Research

Research Interests

  • Pavement Management Systems
  • Parametric Modeling and Visualization in Design and Construction
  • Deep Learning in Construction

Funded Research Projects

  • Co-PI, “Developing Standards-Based Education Modules for Building Information Modeling.” National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 10/1/2022-9/30/2024, $99,942. (PI: Dr. Weimin Wang).
  • PI, “Evaluating Primary and Secondary Roadway Pavement Conditions using Deep Learning.” NCDOT, 8/1/2022-7/21/2024, $442,060
  • PI, “Development of Pavement Performance Models using New Breakpoints and Pretreatment Conditions.” NCDOT, 8/1/2019-7/31/2021, $323,960.
  • PI, “Development of an Integrated GIS‐Based Pavement Management System.” Targeted Research Internal Seed Program (TRISP), the Charlotte Research Institute, UNC Charlotte (UNC Charlotte-SOTL), 7/1/2018-6/30/2019, $53,152.
  • Co-PI, “Capturing and Communicating the Value of NCDOT Research.”NCDOT, 7/1/2016-6/30/2017, $106,000. (PI: Dr. Tom Nicholas).
  • Co-PI, “A Study on Fatigue Damage Mechanisms of Panels of Glass Façades.” National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), 1/1/2016-12/31/2019, ¥ 804,600 ($123,575 as of 1/1/2016) (PI: Dr. Jingming Ma).
  • PI, “Development of Performance Curves for Composite Pavements in PMS.” NCDOT, 8/1/2015-8/31/2018, $257,445.
  • PI, “Setting Appropriate Benefit/Condition Jumps for Pavement Treatments in PMS.” NCDOT, 8/1/2015-5/31/2018, $260,903.
  • PI, “Evaluation of Benefit Weight Factors and Decision Trees for Automated Distress Data Models.” NCDOT, 8/16/2014-12/31/2017, $256,902.
  • PI, “Development and Validation of Pavement Deterioration Models and Analysis Weight Factors.” NCDOT, 4/16/2011-6/30/2014, $278,639.
  • PI, “Development of IRI Limits and Targets for Network Management and Construction Approval Purposes.” NCDOT, 8/16/2012-8/15/2014, $347,736.
  • Co-PI,  “Inclusion of Maintenance in Life Cycle Costs of Flexible and Rigid Pavements.” North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), 8/16/2012-8/15/2014, $180,660. (PI: Dr. John Hildreth).
  • Co-PI, “Generating Construction Schedules Using OPEN BIM (Building Information Modeling) Based ifCXML Technology in Highway Constructions.” Korea Institute of Construction Technology, 3/1/2013-11/30/2013, $29,099. (PI: Dr. Hyunjoo Kim).
  • PI, “A Project-Based Integrated Work/Review Cycle (PBIWR) for Design and Learning of Accelerated Construction Monitoring.” UNC Charlotte Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (UNC Charlotte-SOTL), 1/10/2011-12/16/2011, $8,780.

  • In 2016, two pavement projects led by Dr. Chen were selected by the AASHTO Value of Research Task Force as examples of state DOTs provid­ing “Transportation Excellence through Research”:
    • Development and Validation of Pavement Deterioration Models and Analysis Weight Factors for the NCDOT Pavement Management System (Phase I: Windshield Survey Data)
    • Development of IRI Limits and Targets for Network Management and Construction Approval Purposes

Graduate Students

Master Students:

  • Darren Thompson, Fall 2012
  • Michael Dye, Fall 2014
  • Sherri Fang, Fall 2014
  • Steven James, Fall 2015
  • Salman Khan, Spring 2017
  • Chaitali Ramakant Patil, Fall 2018
  • Gouree Prakash Patil, Fall 2018
  • Rishab Goud, Spring 2019

Ph.D. Student:

  • Sherri Fang, Spring 2017
  • Tamim Adnan, Fall 2021 –