Established by the Faculty of Engineering in 2019, the Construction Innovation Centre (CIC) at the University of Alberta has become a vital hub for industry evolution. By uniting more than 30 faculty members and 50 industry partners under one umbrella, the CIC is dedicated to providing breakthrough research and training that directly benefits Canada’s construction sector.
At the heart of the CIC’s work is the integration of cutting-edge technology. The centre is home to a suite of advanced robots designed to handle complex tasks, from automated masonry to building science applications. By combining this hardware with sophisticated AI, researchers are streamlining construction processes, enhancing safety and driving the sustainable development of our built environment.
Led by director Ali Golabchi, the CIC’s mission is to provide cutting-edge research, education and training that will lead to the sustainable and economic development of our built environment and a competitive advantage for the Canadian construction industry.
Shambel Assefa Esheti, a graduate research assistant fellow, uses a VR headset that simulates a cycling experience during a transportation system experiment.
Zhong Wang, a graduate research assistant fellow, interacts with a hexapod robot on the ground during a robotics experiment.
Left to right: graduate teaching assistant Niromand Jasimi, CIC executive director Ali Golabchi, graduate student Mohammad Rezaeiashtiani and graduate teaching assistant Negar Riahi conduct a biomechanical experiment, fitting and calibrating an exoskeleton device.
Graduate research assistant fellow Kexin Liu participates in a VR construction experiment, navigating and interacting with a simulated construction site environment.
Graduate research assistant fellow Amira Saleh works on data analysis and computational research.
Graduate research assistant fellows Kexin Liu and Zeyu Mao conduct an augmented reality collaboration experiment, sharing an AR environment using smart glasses and handheld controllers.
PhD researcher Mohammed Sabek studies computer vision in construction, presenting and analyzing real-time equipment performance data on display.
Graduate teaching assistant Eren Shahrokhishahraki and PhD researcher Mohammad Rezaeiashtiani set up an electroencephalogram (EEG) headset during a neurotechnology experiment.
Graduate research assistant fellow Muhammad Talha introduces a heavy-lift drone with sensors for inspection research.
Graduate teaching assistant Yuezhen Gao operates and monitors a robotic arm performing object manipulation tasks using a tablet controller in a collaborative robotics experiment.
Graduate research assistant fellow Shambel Assefa Esheti conducting data analysis and computational work.
Graduate teaching assistant Yuezhen Gao and graduate research assistant fellow Muhammad Talha demonstrating and controlling a dual-arm robotic manipulation system during a teleoperation robotics experiment.
Left to right: CIC executive director Ali Golabchi and graduate teaching assistants Niromand Jasimi and Negar Riahi analyze exoskeleton motion and signal data during biomechanical research.