Chao (Frank) Xie
Gainesville,USA
Summary
Seeking a position in Construction Engineering or Consulting, leveraging expertise in robotics, computer vision, and computational design to enhance productivity, efficiency, and innovation in the construction industry.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Research Assistant
University of Florida
Gainesville, USA
08.2022 - Current
- Built Isaac Sim/ROS drivers and a digital twin for the ABB IRB 6620 industrial robot arms station.
- Developed a real-time 6DOF pose estimation algorithm for the lab’s robotic station, which outperformed state-of-the-art 6DOF pose estimation algorithms.
- Research AI-driven robotic fabrication and automation in construction.
- Apply computational design principles for structural optimization.
- Integrate computer vision, vision-language-action, and deep learning for robotic perception.
- Teaching Assistant for BCN5905 - Advanced Construction Technology, and BCN4612C - Construction Estimating II.
Project Manager / Deputy to the General Manager
China Southwest Architecture Design and Research Institute
Chengdu, China
05.2017 - 07.2021
Project-Level Leadership
- Directed planning and execution of three major projects, managing budgets, staffing, schedules, and quality across a 54-member team.
- Served as technical lead for the pile foundation works of the Tianfu International Airport, a nationally designated key infrastructure project.
- Oversaw financial operations including budget approvals, cost control, payroll, and subcontractor payment allocation in coordination with the client.
- Supervised safety compliance, developed contingency plans, and maintained a zero-incident safety record.
Company-Level Strategic Contributions
- Supported the General Manager in corporate strategy development, including market analysis, national policy review, and strategic planning for the company’s mid- to long-term growth.
- Coordinated resource allocation and risk assessment across all ongoing projects to align execution with corporate financial and operational objectives.
- Provided strategic oversight on project portfolio performance, ensuring company-wide profit targets and compliance with evolving industry regulations.
Assistant Project Manager
CSWADI
02.2015 - 05.2017
Project-Level Responsibilities
- Assisted in budget planning, engineering staff allocation, and oversight of cost, schedule, quality, and performance for a 48-member project team.
Company-Level Contributions
- Led a team of senior engineers to develop the Project Management Planning and Implementation Rules, a 100,000+ word technical operations handbook covering 78 standards, later adopted as the company-wide project management standard.
- Conducted structural safety assessments for Wanda Group’s commercial properties in Southwest China, ensuring compliance with engineering codes and safety regulations.
Chief Civil Engineer
CSWADI
10.2013 - 02.2015
- Managed technical planning and construction progress for the Wanda Plaza Office Building project, ensuring adherence to design specifications, safety standards, and project deadlines.
- Coordinated between design, engineering, and construction teams to resolve technical issues and maintain smooth project execution.
- Supported project leadership in monitoring quality control and construction documentation for compliance with regulatory requirements.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - Design, Construction and Planning
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL12.2026
M.S. - Construction Management
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL12.2023
B.E. - Environmental Engineering
Southwest Jiaotong University
China06.2013
B.E. - Economics in International Economics A
Southwest Jiaotong University
China06-2013
Skills
- Python, C
- Deep learning, Vision–Language–Action
- Computer Vision, Point-Cloud Processing
- PyTorch, CUDA
- Visual Components, RobotStudio
- ROS1/ROS2
- Isaac Sim, Gazebo, Isaac Lab
- Autodesk Fusion, CAD
- P6, Microsoft Project
- ArcGIS
- Photoshop
Construction Project Experience
Project Manager | 05/2017 – 07/2021
- Yunshang Tourist Resort Villas & Commercial Real Estate (2019–2021)
Project Value: $210M | Scale: 1.6M sq. ft.
Led overall project execution, overseeing cost, schedule, and quality for large-scale resort and commercial facilities. - Golden Apple International Preschool & Kindergarten (2019–2020)
Project Value: $11.4M | Scale: 108K sq. ft.
Delivered an educational facility project on time and within budget, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and client stakeholders. - Lulinghui (Luyunge) Villa Development (2017–2019)
Project Value: $830M | Scale: 2.8M sq. ft.
Directed construction of a high-end residential villa complex, achieving safety and profitability targets.
Executive Project Manager | 02/2015 – 05/2017
- Shudu Wanda Plaza Commercial Complex
Project Value: $1.03B | Scale: 7.5M sq. ft.
Oversaw budget, engineering, and quality management for one of the largest mixed-use commercial projects in Southwest China.
Chief Civil Engineer | 10/2013 – 02/2015
- Wuhan WandaZun Office Tower
Project Value: $550M | Scale: 3.4M sq. ft. | Height: 787 ft
Managed technical planning and construction progress for a landmark high-rise commercial tower.Executive Project Manager, Shudu Wanda Plaza Commercial Complex, 02/2015, 05/2017, 1.03 billion Dollars, 7,534,740 Square Feet - Chief Civil Engineer, Wuhan Wandazun Office Building, 10/2013, 02/2015, 550 million Dollars, 3,444,450 Square Feet and Building Height of 787 Feet
Technical Expert (Expert Committee Member) | 2018
- Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (National Key Infrastructure Project)
Project Value: $11B | Ranked 27th globally in passenger throughput
Appointed as Structural Engineering Expert on the project’s advisory committee, providing technical oversight for the pile foundation works of this flagship national project.
Principal Expert (Expert Committee Member) | 2017
- Wanda Group Post-Disaster Structural Safety Assessment (Southwest China)
Engaged by Wanda Group, the world’s largest property holding company, as a principal expert on the structural safety committee to conduct post-disaster evaluations of large-scale commercial properties.
Awards and Honors
- CM Masters/Graduate Academic Excellence Award - Fall 2023
- Sigma Lambda Chi (ΣΛΧ) International Construction Honor Society – Fall 2023
- Jimmie Hinze Graduate Scholarship – Fall 2024
- The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at University of Florida – Spring 2025
- Rinker School Building Construction Scholarship – Spring 2025
- Ingle Family Scholarship – Spring 2025
Research Publications
- Master Thesis, The Role of Robotics in Promoting Industrialized Construction for Resilient Post-Disaster Recovery: A Narrative Review and Analysis.
- CRC Conference Paper, Lumbers alignment detection system for Robotic nailing gun based on computing vision and deep learning., https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/9780784485262.047
- Course Developing, BCN5905 - Advanced Construction Technology-Funded by Autodesk, https://sites.google.com/view/smart-idc-lab/research#h.7j1u6dyc53nc
- Journal (Under Review),Advancing Robotic Automation in Wood-Framed Construction: A Vision-Driven, Adaptive Control Approach, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu1Ta6I1sc4
- Journal (Under Review), Industrialized Construction for Post-Disaster Reconstruction: A Narrative Review and Synthesis.
Languages
- Chinese (Native)
- English
Timeline
Research Assistant
University of Florida
08.2022 - Current
Project Manager / Deputy to the General Manager
China Southwest Architecture Design and Research Institute
05.2017 - 07.2021
Assistant Project Manager
CSWADI
02.2015 - 05.2017
Chief Civil Engineer
CSWADI
10.2013 - 02.2015
Doctor of Philosophy - Design, Construction and Planning
University of Florida
M.S. - Construction Management
University of Florida
B.E. - Environmental Engineering
Southwest Jiaotong University
B.E. - Economics in International Economics A
Southwest Jiaotong University
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