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Achim MengesView profile

Research Professor

• Computational Design
• Robotic Construction
• Biomimetic Architecture
• +5 more

Achim Menges is a Research Professor and Max Planck Fellow at the University of Stuttgart, where he directs the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD). His work bridges architecture, engineering, and computational design, with a focus on developing innovative construction methods and materials. Menges leads the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC: Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture, a major research initiative funded by the German Research Foundation. Menges' research centers on computational design, robotic construction, and biomimetic architecture, with particular emphasis on timber construction, adaptive building systems, and digital fabrication. His work integrates principles from bionics to create responsive, sustainable building systems that adapt to environmental conditions. Notable projects include the BUGA Wood Pavilion (2019), Urbach Tower, BUGA Fibre Pavilion, and the livMatS Biomimetic Shell, all demonstrating his commitment to material innovation and sustainable construction practices. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on advancing timber construction techniques, developing bio-inspired responsive systems, and implementing robotic fabrication processes. The research shows a clear trajectory toward more sustainable, resource-efficient building methods that integrate digital design with physical construction processes. Menges' work increasingly addresses multi-story timber systems and circular construction principles. Bauwende Prize der Universität Stuttgart 2025 Menges leads numerous research initiatives through the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC, securing significant funding for projects exploring computational design and robotic construction. His work involves extensive collaboration with industry partners and interdisciplinary research teams. Menges directs the ICD research laboratory, which focuses on developing novel computational design methods, robotic fabrication processes, and innovative material systems for architecture. The institute maintains strong partnerships with industry leaders in construction technology and materials science, facilitating the translation of research into practical applications.

Jan KnippersView profile

Professor

• Structural Engineering
• Architectural Biomimetics
• Fiber Composite Structures
• +3 more

Jan Knippers is a Professor and Institute Director at the University of Stuttgart's Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning , leading the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) . He co-founded Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering and established Jan Knippers Ingenieure in 2018 to focus on innovative fiber composite and timber structures. Key roles: Deputy Executive Director of Cluster of Excellence IntCDC , former Vice-Rector for Research (2019-2021), and Dean of Faculty of Architecture (2021-2023) Technical focus: Hybrid FRP-Timber systems, computational design, and biomimetic principles His projects include the 2024 Hybrid Flax Pavilion , Urbach Tower (2024), and BUGA Fiber Pavilion (2019). He contributes to European standardization committees and serves as 2024 Leverhulme Visiting Professor at University College London.

Gerhard MüllerView profile

Professor

• Structural Dynamics
• Vibroacoustics
• Dynamic Soil-Structure Interaction
• +5 more

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Müller is a Full Professor at the Chair of Structural Mechanics within the TUM School of Engineering and Design at Technical University of Munich (TUM). Since 2004, he has held this distinguished position, and since 2014, he has served as Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at TUM. His research focuses on structural dynamics and vibroacoustics, with specific expertise in dynamic soil-structure interaction, sound radiation analysis, and seismic risk assessment. Professorship: Structural Mechanics University: Technical University of Munich School: TUM School of Engineering and Design Department: Chair of Structural Mechanics in Civil Engineering Prof. Müller's research spans multiple domains, including: Structural Dynamics : Examining building and vehicle vibrations, seismic soil-structure interaction, and advanced model order reduction techniques Vibroacoustics : Investigating sound radiation from vibrating structures and developing acoustic metamaterials for noise control Computational Methods : Pioneering hybrid deterministic-statistical approaches, Wave Based Methods (WBM) for saturated elastodynamic structures, and parametric model order reduction His recent publications demonstrate expertise in: Wave propagation analysis in poroelastic media Bayesian parameter updating for structural models Acoustic metamaterials for vibration control Advanced numerical methods for seismic risk assessment Hybrid ITM-FEM approaches for soil-structure interaction Energy flow analysis in timber structures Awarded the Spindler Prize in 1984 , Prof. Müller also holds significant academic leadership roles: President of European Association for Structural Dynamics (EASD) Chairman of Bavarian-French University Center (BayFrance) Active member of ASIIN accreditation agency and Bavarian Chamber of Engineers Previously served as Dean of Civil Engineering and Surveying at TUM (2010-2014) He leads the Structural Dynamic Lab (formerly Vibroacoustics Lab) and has developed interactive web apps for engineering education. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications in construction acoustics, transportation noise control, and geothermal energy infrastructure analysis.

