Dr. Kunhee (KC) Choi is a Chancellor EDGES Professor in the Department of Construction Science at Texas A&M University, where he has served on the faculty since 2010. Dr. Choi has dedicated his career to addressing impending global societal challenges by advancing intelligent transportation management and infrastructure resilience through the integration of artificial intelligence, digital twinning, and cyber-physical systems. His work addresses one of the nation’s most pressing challenges: renewing and modernizing aging transportation infrastructure in ways that are data-driven, sustainable, and adaptable to rapid technological change.

Dr. Choi has built a sustained, nationally competitive research program in a highly specialized, rigorous field. Over the past decade, he has secured nearly $7.4 million in externally funded research from major federal and state agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program. He currently leads or co-leads multiple active projects focused on digital twins, generative AI-fused decision-support systems, autonomous mixed mobility, community resilience, next-gen workforce development, and advanced AI diagnostics for infrastructure management. His research consistently bridges theory and practice, delivering tools and models that agencies can apply directly to improve performance, reduce risk, and optimize long-term investment decisions.

The practical impact of his work is well documented. For example, TxDOT applied his AI-based decision-support models to a major highway rehabilitation project in Dallas, identifying the most effective strategy and achieving substantial cost savings. His research has informed agency guidelines, improved risk assessment in accelerated construction, and clarified how contractual and sequencing decisions influence cost overruns and project uncertainty. By combining rigorous analytics with real-world implementation, Dr. Choi ensures that his scholarship delivers measurable value to public agencies and the communities they serve.

A central theme of Dr. Choi’s recent work is the shift from reactive to predictive infrastructure management. Leveraging advances in generative AI and digital twin technologies, he develops intelligent systems that enable scenario-based planning and proactive decision-making. These systems enable agencies, travellers, and adjoining communities to anticipate disruptions, evaluate trade-offs, and manage infrastructure assets more efficiently throughout their lifecycles. The broader impacts of his work include reduced congestion, lower emissions, improved safety, and a more effective use of taxpayer resources.

Dr. Choi’s scholarly contributions include more than seventy peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, including Automation in Construction, the ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management (JCEM), and the ASCE Journal of Management in Engineering (JME). In addition to his publication record, he plays a significant leadership role in shaping the direction of his field. He serves in editorial capacities for major ASCE journals and has handled hundreds of manuscript reviews.

Education and mentorship are equally integral to Dr. Choi’s mission. He integrates digital twins, AI tools, and AR/VR immersive simulation environments into his teaching to create engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Through game-inspired, simulation-based platforms, students test decisions in a realistic, virtual built environment, so they can proactively experience the consequences of their choices and develop systems-level thinking. These approaches equip students with the technical expertise and critical reasoning skills required to lead in a rapidly evolving industry. Dr. Choi teaches and mentors hundreds of students each year. By combining rigorous research, practical implementation, and transformative education, Dr. Choi exemplifies the integration of discovery, teaching, and societal impact.