared broadly for careers across multiple domains. Informed from research, a central feature of the REACH Scholars Program is the use of a multiple apprenticeship model consisting of five features (intentionality; multiple relationships; collective responsibility; recognition; and respect, trust, and reciprocity) in which mentors will introduce Scholars to the engineering community and will provide them with a variety of perspectives to help them succeed as Scholars. The implementation of these five tenets enhances the professional development of Scholars via intentionally establishing multiple mentoring relationships within a collaborative learning environment. Other features of the program include Scholar participation in professional development workshops and seminars; engagement in research and grant writing groups; collaboration with existing campus programs to create sustainable communities across diverse graduate student populations; and the development of research skills. This paper provides an overview of the program and research questions that are being explored via the participation of students and mentors in the program. Project Objectives and Plans The Reinvigorating Engineering and Changing History (REACH) Scholars Program offers qualified Master’s and direct Ph.D. engineering students opportunities to explore multiple academic pathways and to work closely with their peers, with alumni, and with faculty to create a community of scholars who will be prepared broadly for careers across multiple domains. Several aspects of this program have been informed by internal interviews with current graduate students, faculty, and administrators and by research identifying components that are most likely to promote student success within graduate engineering programs. Findings from interviews with stakeholders provided much insight into challenges facing many domestic engineering students entering their first year of graduate school. First, many domestic graduate students have difficulty transitioning from undergraduate programs to graduate engineering programs. This is particularly true for students graduating from colleges and universities located in urban environments, for students graduating from minority-serving institutions or predominantly undergraduate institutions, or for students whose undergraduate academic programs were not as rigorous as those offered elsewhere. Second, many domestic students who enroll in a Master’s program are not offered funding during their first semester. Reasons for this include previously enrolled graduate students garnering prime research assistantships, higher funding priorities being given to engineering Ph.D. students, and a preference for many engineering faculty to work with international students whose technical skills may be more developed at their time of enrollment than the skills of domestic students. Finally, students reported the lack of community present for graduate engineering students when

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Experiences of Scholars in the Reinvigorating Engineering and Changing History Program: A Case Study of the First Graduate Student Cohort

  2020 · 2 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Sociology
  • Social Science
  • Medical education

  The focus of this paper lies in the understanding of the experiences of five scholars from underrepresented groups in the Reinvigorating Engineering and Changing History (REACH) Program using a case study framework. Fieldnotes of the REACH scholars' activities and meetings and one-on-one interviews with REACH scholars were the main data sources to understand scholars' experiences in the REACH program. Their experiences include transitioning from undergraduate to graduate school, mentoring through and outside of the REACH program, and professional development trajectories. Findings from our case-by-case analyses offer a unique perspective on the challenges in their transitioning from undergraduate programs to graduate engineering programs, their mentoring experiences throughout the first year of graduate school and the different supports they received from REACH or other programs. The findings on the scholars' experiences provide direct feedback for the REACH program and also inform our next steps in the evaluation effort. Moreover, implications from this study offer practical suggestions for the transitioning from undergraduate to graduate programs and the development of mentoring support for graduate students.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Integrating IoT into operational workflows for real-time and automated decision-making in repetitive construction operations

  Automation in Construction · 2018-07-19 · 116 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Intelligent Compaction of Soils—Data Interpretation and Role in QC/QA Specifications

  2018-09-26 · 4 citations

  reportOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  This report describes a study of intelligent compaction (IC) technologies, within the context of actual construction projects, for its potential as a component of INDOT’s QC/QA for soils. The output from an IC-equipped roller compaction equipment is a real-time area mapping of the compacted lift stiffness as captured by the IC measure. Data was collected to evaluate the correlation between each of two IC measures—compaction meter value (CMV) and machine drive power (MDP)—and in situ embankment quality test measures, the chief in situ test being the dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) test which INDOT uses for soil embankment acceptance testing. Researchers sought to understand how well the IC measures might assess embankment quality as currently evaluated by the in situ measures. Window-averaged IC measures were compared with the in situ DCP test points. For CMV, a variable correlation was found between the average CMV and DCP values from 74 in situ locations. Also, a limited head-to-head comparison of CMV and MDP with the in situ measures provided some indication that MDP should be studied further. Lessons were learned regarding the elimination of bias in future correlation studies, critical provisions to facilitate best data quality, and important aspects of data management. IC technology holds promise for monitoring the consistency of the soil compaction effort and flagging weak areas in real time during compaction operations. However, further insight is needed regarding the correlation of the DCP measure with both types of IC measures for various soil characterizations and field moisture conditions.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Establishing Pathways to the Professoriate for Underrepresented Minority Students