Samuel LederView profile

Researcher

• Robotics
• Architectural Design
• Computational Design
• +5 more

Samuel Leder is a doctoral researcher at the Institute of Computational Design and Construction (ICD) under the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC at the University of Stuttgart. His work focuses on the integration of robotics and architectural design, particularly in developing distributed robotic systems for timber construction. He has been actively involved in research projects such as RP 19-1 – Robotic Kinematic System for Parallel Construction and RP 19-2 – Co-Design for Distributed Cooperative Multi-Robot Systems . Additionally, he serves on the Equal Opportunity Commission at ICD. Bachelor of Design in Architecture (summa cum laude), Washington University in St. Louis Bachelor of Applied Science in Systems Science and Engineering (magna cum laude), Washington University in St. Louis MSc in Architecture via the Integrative Technologies and Architectural Design Research (ITECH) program, University of Stuttgart Samuel’s research explores the synergies between agent-based modeling , robotic systems , and architectural design . His work aims to create minimal robotic machines capable of constructing complex spatial assemblies, particularly with timber structures . He investigates the co-design of robots and the structures they build, emphasizing modular systems and kinematic behaviors . Recent publications highlight advancements in digital twins , adaptive assembly , and human-robot collaboration for timber construction. The 15 most recent articles reveal trends in collective robotic construction , agent-based modeling , and material-robot interaction . These works emphasize timber fabrication , modular systems , and interactive simulation for large-scale construction tasks. Key sub-fields include adaptive assembly , cyber-physical systems , kinematic control , and human-guided robotics . Scientific Awards: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Award for Outstanding Achievement Deutschlandstipendium Samuel’s research is conducted within the ICD at University of Stuttgart , where he collaborates on the Wood Building Systems for Distributed Robotics associated project. His work bridges architecture , robotics , and computational design , aiming to redefine on-site construction methodologies through innovative robotic systems.

Jakob BeetzView profile

Professor

• Building Information Modeling (BIM)
• Digital Twins
• Artificial Intelligence in Construction
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Jakob Beetz serves as a University Professor at RWTH Aachen University's Faculty of Architecture, leading the Design Computation (DC) research group. His work addresses critical challenges in sustainable built environments through digital innovation, focusing on integrating knowledge, information, and data across disciplines to reduce the sector's energy and material consumption—which accounts for over one-third of global totals—while advancing climate goals under the European Green Deal. His research spans Building Information Modeling (BIM), digital twins, and artificial intelligence, with emphasis on graph-based data federation, semantic web technologies, and large language models in construction. Key interests include evidence-based planning, parametric design optimization, building physics simulation, and networked knowledge modeling. Recent projects explore federated digital twin ecosystems for infrastructure management, intelligent damage assessment systems, and AI-driven solutions for wood structure preservation, directly contributing to sustainable development targets. Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals a cohesive trajectory toward decentralized data environments and AI integration in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC). His work bridges theoretical foundations in knowledge representation with practical applications in bridge maintenance, road infrastructure, and timber construction, demonstrating consistent innovation in spatial data querying, federated issue management, and ontology-based process modeling. Prof. Beetz actively supervises PhD candidates, as evidenced by DC.Promotions 2024, and drives international collaboration through events like the Forum Construction Informatics 2025 and CIB W78 conferences. His research group engages with industry standards including Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and Common Data Environments (CDEs), emphasizing open data principles and interoperability to transform construction workflows.

Antonis ChatzinotasView profile

Professor

• Microbial Ecology
• Environmental Biotechnology
• Soil Biodiversity
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Antonis Chatzinotas is a leading figure in Microbial Interaction Ecology at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and holds a Professorship at the University of Leipzig since 2020. His research focuses on understanding microbial and viral interactions in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, particularly how environmental changes affect community composition, genetic landscapes, and biogeochemical cycles. Head of Microbial Interaction Ecology group at UFZ Professor at University of Leipzig Key research areas include: Microbial and viral diversity in pristine/aquifer systems Predatory interactions between protists/bacteria/viruses Applications in agroecosystems and environmental biotechnology Functional redundancy in microbial communities Impact of environmental variability on coexistence Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining DNA stable isotope probing , metagenomics , and ecological modeling to study bioaugmentation, pesticide-microbe interactions, and viral transport mechanisms. His work bridges theoretical ecology with practical environmental solutions. Collaborations span institutions like EPFL, ETH Zurich, and University of Otago. Current projects explore low-risk biopesticides, virome-land use relationships, and microbial stability-vegetation links. The group actively supports open science principles and participates in transformative publishing agreements.

