A cumulative trajectory from project management, risk, and data mining to original optimization, engineering AI, energy, and intelligent governance.
Scholarly impact as of July 2026: more than 15,000 Google Scholar citations; h-index values of 65, 54, and 50 in Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science; repeated inclusion among the World's Top 2% Scientists; and No. 1 in Taiwan in Building & Construction.
August 2020 to July 2026: Scopus documents 139→212 and citations 2,845→10,908; Web of Science documents 107→191 and citations 2,283→8,881; Google Scholar citations 4,433→15,000+.
Cross-database Growth, 2020–2026
Database / Metric
Aug. 2020
Aug. 2023
July 2026
Six-year growth
Scopus documents
139
168
212
+52.5%
Scopus citations
2,845
6,496
10,908
+283.4%
Web of Science documents
107
143
191
+78.5%
Web of Science citations
2,283
5,414
8,881
+289.0%
Google Scholar citations
4,433
9,656
15,000+
at least +238.4%
Source: Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar records in the July 28, 2026 print dossier. Citation metrics continue to change as databases update.
Selected New Work in 2026
2026Developments in the Built Environment 27
Multi-objective design optimization of PV–battery sizing and panel orientation toward efficient zero-energy offices
Amodal instance segmentation optimized by metaheuristics for enhanced safety behavior detection on construction sites
PWO-Lite × YOLO × Pix2Pix for occlusion-aware construction safety｜DOI: 10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106412
2025Automation in Construction
Integrative AI and UAV-based visual recognition with metaheuristics for automated repair cost analysis of bridge structural deterioration
AI + UAV for deterioration, repair needs, and cost analysis｜DOI: 10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106273
2025Automation in Construction
Automated legal consulting in construction procurement using metaheuristically optimized large language models
Optimized LLMs for procurement and legal decision support｜DOI: 10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105891
2023Automation in Construction
Pilgrimage walk optimization: Folk culture-inspired algorithm for identification of bridge deterioration
Taiwanese-culture-inspired PWO for bridge deterioration｜DOI: 10.1016/j.autcon.2023.105055
2021Applied Mathematics and Computation
A novel metaheuristic optimizer inspired by behavior of jellyfish in ocean
Original JSO; ESI Highly Cited, top-cited, highly downloaded, and open-source adoption｜DOI: 10.1016/j.amc.2020.125535
In the 2025 JCR released in 2026, Automation in Construction ranked 2/194 (Top 1%) in Engineering, Civil and was the highest-ranked SCIE journal in that category. Applied Mathematics and Computation was in the Top 4% of Mathematics, Applied.
Highly Cited, Editor-Selected, and Cover Research
The JSO paper was listed as an ESI Highly Cited Paper in July 2023 and was among the journal's most-cited and most-downloaded recent papers during documented periods.
The building heating and cooling load paper was listed as an ESI Highly Cited Paper in January 2023.
An FBI-optimized ready-mixed concrete strength paper was selected as an Editor's Choice by the Journal of Computational Design and Engineering.
Research on rooftop plant microbial fuel cells and seismic deflection recognition of RC beams was featured on journal covers.
Earlier papers were listed as top-cited articles in the International Journal of Project Management, Automation in Construction, Engineering Failure Analysis, and the ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering.
Long-Term Research Trajectory
2005–2012
Construction project management, PMBOK, cost, finance, disputes, PPPs, and failure risk.
2013–2020
Data mining, machine learning, building energy, wind engineering, materials, and hazard prediction.
2020–present
Original algorithms, deep learning, computer vision, LLMs, agentic AI, microgrids, and interdisciplinary intelligent systems.
Research and Authorship Practice
PiM Lab emphasizes the full chain from problem definition and data governance to method design, software implementation, reproducible validation, interpretation, and publication quality. Professor Chou commonly serves as the core conceptualizer, research-architecture and methodology lead, sole corresponding author, and principal investigator, while assigning implementation and analysis work according to student strengths to combine academic innovation with advanced mentorship.
Source priority: formal records and official pages > the 2026 dossier > preserved legacy-site records. Dynamic citation and ranking metrics are dated.
