Duong Van, who goes by “Ocean,” double majors in civil engineering and construction engineering. He is determined to integrate the design of civil engineering with the management of construction engineering into an all-encompassing role in society’s building industries.
His passion to pursue this career path has earned him a FIATECH Scholarship and an opportunity to present research at the FIATECH Technology Conference and Showcase March 25-27 in San Antonio, Texas. The scholarship covers more than $2,000 in conference registration, airfare and hotel costs for the country’s leading construction management technology gathering. HAL, Inc., a supply chain company based in Houston, Texas, also sponsors Van to attend the event. Of the few FIATECH Scholars this year, Van was the only undergraduate student to receive the honor.
Van strives to learn all aspects of the construction industry. With an average 16-credit semester course load, he has had time to pursue two internships (Ryan Companies and Turner Construction) and an undergraduate research project with civil, construction and environmental engineering Assistant Professor Yelda Turkan. “My time management is important if I want to become a great construction manager,” Van said. “Knowing how to balance my time, coursework, and research will make me more competitive in the job market.”
The research project he works on relates to Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology. BIM is one of the fastest growing trends in the construction industry. The value of using BIM technology for applications such as clash detection coordination, 3D visualization, 4D scheduling and 5D estimating have been recognized in the construction industry. However, the accessibility to BIM models requires a computer or tablet interface controlled by professionals with skills and training in using BIM software. Nevertheless, it is very difficult to train each worker on a job how to use a 3D modeling software and expect them to use it on site at all times. Van uses innovative 3D printing technology to develop physical 3D models from digital 3D BIM models to analyze construction project areas. His research suggests that the 3D printing model, typically made of hard plastic, is easier to work with on a construction site than a computer.
Turkan introduced Van to this project. “One day Ocean came to my office requesting research for his creative component,” Turkan says. “He is innovative in and passionate for new construction technologies and methods.”
Turkan also received a FIATECH scholarship, in 2011 and 2012, as a doctoral candidate in civil engineering at University of Waterloo, Canada. Turkan used the BIM software to develop a new course in the Iowa State civil engineering curriculum, CE 594S – Building Information Modeling. Van attributes Turkan to introducing him to industry professionals and the planning required for BIM to be successful.
Van was born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Van’s father, Duong Ba Van, mentored him on the civil engineering and construction management industries as Duong Ba worked his way up to become president of PN Tech Construction, a construction company based in Ho Chi Minh City. As a boy, Ocean became fascinated with the construction industry. Ocean says that his father’s mentoring opened his eyes to how closely connected civil engineering design and construction management are, and that these industry roles should be more integrated.