Yelda TurkanView profile

Associate Professor

• Digital twins
• Scan-to-BIM
• Machine learning
• +7 more

Dr. Yelda Turkan is an Associate Professor in the School of Civil and Construction Engineering at Oregon State University and a Hans Fischer Fellow at the Technical University of Munich (TUM-IAS). Her research focuses on leveraging computer vision, machine learning, and digital twins to enhance sustainability and resilience in the built environment. She holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada, and dual B.Sc. degrees in Civil Engineering and Geomatics Engineering from Istanbul Technical University, alongside an M.Sc. in Remote Sensing. Her work integrates advanced technologies like LiDAR and BIM to improve construction monitoring, structural safety, and fire protection. She has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications and secured $4.5M in grants from agencies like the NSF. Dr. Turkan serves as Vice President of the International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction and chairs the ASCE Computing Division Executive Committee. Her research spans digital twins for infrastructure performance, fire safety simulations, and automated progress tracking. Key contributions include frameworks for bridge construction monitoring, fire safety management in timber structures, and BIM-based energy fault detection. Awards include the Robert C. Wilson Faculty Scholar (2023–2025) and ASCE ExCEEd Teaching Fellow (2015).

• Structural Engineering
• Computational Mechanics
• Civil Engineering
• +3 more

Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Sven Klinkel is a Professor at RWTH Aachen University , affiliated with the College of Civil Engineering and the Department of Structural Mechanics and Structural Dynamics . He holds leadership roles as Chair of the Senior Council, Faculty Council, and Doctoral Committee. Current research focuses on structural engineering , computational mechanics , and seismic analysis . Key projects include carbon-reinforced concrete structures , isogeometric analysis , and digital fabrication . Recent publications address nonlinear systems , topology optimization , and naturally shaped timber . Contact: dekanat@fb3.rwth-aachen.de

Achim MengesView profile

Professor

• Sustainable Architecture
• Robotic Fabrication
• Biomimetic Design
• +3 more

Prof. Achim Menges is a leading academic and researcher in architecture and computational design at the University of Stuttgart. As Director of the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD), he focuses on interdisciplinary research into sustainable, digitally planned, and robotically manufactured building systems. He is renowned for pioneering projects like the livMatS Pavilion, a biomimetic structure made of robotically wound flax fibers, and for leading the IntCDC Excellence Cluster, Germany's only architecture-focused research consortium. His work integrates computational methods, material innovation, and robotic fabrication to advance resource-efficient and future-proof architectural practices. Research Interests: Menges explores biomimetic design, robotic fabrication, sustainable timber engineering, and circular construction systems. His projects often involve cross-disciplinary collaboration, such as with biologists from the University of Freiburg for the livMatS Pavilion. His methodologies emphasize open-ended experimentation and foundational insights to transform architectural practice. Awards: 2023 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (Germany’s top research honor) Labs/Teams: Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD), IntCDC Excellence Cluster Grants/Projects: Leibniz Prize funding ($2.5M), livMatS Pavilion, HYGROSHELL, Terra Incognita His publications span robotic construction workflows, bio-inspired materials, and collaborative human-robot systems, reflecting a commitment to bridging computational design, engineering, and fabrication for scalable, sustainable outcomes.

Ulrich SchwarzView profile

Professor

• Quality assurance
• Adhesive technology
• Sawmill production
• +8 more

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Schwarz serves as Professor of Design, Construction and Manufacturing of Wood Products at Eberswalde University of Sustainable Development, where he has been Dean of the Department of Wood Engineering since 2012. His academic leadership oversees comprehensive wood engineering programs while maintaining active research in advanced wood technologies. Schwarz earned his doctorate from Technical University Dresden in 2003 with research on decontamination processes for contaminated waste wood. His educational background includes Dipl.-Ing. degrees in Wood and Fiber Materials Technology from TU Dresden (1993) and Wood Technology from Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences (1990), establishing a strong foundation in both theoretical and applied wood science. His research program focuses on quality assurance systems, adhesive technology innovations, sawmill production optimization, solid wood processing techniques, and building physics measurement. Schwarz has pioneered work in piezoresistive bond lines for structural health monitoring, developing multifunctional wood adhesives that serve as integrated sensors in timber construction. His research bridges traditional wood technology with modern sensing methodologies to enhance structural safety and longevity. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a clear research trajectory evolving from fundamental wood adhesive properties toward smart material applications. His recent work demonstrates increasing sophistication in using impedance spectroscopy to optimize piezoresistive measurements in wood adhesives, with significant contributions to understanding mechanical properties of wood composites and curing behavior of advanced adhesive systems. As Department Dean, Schwarz manages academic programs and research infrastructure while maintaining his Ingenieur-Büro-Schwarz consultancy practice established in 2001. His career demonstrates exceptional integration of academic scholarship with industrial application, particularly in developing practical solutions for wood processing challenges and structural monitoring systems.

