Research

Research Interests

• Infrastructure inspection, monitoring, and maintenance using AI, multi-sensor fusion, and mobile robots
• Automated engineering drawing analysis for design and construction automation
• Design and assessment of innovative modular structures
• Construction monitoring and robotic assembly technologies

Research Opportunities

• PhD/MPhil Student Openings: My research team is generally open for PhD/MPhil applications. Prospective students should have a suitable academic background in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, robotics, applied mathematics, or related disciplines. Preference will be given to students with prior knowledge and experience in 1) programming of AI, computer vision, point cloud analysis, robotics, Augmented/Mixed Reality, Building Information Modelling (BIM), such as Pytorch, OpenCV, Open3D, Hugging Face, Isaac Sim, ManiSkill, OpenMMLab, ROS, MATLAB, Unity, Dynamo BIM, IfcOpenShell, etc. 2) structural analysis software such as OpenSees, Abaqus, ANSYS, Etabs, etc. 3) hands-on experimental testing such as quasi-static, shake table, and hybrid simulation tests, etc. Please email me your CV and transcripts if you are interested.
• Visiting Student/Professor Opportunities: My research group is generally open for visiting scholars or research interns. Interested and self-motivated researchers are welcome to contact me with a tentative plan.

Student Supervision

• A. Abedi (PhD, 2026-present, HKUST)
• HY. Zhang (PhD, 2026-present, HKUST)
• YM. Chen (PhD, 2025-present, HKUST)
• M. Asgarinejad (PhD, 2026-present, HKUST, expected)
• CH. Li (Visiting PhD, 2025-present, HKUST/Chongqing Jiaotong U)
• J. Gu (RA, 2026-present, HKUST)
• BY. Huang (RA, 2025-present, HKUST)
• F.Xie (PhD, 2024-present; MASc, 2023-2024. UBC)
• ZW.Chen (PhD, 2024-present; MASc, 2023-2024. UBC)
• HS.Lin (PhD, 2024-present. UBC)
• S.Tavasoli (PhD, 2022-2025. UBC)
• YF.Xiao (PhD, 2022-2024. UBC)
• PJ.Chen (Mitacs Master Intern, 2024-present. National Taiwan UST)
• CB.Li (PhD, 2023-2023. The University of Hong Kong)
• E.Faraji (Master, 2022-2024. UBC)
• S.Vaze (Master, 2022-2023. UBC)
• RW.Liu (Mitacs UG intern, 2023. Wuhan U of Tech)
• WY.Yang (Mitacs UG intern, 2023. Harbin I.T.)
• ZH.Chen (Mitacs UG intern, 2022. Hong Kong PolyU)
• S.Gazi (UG intern, 2022-2023. UBC)

Publications

I have published over 40 technical articles including top journal papers in Computer-aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, Engineering Structures, Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics, Journal of Building Engineering, Thin-walled Structures, and Structures, etc. Selected journal publications are listed below (in reverse chronological order).

• Zhang, H., Pan, X., Asgarinejad, M., & Song, T. (2026). Multimodal large language model-driven framework for road crack assessment. Automation in Construction, 185, 106872.
• Chen, Y., Pan, X., Zhang, H., Ma, Y., & Zhang, H. (2026). Fast vision-based 3D reconstruction and damage detection of building structures based on visual geometry grounded transformer. Journal of Building Engineering, 116066.
• Pan, X., Yang, T.Y., Li, J., Ventura, C., Málaga-Chuquitaype, C., Li, C., Su, R., Brzev S. (2025). A review of recent advances in data-driven computer vision methods for structural damage evaluation: algorithms, applications, challenges, and future opportunities. Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering.
• Chen Z, Yang T. Y., Xiao Y, Pan X, Yang W. (2025). Model reference adaptive hierarchical control framework for shake table tests. Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics, 1-17.
• Pan, X., & Yang, T. Y.(2025). Bolt loosening assessment using ensemble vision models for automatic localization and feature extraction with target-free perspective adaptation.Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 40(5), 658-673.
• Pan, X., Yang, T. T., Liu, R., Xiao, Y., & Xie, F. (2025). A computer vision and point cloud-based monitoring approach for automated construction tasks using full-scale robotized mobile cranes. Journal of Intelligent Construction.
• Tavasoli, S., Poorghasem, S., Pan, X., Yang T. Y., Bao Y. (2025). Autonomous indoor navigation and survivor detection using low-cost micro aerial vehicles. Computer-aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering.
• Li, W., Zhang, C., Puhl, D., Pan, X., Hassan, M. A., Bird, S., … & Zhao, Y. (2024). A CNN-Based Framework for Automatic Extraction of High-Resolution River Bankfull Width. Remote Sensing, 16(23), 4614.
• Xie, F., Pan, X., Yang, T. Y., Ernewein, B., Li, M., Robinson, D. (2024). A novel computer vision and point cloud-based approach for accurate structural analysis of a tall irregular timber structure. Structures.
• Li, C., Su, R., Pan, X. (2024). Assessment of out-of-plane structural defects using parallel laser line scanning system. Computer-aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering. 39(6), 834-851. (Structural Excellence Award by The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers)
• Vaze, S., Yang, T. Y., Bagatini-Cachuco, F., Pan, X. (2024). Experimental and numerical investigations of cold-form steel corrugated walls under combined in-plane shear and axial loads. Thin-Walled Structures. 198, 111677.
• Pan, X., Tavasoli, S., Yang, T. Y. (2023). Autonomous 3D vision-based bolt loosening assessment using micro aerial vehicles. Computer-aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering. 1-12.
• Pan, X., Yang, T. Y. (2023). 3D vision-based out-of-plane displacement quantification for steel plate structures using structure from motion, deep learning, and point cloud processing. Computer-aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering. 38, 547– 561.
• Pan, X., Yang, T. Y., Xiao, Y., Yao, H., & Adeli, H. (2023). Vision-based real-time structural vibration measurement through interactive deep-learning-based detection and tracking methods. Engineering Structures. 281, 115676.
• Pan, X., Yang, T. Y. (2023). 3D vision-based bolt loosening quantification using photogrammetry, deep learning, and point-cloud processing. Journal of Building Engineering. 106326.
• Tavasoli, S., Pan, X., Yang, T. Y. (2023). Real-time autonomous indoor navigation and vision-based damage assessment of reinforced concrete structures using low-cost nano aerial vehicles. Journal of Building Engineering. 106193.
• Pan, X., & Yang, T. Y. (2022). Image-based monitoring of bolt loosening through deep-learning-based integrated detection and tracking. Computer-aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 37(10), 1207-1222.
• Xiao, Y., Pan, X., Yang, T. Y. (2022). Nonlinear backstepping hierarchical control of shake table using high-gain observer, Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics. 51: 3347– 3366.
• Pan, X., Yang T.Y. (2020). Postdisaster image-based damage detection and repair cost estimation of reinforced concrete buildings using dual convolutional neural networks. Computer-aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 35:495–510.
• Pan, X., Málaga-Chuquitaype C. (2020). Seismic control of rocking structures via external resonators. Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics. 49:1180-1196. (Top Cited Article)
• Yang, T. Y., Li, T., Tobber, L., & Pan, X. (2020). Experimental and numerical study of honeycomb structural fuses. Engineering Structures, 204, 109814.