{"id":49,"date":"2018-11-05T21:17:32","date_gmt":"2018-11-06T02:17:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cecas.clemson.edu\/robertlelab\/?page_id=49"},"modified":"2025-12-15T09:13:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T14:13:37","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cecas.clemson.edu\/robertlelab\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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12. “SPR 783: Contractor Performance Evaluation 2.0,\u201d South Carolina Department of Transportation, Principal Investigator, $410,644, (2026-2028), PI: Tuyen (Robert) Le<\/span>, with Co-PIs: Kalyan Piratla and TCTC.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/strong>Abstract: <\/strong>This project aims to modernize and strengthen the SCDOT\u2019s contractor performance evaluation framework to align with the evolving transportation project delivery landscape and support the agency\u2019s goals for quality, efficiency, and accountability \u2014while also addressing contractors\u2019 concerns to ensure fairness. As project complexity grows and alternative contracting methods like design-build become more common, the SCDOT needs a more accurate, data-driven system to assess contractor capabilities and performance across both active and completed projects.
The proposed research will deliver a refined and objective performance evaluation model that integrates new data sources, addresses legal and procedural changes, and reflects contemporary collaboration dynamics. By replacing or enhancing the existing CPES framework, this project will support more equitable contractor pre-qualification, improve oversight during project execution, and enable more strategic decision-making in contractor selection.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

11. “SPR 782: Improving Worker Safety in Work Zones with Advanced Technology,\u201d South Carolina Department of Transportation, $215,409, (2026-2027), PI: Tuyen (Robert) Le<\/span>, with Co-PIs: Kalyan Piratla and Pamela Murray-Tuite.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/strong>Abstract: <\/strong>This project seeks to advance the SCDOT’s practices for enhancing highway worker safety in work zones. The synthesis will equip the agency with a clear, actionable roadmap for selecting and deploying smart work zone technologies tailored to its infrastructure, workforce, and operational context. By identifying the most relevant technologies-including their cost profiles, performance histories, deployment requirements, advantages, and limitations-along with best practices and supporting resources, the SCDOT will be empowered to make informed investments that improve safety, efficiency, and public satisfaction.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

10. \u201cSynthesis of Feasible Scheduling Software to Support Project Development Planning\u201d, $224,997, 2025-2027, Co-PI: Tuyen (Robert) Le<\/span>, with PI: Kalyan Piratla.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/strong>Abstract: <\/strong>This project aims to achieve two main goals: (1) to identify the existing challenges in monitoring project progress across various development phases, and (2) to evaluate and recommend suitable software tools for scheduling project development activities. These tools should facilitate more effective tracking and communication both internally within the agency and externally with the public. The software recommendations will include an overview of their key features, limitations, and pricing details.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

9. “Augmenting the hearing of safety-critical sounds for highway workers using artificial intelligence”, NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM – IDEA<\/strong>, 2023-2025, $140,000, PI: Tuyen (Robert) Le. Link<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Abstract:<\/strong> This innovation, based on artificial intelligence, is aimed at augmenting the audibility of safety-critical sound for enhanced safety of highway workers exposed to loud and complex noises where the exposures could not be controlled or eliminated. The new hearing protection technology will let safety-critical sounds get through while effectively blocking unwanted noises. The project outcome will help preserve the audibility of safety-critical sounds, enabling the hearing of desired sounds with less cognitive demand. This new noise canceling technology, when successfully developed, will have a great potential to enhance the safety of work zones.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

8. “Develop or Improve Construction Scheduling Methods and Model for Construction Projects”, South Carolina Department of Transportation,<\/strong> 2022 – 2024, ~$200,000, PI: Tuyen (Robert) Le<\/span>, with co-PI: Kalyan Piratla<\/p>\n

7. “Best practices on collecting asset information from the construction stage”, South Carolina Department of Transportation,<\/strong> 2022 – 2024, $150,049, PI: Tuyen (Robert) Le<\/span>, with co-PIs: Kalyan Piratla and Mashrur “Ronnie” Chowdhury<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Abstract:<\/strong> The objective of this study is to synthesize best practices among other states and develop systematic guidance for SCDOT in streamlining design and construction data to roadway data repositories. This includes construction data from both SCDOT managed projects as well as those managed by others. The study also includes developing a new method to support automatically migrating data generated by construction projects into the existing transportation asset data repositories.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

6. “A preliminary cost estimating model for transportation projects”, South Carolina Department of Transportation,<\/strong> 2021 – 2023, $149,996, Co-PI: Tuyen (Robert) Le<\/span>, with PI: Kalyan Piratla<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Abstract:<\/strong> This research project will develop a statistical cost estimating model based on the empirical cost databases maintained by SCDOT in conjunction with national unit cost databases. The developed cost estimating model will predict the range of total project cost based on a broadly defined scope with limited specifics identified. The research work will mainly entail: (a) classifying construction projects into meaningful categories; (b) collecting appropriate empirical cost data from past projects as well as national average unit costs; (c) developing and validating a robust statistical model that will ultimately be made into a user-friendly tool for SCDOT to use.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

