Dr Fernanda Leite

Keynote Title: Automated 3D Modeling and Visual Storytelling: Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries

Dr Fernanda Leite is an Associate Professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Fernanda Leite is an Associate Professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr Lite holds the John A. Focht Centennial Teaching Fellowship in Civil Engineering. She is an IAspire Leadership Development Fellow and the Chair of a University-wide Grand Challenges Initiative called Planet Texas 2050. Her technical interests include building and civil information modeling, and collaboration and coordination technologies. At UT-Austin, Dr. Leite teaches courses on Building Information Modeling, Project Management and Economics, and Sustainable Systems Engineering. Her funded research projects have focused on building and civil information modeling; advanced work packaging; 3D modeling for construction planning; autonomous 3D model generation; and virtual reality.

Keynote Abstract:

The architecture, engineering, construction, and facility management (AECFM) industry has been experiencing many changes since inexpensive networked, mobile computing devices have become ubiquitous. We have also significantly benefitted from learning and working across our traditional disciplinary boundaries. With the rising amount of information and data generated in the life cycle of capital projects, information modeling and data interoperability have become a critical element in design, engineering, construction, and maintenance of capital facilities. Recent advances in building information modeling (BIM) have the potential to address a number of these pressing challenges. The objective of this talk is to discuss challenges and ongoing research in BIM, including: design coordination; automated BIM upkeep; and virtual reality via visual storytelling.