- Assistant Professor
- Construction Management
- Director, BETA Lab
Biography
Dr. Hongtao Dang is an Assistant Professor specializing in Construction Engineering and Management. His research seeks to build a smarter, safer, and more sustainable future for the construction industry. Dr. Dang focuses on three key research areas: 1) Construction Automation, Robotics, Informatics, and Intelligence (CARII); 2) Safety, Engineering, Construction, and Technology Integration (SECTI); and 3) Smart Sustainable Structural Systems (S-Quad) in Mass Timber. His work has attracted funding for a wide range of topics, including Integrated Digital Delivery, Artificial Intelligence, reality capture, surveying technologies, psychological safety, building energy modeling, modular construction, and phase-change materials. Dr. Dang holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Construction Engineering and Management from Iowa State University. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings and advises both undergraduate and graduate students in their research endeavors.
Dr. Dang has extensive teaching and training experience and is a licensed Professional Engineer with years of professional experience working on heavy civil (e.g., bridges), industrial (e.g., power plants), and commercial (e.g., hotels) projects. He has taught construction-related courses at three universities and developed three online courses for the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE). Recognized for his teaching excellence, Dr. Dang received the 2021 Above and Beyond Award, 2021 Outstanding Scholar Award, and 2022 Outstanding Online Peer Mentor Award at Central Washington University (CWU), where he also served as Faculty Fellow for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. In 2022, he earned the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 7 Teaching Award for his contributions to construction education and dedication to the profession. He has also coached student teams in national and international competitions.
Dr. Dang serves as the Director of Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 7 (2022-2028) and is actively involved in professional organizations, including the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Transportation Research Board (TRB), American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), American Society of Engineering Management (ASEM), ASPE, Construction Research Congress (CRC), and the ASCE Digital Project Delivery Committee. He serves as a reviewer for prestigious journals, such as the Journal of Management in Engineering, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, and Automation in Construction, earning multiple Outstanding Reviewer awards from ASCE.
Education
- Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Construction Engineering and Management), Iowa State University
- M.S. in Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering), Iowa State University
- B.S. in Civil Engineering, Iowa State University
Licenses and Certificates
- P.E. Professional Engineer
- CPEM Certified Professional in Engineering Management
- ENV SP Envision Sustainability Professional
- LEED GA Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Associate