Dong Zhao, Ph.D., LEED AP
dongz@vt.edu
Dr. Zhao's research interests lie in a broad area of built environment with focuses on construction safety, construction informatics, sustainable construction, and housing studies. He has authored more than thirty referred publications in intentional journals, conference proceedings, and book chapters in the area of architecture, engineering, and construction. Dr. Zhao has been serving as a reviewer for more than ten international journals and conferences. He has professional experience from a variety of construction projects across America, Asia, and Australia as well.
Eric M. Wetzel, LEED-AP BD+C
emwetz@vt.edu
Ph.D. student, Environmental Design and Planning, Virginia Tech Cunningham Doctoral Scholar (Expected Dec. 2016)
Dissertation: An Integrated Product Model and Ontology for Safety Protocol during the Facility Management Phase
Maintenance and repair personnel in the field of facility management are at constant risk of electrical shock, falls, crushing, cuts and bruises, and as a result, have a much higher rate of injury and illness than the national average. This research attempts to mitigate the high incident rates by developing a BIM-based framework that presents task-specific, facility management safety related information to FM staff prior to the execution of a work activity.
Ao Chen
aochen@vt.edu
Ph.D. student, Myers-Lawson School of Construction
Ao is interested is researching information technology application such as VR and AR in construction safety management and safety training. He particularly likes studying the human factor and information recognition in safety. He has developed and commercialized several safety VR products and mobile apps that are currently used by the sponsoring companies and other partnership parties. Lately he is focusing on developing an AR glass application for supervising indoor construction safe behaviors.
