Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment

Dr. Shayan Shayesteh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment at Appalachian State University. Prior to joining App State, he was a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Shayesteh earned his Ph.D. in Architectural Engineering (Construction option) from Pennsylvania State University in 2024. He also holds a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and a master's degree in Construction Engineering and Management from the University of Tehran, as well as a second master's degree in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on robotics from Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Shayesteh's research centers around construction automation and robotics, particularly creating adaptive, human-centered systems for the built environment. His work explores how cyber-physical systems, immersive technologies, and multimodal sensing can enhance human-robot interaction, improve worker health and safety, and optimize workforce training. By integrating engineering innovation with human factors principles, he develops solutions that address the evolving needs of modern construction. In addition to his research, Dr. Shayesteh is deeply committed to teaching, mentoring, and broadening participation in STEM. He has designed and taught courses on construction safety, robotics, and emerging technologies, incorporating immersive learning platforms and real-world case studies to prepare students for industry challenges.

Education:

• PhD, Architectural Engineering – Construction Option, Pennsylvania State University, 2024.
• MS, Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2023.
• MS, Construction Engineering and Management, University of Tehran, 2019.
• BS, Civil Engineering, University of Tehran, 2016.

Research Interests:

• Advanced Construction Automation and Robotic Systems
• Immersive and Extended Reality Technologies for Engineering Applications
• Physiological Sensing for Adaptive Human-Machine Interaction
• Intelligent Workforce Health, Safety, and Risk Management
• Next-Generation Engineering Education

Selected Publications:

• Shayesteh, S. and Jebelli, H. (2025). "Elevating Immersive Construction Training with High-Fidelity Haptic Feedback for Human-Robot Collaboration," Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering. (https://doi.org/10.1139/cjce-2025-0139)
• Shayesteh, S. and Jebelli, H. (2024). "Evaluating the Feasibility of Personalized Health Status Feedback to Enhance Worker Safety and Well-Being at Construction Jobsites," In Construction Research Congress 2024 (pp. 575-585). (https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784485293.058)
• Shayesteh, S., Ojha, A., Liu, Y., & Jebelli, H. (2024). "Evaluating the Impact of Powered Back-Support Exoskeletons and Virtual Reality Interventions on Gait Stability of Construction Workers at Heights," In Computing in Civil Engineering 2023 (pp. 392-399).(https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784485248.047)
• Shayesteh, S., Ojha, A., Liu, Y., and Jebelli, H. (2023). "Human-robot Teaming in Construction: Evaluative Safety Training through the Integration of Immersive Technologies and Wearable Physiological Sensing," Safety Science, 159, 106019. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2022.106019)
• Shayesteh, S., Ojha, A., and Jebelli, H. (2022). "Workers' Trust in Collaborative Construction Robots: EEG-Based Trust Recognition in an Immersive Environment," In Automation and Robotics in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Industry (pp. 201-215). Springer, Cham. (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77163-8_10)

Courses Taught:
Materials and Structures III