Dr. Erika A. Pärn is a Research Scientist at the SMART Construction Lab, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), and a collaborator with the University of Cambridge Department of Civil Engineering, where she previously held the position of Senior Research Associate (Assistant Professor) within the Construction Information Technology (CIT) Lab. Her research spans digital construction, Building Information Modelling (BIM), and digital twin systems, focusing on the integration of artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making for sustainable infrastructure.
Dr. Pärn lead the EPSRC-funded project RESTOR, which explored generative design and AI-driven steel reuse in construction, and has collaborated with international leaders in digital transformation across academia and industry. Her work bridges theoretical research with practical implementation, exemplified by her co-authored book Twin Systems: Digital Twins of the Built Environment, written with renowned scholars Prof. Ioannis Brilakis, Prof. Rafael Sacks, Prof. Lucio Soibelman, and Prof. Mark Enzer.
Her current research at NYUAD includes the development of advanced digital twin interfaces, such as ChatTwin, a platform that enables natural language interaction with infrastructure digital twins—particularly for road asset management and decision support.