5. “Impact of Utility Delays on Project Delivery”, South Carolina Department of Transportation, <\/strong>January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022, $414,996, Co-PI: Tuyen (Robert) Le<\/span>, with PI: Kalyan Piratla<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Abstract:<\/strong> This project explores the inclusion of utility relocation in the prime contract with the goals of saving time and money, and expediting state, county, and municipal infrastructure improvement projects. The project specifically investigates possible incentives for utility providers to go in-contract and appropriate legal language used in utility agreements.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

4. “CPWR small study # 20-3-PS”, CPWR<\/strong>, August 1, 2020 \u2013 July 31, 2021,\u00a0 $30,000, Sole-PI: Tuyen (Robert) Le<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Abstract<\/strong>: This project was supported by CPWR through NIOSH cooperative agreement OH009762. The goal is to conduct a pilot study on the use of AI for auditory signal processing in construction.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

3. “SPR 747: Evaluating the Construction Cost and Schedule Impacts of SCDOT’s Traffic Control Restrictions”, South Carolina Department of Transportation<\/strong>, 1\/15\/2020-04\/15\/2021, $149,966, Co-PI: Tuyen (Robert) Le<\/span>, with PI: Kalyan Piratla and Co-PI: Mashrur “Ronnie” Chowdhury<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Abstract<\/strong>: The objective of this project is to develop guidance for SCDOT in estimating the cost and schedule impacts of construction projects from various traffic lane closure restrictions in comparison with work zone road user costs. User costs may be significant, but the reduction in construction schedule could prove to be more beneficial to the public. The project develops a computational tool that can allow the user to enter project characteristics and planned lane closures to produce estimated cost and schedule impacts, as well as the user costs with respective statistical confidence levels.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

2. “FW-HTF-P: Wearable Adaptive Cognitive Assistance to Auditory Situational Awareness for Workers Exposed to Complex and Dynamic Noises”, National Science Foundation<\/strong>, 10\/2019-03\/2021, $146,198.00, PI: Tuyen (Robert) Le<\/span>, with Co-PIs: Sarah Winslow (CU-Sociology), Nathan McNeese (CU-Computing), Babur De los Santos (CU-Economics). Link<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Abstract: <\/strong>This project investigates a new wearable hearing protection technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to amplify safety-critical sounds and help locate their source, while greatly attenuating ambient noise. If successful, this project will enable the development of an AI-based HPD solution to preserve auditory situational awareness while providing comprehensive hearing protection. The result has the potential to improve job performance and safety, and minimize occupational hearing loss for the approximately 22 million U.S. workers that are exposed to hazardous noise levels each year, with the associated social and economic cost savings.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

1. “<\/span>Design Regulations of Resilient Transportation Infrastructure“, <\/span>CU SUCCEEDS<\/strong>, (07\/2019 – 06\/2020), $12,800, PI: Tuyen (Robert) Le, with Co-PI: D. Matthew Boyer (CU-Education). <\/span>Link<\/a><\/p>\n

Prior pojects at Iowa State University<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cAutomated Requirement Digitalization for Civil Infrastructure Projects\u201d, ISU Exploratory Research Program<\/strong>, (01\/2018-08\/2018), $15,948, PI: David Jeong, Role: Primary contributor.<\/p>\n

\u201cNatural Language Based Data Retrieval Engine for Automated Digital Data Extraction for Civil Infrastructure Projects\u201d, National Science Foundation<\/strong>, (09\/2016- 02\/2019), $285,305, PI: David Jeong, Role: Primary contributor (Ph.D. Dissertation)<\/p>\n

\u201cGuide to Data and Information Sharing Workflows across the Life Cycle of Transportation Assets\u201d, Iowa Department of Transportation & Midwest Transportation Center<\/strong>, (08\/2016 \u2013 01\/2018), $162,024, PI: David Jeong, Role: Primary contributor<\/p>\n

Prior projects at HCMUT<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cA 4D BIM-based scheduling framework for repetitive projects\u201d, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology<\/strong>, (05\/2013-05\/2014), 20,000,000 VND, PI: Tuyen Le (Master Thesis)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

12. “SPR 783: Contractor Performance Evaluation 2.0,\u201d South Carolina Department of Transportation, Principal Investigator, $410,644, (2026-2028), PI: Tuyen (Robert) Le, with Co-PIs: Kalyan Piratla and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-49","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cecas.clemson.edu\/robertlelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/49","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cecas.clemson.edu\/robertlelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cecas.clemson.edu\/robertlelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cecas.clemson.edu\/robertlelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cecas.clemson.edu\/robertlelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49"}],"version-history":[{"count":65,"href":"https:\/\/cecas.clemson.edu\/robertlelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/49\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":876,"href":"https:\/\/cecas.clemson.edu\/robertlelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/49\/revisions\/876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cecas.clemson.edu\/robertlelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}