Rate My Professor David Grau

Grau’s research specializes in systems engineering, managing uncertainty and risk, automation, computing, and remote sensing applications in construction; lean construction philosophy and processes; and enhancing construction productivity. His investigations center on developing mechanisms that provide accurate and timely information to support decision-making at project, portfolio, and organizational levels. Early work pioneered onsite monitoring using sensing devices and epistemic models, with the resulting technology now utilized in 60% of global Engineering-Procurement-Construction (EPC) projects. More recently, his efforts have expanded to systems engineering for decision-making and life-cycle performance, designing reliable information flows among project stakeholders. He has introduced concepts such as advanced project controls—integrating robust processes with sensing and AI technologies—and project predictability, defined as the team’s ability to forecast outcomes early. Grau has earned prestigious awards, including the Distinguished Professor Award and the Outstanding Researcher Award from the Construction Industry Institute (CII), as well as the Celebration of Engineering & Technology Innovation (CETI) award from FIATECH. His educational resources and products have trained thousands of engineers and practitioners worldwide. Additionally, he chairs workshops on Prevention through Design (PtD) and contributes to NIOSH-funded initiatives.