  2018-05-10

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Title: Establishing Pathways to the Professoriate for Underrepresented Minority Students A grant from the Provost’s Office at a large Midwestern university is supporting a program to establish pathways to the professoriate for underrepresented minority students from minority serving institutions (MSIs). This paper will describe how underrepresented minority undergraduate students with either an expressed interest in pursuing, or the potential to pursue, a faculty career in engineering are identified, what opportunities are being provided to help them prepare for a faculty career, and the students’ reactions to the opportunities thus far. Identification of underrepresented minority students at MSIs who have the potential to become engineering faculty members begins with developing networks of research-active faculty members at the MSIs and the large Midwestern university. Faculty members visit each other’s institutions, present research seminars, and explore opportunities for collaborative research that will involve undergraduate and graduate students. When faculty members from the Midwestern university visit MSIs, they also talk with students there about graduate school, including how to pay for it, and faculty careers. MSI faculty members and senior staff identify students from the MSIs who are one or two years from graduation and have an interest in research. Those students are encouraged to apply to a summer undergraduate research program at the Midwestern university, and if selected, they are matched with a faculty member conducting research in an area of interest to the student. After the summer experience, the faculty member at the Midwestern university and the student’s advisor at the MSI co-mentor the student. Together, the faculty members help the student prepare for graduate school and encourage him or her to apply. They help the student identify graduate programs that would be a good fit (not necessarily the large Midwestern university), prepare an application for graduate school, and identify and apply for appropriate fellowships. To date, nine participants in the Pathways to the Professoriate program have had an opportunity to provide comments on the 2016 summer research experience. In a 90-minute discussion, the students answered questions such as what attracted them to the program, what aspects should be emphasized when advertising such a program, and how, when, and by whom that information should be provided. Responses to all of the questions will be presented in the paper, but one of many insights provided by the participants was as follows: while many undergraduates have had internships of various durations in industry and feel that they understand what a job in industry entails, few have had an “internship” as a graduate student. The summer “internship” as a graduate student confirmed for almost all participants that they want to pursue graduate work. Following discussions with the participants, a new component of the program, dubbed Early Pathways, is being planned for the spring. Early Pathways will bring younger MSI students to the Midwestern university campus for a couple of days to talk with faculty and graduate students, visit laboratories, and learn about the interesting, rewarding work faculty members do.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Proof Rolling of Foundation Soil and Prepared Subgrade During Construction

  2018-02-26 · 4 citations

  reportOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Proof rolling provides a method to examine the entire subgrade surface as a compliment to standard random acceptance testing. Proof rolling requires established criteria that account for the interplay of equipment parameters and soil characteristics, technique, and other specifics of the project to allow for proper interpretation. The researchers concluded that proof rolling is not appropriate for determining soil elastic properties, while it can reveal in situ strength properties. No information from state highway agencies (SHA) publications or interviews reports using proof rolling other than for the evaluation of the subgrade. Only eight SHA’s have notable specifications or other supporting documents containing significant guidance or criteria. The requirements provided for use of either of two equipment types—tandem-axle rear dump trucks and chariot-style rollers—and a range of evaluation criteria based on soil type and whether the project is new construction or re-construction. Recommendations provided fall within parameters practiced by states that have the most well-developed specifications and practices for proof rolling. The recommendations include: evaluation is of the subgrade only and the equipment shall be either a tandem-axle rear dump truck or a tri-axle rear dump truck (with raised third axle) loaded to a minimum gross weight of 20 tons. The chariot-style roller loaded to a minimum gross weight of 40 tons could be alternatively specified. The test shall be a single pass in each traffic lane with the passing criteria of a 1″ deflection for new construction and ½″ deflection for re-constructed or stabilized subgrade, as well as the absence of pumping and cracking.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Skill Development and Transfer from Virtual Training Systems

  NSF · $130k · 2007–2011

• CAREER: Mixed Reality Science and Technology for Architecture Engineering and Construction

  NSF · $426k · 2003–2009

Frequent coauthors

• Xiangyu Wang

  Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology

  35 shared

• John Gambatese

  Oregon State University

  27 shared

• James F. McManus

  Glen Ellyn Public Library

  18 shared

• Audeen Fentiman

  Purdue University West Lafayette

  17 shared

• Robert W. Proctor

  15 shared

• Monica Cox

  American Society For Engineering Education

  11 shared

• Demetra Evangelou

  Purdue University West Lafayette

  11 shared

• Jiabin Zhu

  Shanghai Jiao Tong University

  11 shared

Education

• PhD, Civil Engineering

  North Carolina State University

  1995

Awards & honors

• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2003-2008)
• Best Technical (Paper) Award for "Virtual Visualization for…
• University of Washington Presidential Faculty Development Fe…
• First recipient of the Washington NASA Space Grant's Faculty…
• ACI Construction Practice Award, awarded by the American Con…