Wei Yan, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Architecture
Director of PhD & MS Research Programs, Department of Architecture
Chair, Research Council, College of Architecture
William M. Peña Endowed Professor in Information Management 
Mattia Flabiano III AIA/Page Southerland Page Design Professor (2018-2024)
Student Government Association Open Educator
Presidential Impact Fellow, Texas A&M University
Co-Founder, BIM-SIM Group

Email: wyan 'at' tamu.edu
Office: Langford A 406
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@brickxar8890

• Taught courses in the multidisciplinary areas of Architecture, Visualization Science, and Computer Science.
• Developed new graduate courses on design computing

Undergraduate courses

1. ENDS 170 - Computer Technologies for Design Visualization
2. ENDS 370 - Virtual Architecture
3. ENDS 489 - Special Topics in Game Prototypes
4. ENDS 116 - Foundations of Design Communication

Graduate courses

1. VIZA 654/CPSC 646/CSCE 646 - The Digital Image
2. VIZA 627 - Computer Graphics Production Studio (with Dr. Fred Parke and Reel FX Creative Studio, Summer 2007)
3. ARCH652 - Facility Information Technology
4. ARCH689 - Special Topics in Building Information Modeling
5. ARCH653 - Building Information Modeling in Architecture (New course created in Fall 2010)
6. ARCH689 - Parametric Modeling in Architecture
7. ARCH655 - Parametric Modeling in Design (New course created in Fall 2014)
8. ARCH669 - Foundations of Research in Architecture (Research Methods)
9. ARCH681 - Seminar (Augmented Reality, AI, and Computational Methods in Design, new focuses developed)

Selected Grants / Funded Projects

Co-PI, Menu to Meal (M2M): Leveraging Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence for Hispanic Restaurant Nutritional Labeling, Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture (IHA), Texas A&M AgriLife, $200,000. Project Period: January 1, 2025 – March 1, 2026. PI: Brian King, Co-PIs: Jinyang Deng, Po-Ju Chen, Babak Taheri, Candy Tang, Grace Lee, Wei Yan, and Ruihong Huang.

PI, NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Teams Grant: Augmented Reality-Powered 3D Interactive Instructions, $50,000. Project period: November 2022 - October 2023. Team: Wei Yan (PI and Technical Lead), Seda Tuzun Canadinc (Architecture Ph.D. Student and Entrepreneurial Lead), and Chris Scotti (Industry Mentor, TAMU Innovation Partners). https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2242432  

Co-PI, Hempcrete 3D Printed Buildings for Sustainability and Resilience, with Petros Sideris (PI), Maria Koliou (Co-PI), Zachary Grasley (Co-PI), Anand Puppala (Co-PI) and Manish Dixit (Co-PI), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) Harnessing Emissions into Structures Taking Inputs from the Atmosphere (HESTIA) program, $3,742,496. Award #DE-AR0001628. Grant Period: 2022-2025. https://engineering.tamu.edu/news/2022/06/cven-texas-am-receives-374m-for-green-3d-printed-hempcrete-buildings-research.html

PI, Using Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence to Improve Teaching and Learning Spatial Transformations in STEM Disciplines, with Heather Burte (Co-PI, Psychological & Brain Sciences), Dezhen Song (Co-PI, Computer Science), Philip Yasskin (Co-PI, Mathematics), Francis Quek (Co-PI, Visualization) and Jeffrey Liew (Co-I, Education), and Graduate Research Assistants Zohreh Shaghaghian (Architecture), Shu-Hao Yeh (Computer Science), etc. Research on Emerging Technologies for Teaching and Learning (RETTL), National Science Foundation (NSF), $849,971. Award#2119549. Grant Period: 2021-2025. https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2119549
https://sites.google.com/tamu.edu/ar-classroom/home

PI, Sustainable Building Design with Building Performance Simulation. Received research funding as gifts from Perkins and Will, with Fatemeh Shahsavari (Graduate Researcher), $74,947, Spring 2020- Summer 2021.

PI, Secure Technologies for Aggie Researchers (STAR) fund for research using cloud computing, sponsored by the Texas A&M University – Division of Research, $5,000. Project Period: 2021.

Co-PI, Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Characterizing and Modeling Human Behavior from Visual Media. T3: Texas A&M Triads for Transformation, President's Excellence Fund, Texas A&M’s Division of Research (DOR), with Dixit, M. (PI) and Fields, S. (Co-PI), $30,000. Grant Period: 2021-2022.

