Centers and Special Initiatives
Center for Construction Innovation and Collaboration
Auburn University’s Center for Construction Innovation and Collaboration (CCIC) was established in 2009.
Housed in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction at Auburn University, the Center for Construction Innovation and Collaboration (CCIC) fosters partnerships that bring about improvements in the construction industry. Since inception in 2009, it has provided over $1 million in research funding, resulting in numerous peer-reviewed published works and the issuance of multiple full-utility patents.
Research
The CCIC sponsors impactful annual research projects and initiatives that respond to industry-driven ‘Research Imperatives’.
Studio+Build
“Studio+Build” began at Auburn in 2006 with an initial effort between the McWhorter School of Building Science and School of Industrial and Graphic Design.
Zeitgeists and Horizons
The CCIC is committed to shaping the future of the construction industry while addressing today’s challenges.
Research
CCIC research funding supports projects that directly respond to the evolving needs of the construction industry—needs defined industry leaders themselves. Every two years, a dedicated group of professionals reviews and updates these guiding “imperatives” to ensure that funded research remains aligned with real-world challenges and opportunities. This cyclical, industry-informed process guarantees that CCIC-backed investigations are both timely and impactful.
Recent Projects
The Opportunity for Mass Timber Construction by Designing for Disassembly
Over the past decade, the use of mass timber has gradually spread across the United States. This expansion has been fueled by an increasing number of manufacturers throughout the country, along with easier access to European products.
Demystifying Reality Capture: A Collaborative Workshop Series with Bailey Harris Construction on LiDAR and 360-Degree Photogrammetry for Small to Medium-Sized Contractors in Alabama
This collaborative proposal seeks to address the knowledge gap surrounding Reality Capture (RC) technologies, specifically LiDAR scanning and 360-degree photogrammetry, among small to medium-sized general contractors in Alabama through a series of workshops.
Deployment of a Bayesian Filter Fixed Power (BFFP) Algorithm on “Mac” for Construction Material Localization
In collaboration with the Auburn University RFID Lab, the Construction Automation, Robotics, and Visualization (CARV) Lab submits this proposal to continue to advance previous research in RFID material and robot localization.
Toward AU Validated Micro-credentials to Address Regional Construction Workforce Challenges
Alternative credentialing, more commonly known as micro-credentialing is “industry-aligned short units of learning that are certified or credentialed and they can (mostly) stack or count towards a higher education qualification” (Wheelahan and Moodie 2021) and are also found to be “additional, alternate, or complementary” to a formal educational qualification (Oliver 2019).
Core Temperature Visualization System (COTVIS)
This collaborative proposal seeks to address the knowledge gap surrounding Reality Capture (RC) technologies, specifically LiDAR scanning and 360-degree photogrammetry, among small to medium-sized general contractors in Alabama through a series of workshops.
Measured Precision for Augmented Reality Devices used in Construction
Augmented reality experiences for construction can be facilitated through different hardware and software platforms.
Simultaneous Location and Mapping (SLAM) for “Mac” in Preparation for Advanced RFID Research
In collaboration with the Auburn University RFID Lab, the CARV Lab used vision hardware and software to advance real-time robot localization.
Reality Capture and BIM for Drywall Installation Planning
One ‘benefit’ of skilled labor shortage is that it motivates the constructors to seek ways to improve their labor productivity through the applications of innovative technologies.
Studio+Build
Partnerships with leading building contractors and construction manufacturers provide critical context, real-world access and valuable feedback, empowering students and faculty to develop innovative products, tools and devices aimed at improving job site efficiency and safety within the construction industry.
“Studio+Build” began at Auburn in 2006 with an initial effort between the McWhorter School of Building Science and School of Industrial and Graphic Design. During the Fall 2024 semester, fourth-year students in Associate Professor Rusty Lay’s industrial design studio focused their research and development efforts on the growing ‘mass timber and cross-laminated timber (CLT)’ sector. Supported by faculty members Jake Elbrecht and Paul Holley from the McWhorter School of Building Science, students toured active CLT job sites and a regional manufacturing plant to deepen their understanding of the material and its applications.
The semester culminated in December 2024 with an exhibition in Birmingham, Alabama, where students showcased their designs and prototype models to an audience of faculty, students and construction industry professionals.