Oliver Appling BucklinView profile

Researcher

• Sustainable Architecture
• Timber Construction
• Computational Design
• +5 more

Oliver A. Bucklin is a Researcher and doctoral candidate at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) at the University of Stuttgart. His work focuses on sustainable building practices, particularly the development of energy-efficient solid timber construction systems using computational design and advanced fabrication techniques. Master of Architecture (M.Arch) – Harvard Graduate School of Design Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics – University of Washington His research explores the integration of thermodynamic principles, robotics, and computational models to optimize timber building envelopes. Additional interests include embedded electronics, sensing networks, and kinematic control algorithms. He contributes to teaching in computational design and robotic fabrication within the ITECH Master’s Program at the University of Stuttgart. Oliver’s projects include the IBA Timber Prototype House and the ITECH Research Demonstrator , emphasizing material efficiency and recyclability. He is part of the Performative Wood research group at ICD, advancing innovations in solid timber systems.

Yana BoevaView profile

Research Fellow

• Science and Technology Studies
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Digital Fabrication
• +5 more

Dr. Yana Boeva is a Junior Research Group Leader at the University of Stuttgart , affiliated with both the Institute for Social Sciences and the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC . Her work bridges Science and Technology Studies (STS) with Computational Design , focusing on critical examinations of digital infrastructure, human-computer interaction, and sustainability in architectural contexts. Research Interests: Algorithmic entanglements in design and construction Participatory technology production Digital fabrication and material practice Epistemic cultures of computational design Socio-political implications of Building Information Modeling (BIM) Her recent publications analyze timber construction innovation trajectories , platformization in urban environments , and ghost labor in automation . She co-edited the volume Algorithmic Regimes (2024), which investigates algorithmic knowledge production across societal domains. Scientific Awards: Recipient of the DigitalFUTURES Young Award for critical computational design research Dr. Boeva teaches courses on Algorithmic Sociology and Digital Sustainability at the MA and BA levels. Her work has been supported by projects under the Excellence Cluster IntCDC and BBSR Innovationsprogramm Zukunft Bau .

• Construction Robotics
• Building Information Modeling
• Robotic Simulation
• +3 more

Mohammad Reza Kolani is a Researcher at the Chair of Computing in Civil and Building Engineering, Technical University of Munich, specializing in construction robotics and simulation frameworks for automated construction processes. His research focuses on Construction Robotics , Building Information Modeling (BIM) , and Robotic Simulation , with emphasis on tower crane automation, robot dog applications for site surveying, and collaborative brick wall assembly. His work bridges digital models and physical construction through advanced simulation-driven task planning. Recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate expertise in BIM-robotics integration, featuring simulation frameworks for multi-robot coordination, autonomous data acquisition, and fabrication planning. Key trends include high-fidelity simulation for real-world construction automation and translating digital models into executable robotic tasks. Kolani actively supervises Master's theses in robotic construction, including: Knauer, A. (2025): Framework for Robotic Fabrication and Automation in Timber Construction using COMPAS FAB Fernández, M. (2024): Robotized Construction using Advanced Robotic Simulation: the case of brick assembly Karim, T. (2024): Development of Autonomous Robot Grasping and Manipulation Solutions He contributes to the Construction Robotics Simulation Framework project within TUM's BIM-Lab and Digital Twinning research group, advancing applications in construction site automation and robotic fabrication.

• Space Efficiency in Skyscrapers
• Timber Construction
• Tall Building Design
• +3 more

Emre Ilgin is a Postdoctoral Researcher specializing in Civil Engineering, focusing on sustainable architectural design and timber construction. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to affordable housing and climate action. Key research interests include space efficiency in skyscrapers, integration of renewable energy systems in tall buildings, and innovative wood-based materials for construction. Collaborations involve institutions in Finland and international conferences like World Conference on Timber Engineering. Recent publications explore topics such as glulam structural behavior, fire-resistant thermal insulation, and productivity improvements in industrial wood apartment construction. His research bridges architectural design, material science, and sustainable building practices.

Michael SedlmairView profile

Professor

• Augmented Reality
• Virtual Reality
• Human-Computer Interaction
• +5 more

Michael Sedlmair is a Professor at the Institute for Visualization and Interactive Systems (VIS) within the College of Engineering at the University of Stuttgart. He serves as Managing Director of VIS and leads research in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), human-computer interaction, and visualization. His work spans collaborative fabrication, motion guidance systems, educational AR/VR applications, and situated analytics. Research Themes : AR/VR for industrial tasks, haptic feedback systems, situated visualization, cross-reality transitions, music composition tools, and inclusive avatar design. Recent Articles : Focus on AR for collaborative tasks, motion guidance feedback, molecular structure learning in AR, music visualization, and accessibility studies in VR environments. His team collaborates with institutions like Mercedes-Benz AG, IMPRS-IS, and ACM/IEEE conferences. No specific awards or student advisories are mentioned in the provided texts.