PI, Augmented Reality-Powered Assembly, Translational Investment Fund, Innovation Partners, Texas A&M University, with Song, D. (Co-PI). $60,000. Project Period: 10/1/2020-10/31/2021.

PI, AI-Powered Augmented Reality for Advancing Human-Computer Interface in Assembly Tasks, Innovation [X] program, Texas A&M University, with Song, D. and Dixit, M., (Co-PIs). $20,000. Project Period: 9/1/2020-8/31/2021.

PI, Brick by Brick: Augmented Reality-based Making and Gaming for Teaching Creativity and STEM, PTTG – Presidential Transformational Teaching Grants, Texas A&M University, with Song, D. (Co-PI). $60,000. Project Period: 1/13/2020-1/12/2022

PI, A Web-based Parametric BIM Viewer for Online Collaborative Parametric Design Presentation and Optimization (Phases 1 and 2), with Mohammad Rahmnai Asl (Consultant). Autodesk Forge Research Grant, Autodesk, Inc. $10,000. Grant Period: 2016-2018.

PI, Analyzing and Documenting BIM-based Building Performance Analysis Software & Building Performance Analysis and Optimization, with Mohammad Rahmnai Asl (Graduate Researcher). Autodesk, Inc. $114,502. Grant #467061. Grant Period: 2013-2015.

PI, Physical Building Information Modeling for Solar Building Design and Simulation, with Clayton, M. (Co-PI) and Haberl, J. (Co-PI). Environmental Sustainability Program, Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET), National Science Foundation (NSF), $300,000. Award#0967446. Grant Period: 2010-2015.

PI, Physical Building Information Modeling for Solar Building Design and Simulation, with Clayton, M. (Co-PI) and Haberl, J. (Co-PI). Supplemental Grant - Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), Environmental Sustainability Program, Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET), National Science Foundation (NSF), $16,000. Grant Period: 2013-2015.

Senior Personnel and Steering Committee Member, RCN-SEES: Predictive Modeling Network for Sustainable Human-Building Ecosystems (SHBE), with PI: Tao, Y., Co-PIs: Zhu, Y., Cartes, D., Tolone, W., and Lam, K.P., and Senior Personnel: Hadzikadic, M., Feiock, R., Thompson, R., Spiegelhalter, T., Menassa, C. and D’Souza, D. National Science Foundation (NSF), $652,846.00. Award#1338851. Grant Period: 2013-2020.

Co-PI, Enabling Partnerships to Enable Science ("TOOLS"): anyFish: a User-Friendly Software Package for Creating Realistic Animations for Animal Behavior, with Rosenthal, G. (PI) and Johnson, J. (Co-PI). Early Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) Program, Division of Biological Sciences (BIO), National Science Foundation (NSF), $300,000. Grant Period: 2010-2012.

Co-PI, Development of a Reference Building Information Model (BIM) for Thermal Model Compliance Testing, with Clayton, M. (PI) and Haberl, J. (Co-PI). The American Society Of Heating, Refrigerating, And Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), $175,311. Grant Period: 2009-2011.

PI, Design and Analysis of Ice Thermal Storage Buildings Using Building Information Modeling, $60,000. (Subcontract of project: Use of Ice Thermal Storage Systems to Improve LWR Plant Efficiency and Relieve the Cooling Water Requirement, Zhao, H. (PI), Zhang, H. (Co-I), and Yan, W. (Co-I). U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Lab Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Grant, Idaho National Laboratory, $200,000.) Grant Period: 2009.

PI, High Dynamic Range Imaging for Preserving the Chromaticity Information of Architectural Heritage, National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Digital Humanities Start-Up Grant, $30,000. Grant Period: 2007-2009.

PI, Integrating Video Tracking and Virtual Reality in Environmental Behavior Study: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Program to Enhance Scholarly and Creative Activities, Office of the Vice President for Research, Texas A&M University, $10,000. Grant Period: 2006-2007.

Other Projects

Participant, New generation computational tools for building and community energy systems based on the Modelica and Functional Mockup Interface standards, International Energy Agency (IEA) EBC Annex 60, with PI: Wetter, M., and other participants.

Publications

Google Scholar (English, 中文, 中文繁體, Española, 한국인, 日本語, Italiano, Deutsch, Français, Türkçe, Русский, हिंदी, Português, عربي, Ελληνικά, فارسی, Nederlands, dansk, svenska, Suomalainen, українська, bahasa Indonesia)

Patent Granted

Systems and Methods Performing Object Occlusion in Augmented Reality-based Assembly Instructions,
USPTO Patent No. 11393153. Issue Date: 07/19/2022. Assignee: Texas A&M University System. Inventor: Wei Yan.

Selected roles

• Invited Grant Review Panelist, National Science Foundation
• Invited Ad Hoc Grant Reviewer, National Science Foundation
• Invited Grant Reviewer, Austrian Science Fund
• Invited Grant Reviewer, Hong Kong Research Grant Council
• Organizing team for five workshops/symposium sponsored by National Science Foundation
• Local Arrangement Chair and Paper Committee Co-Chair for research conferences.
• Associate Director, CRS Center for Leadership & Management in the Design & Construction Industry, 1/2016 - present
• Chair (2017), Co-Chair (2016), Member (2013-16) Promotion and Tenure Committee, Department of Architecture, Texas A&M University
• Chair (2024-) Research Council, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University
• Board of Directors (2010-14), Membership Officer (2011-14): Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA)

• Director, PhD & MS Research Programs, Department of Architecture

Ph.D. Advisor: Dr. Yehuda Kalay

Ph.D. Students Graduated

Wei Yan as Chair or Co-Chair
WoonSeong Jeong, Associate Professor at Chungbuk National University, Korea
Mohammad Rahmani Asl, High Performance Building Design Researcher at Autodesk
Zhouzhou Su, Senior Associate, EYP 
Jawad Altabtabai, Assistant Professor at Kuwait University
Emad Al-Qattan, Assistant Professor at Kuwait University
Shermeen Yousif, Assistant Professor, Florida Atlantic University
Fatemeh Shahsavari, Research Analyst, Sustainable Building Design, PERKINS+WILL
Mohammad Al-Awadhi, Assistant Professor at Kuwait University
Ziad Ashour, Assistant Professor at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
Zohreh Shaghaghian, PassiveLogic, Generative Design Engineer, PassiveLogic
Seda Tuzun Canadinc, Visiting Assistant Professor, Webster University (2024 ARCC King Medalist for Dissertation Research)
Kifah Alhazzaa, Assistant Professor, Qassim University (2025 ARCC King Medalist for Dissertation Research)
Farnaz Nazari, Research and Development Scientist, University of Idaho
Varusha Venkatraj, Project Manager and Material Specialist, Brightworks Sustainability
Hassan Anifowose, VDC Manager, Clark Construction Group
Qing Xing, Software Engieer, Facebook
Ozgur Gonen, Senior Software Developer, Hue Technology NA LLC
Saied Zarrinmehr, R&D Software Engineering Manager, Spatial Corp
Jaeheum Yeon, Associate Professor, Kangwon National University
Chengde Wu, Associate Professor, Iowa State University
Yang Liu, Sr. Design Manager, CIFI Group
Yangming Shi, (transferred to U Florida PhD program), Assistant Professor, Colorado School of Mines
Milad Ashtab, Preconstruction Engineer, Gilbane Building Company

Dissertations list

Master's Students Graduated

Wei Yan as Chair or Co-Chair

Trisha Butkowski, Dreamworks Animation
Ji Zhang, Systems Scientist, Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University
Mohammad Al-Awadhi, Assistant Professor at Kuwait University
Seda Tuzun Canadinc, Visiting Assistant Professor, Webster University
Chuanyue Xu, Ph.D. student, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Xiaoxi Bi, Architectural Associate, CallisonRTKL

Project BRICKxAR: Augmented Reality for LEGO® Construction with iPhone®
LEGO Arc de Triomphe Speed Build with AR

Publication：https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10055-021-00582-7

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A Deep Reinforcement Learning Competition in CAADRIA 2019 Workshop

(Image credit: Nariddh Khean, instructor of the Workshop)

Hint for winning such a competition: train the AI car using designed, complex and difficult, instead of simple and easy-to-drive roads, even with more failures during the training process. This is not much different from learning hard lessons in life!

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Models by students in my Parametric Modeling and BIM classes

Bird Nest modeled using Rhino/Grasshopper by Yan Lu in ARCH689 Parametric Modeling
(http://yanluarch689.blogspot.com)

Bird Nest modeled using Autodesk Revit by Jason Minter in ARCH653 Building Information Modeling, 2011
(http://minterrevit.blogspot.com)

Travel to the Bird Nest before the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Photo credit: Prof. Guillermo Vasquez de Velasco

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Working in my mini-CAVE. T-shirt designed by my classmates at ETH Zurich in 1997, when we were learning AutoLISP!