News
Design++ Summer School: XR in AEC
Join us for the Design++ Summer School from September 1st to 5th, 2025 at ETH Zurich.
Artificial intelligence helps with the design and maintenance of bridges
To extend the lifespan of existing railway bridges and conserve resources, ETH researchers are working with Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) to develop new prediction models using machine learning algorithms. An AI assistant also helps civil engineers with the design of new bridges.
Research Portrait: Bharath Seshadri
Dr. Seshadri Bharath is a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zurich, working under Prof. Bernd Bickel. His research focuses on integrating spatial computing and AI-powered tools to revolutionize sustainable building operations and occupant engagement.
Design++ Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025
The Design++ postdoctoral fellowship program is now accepting applications until May 31st, 2025.
Prof. Dr. Bernd Bickel Inaugural Lecture
Prof. Bernd Bickel (D-ARCH, D-BAUG, D-INFK) delivered his inaugural lecture on 26 November 2024, followed by an apéro at the focusTerra Hall. His chair, which is part of Design++, focuses on developing novel algorithms and practical solutions in the areas of interactive design, geometry processing, spatial computing, creative AI, and computational fabrication.
Inspiring the Next Generation on National Future Day
On 14th November, we welcomed 22 bright and curious young minds to the Institute of Technology in Architecture, ETH Zurich, to celebrate National Future Day.
"I use data-driven methods to enable real-time structural assessments, which can minimize costly and resource-intensive replacements of aging infrastructure."
Sophia Kuhn is pursuing her PhD under Prof. Dr. Walter Kaufmann at ETH Zurich. Her research focuses on integrating AI and machine learning into bridge design and infrastructure assessment to improve efficiency and sustainability.
Design++ Summer School: AI in AEC
The final presentation of our inaugural Design++ Summer School: AI in AEC marks the conclusion of a remarkable week. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the exceptional students, committed tutors, and outstanding collaborators whose collective efforts ensured the success of this event.
Compas XR Launch
ETH Zurich and Princeton University have jointly launched Compas XR, an open-source tool that integrates extended reality (XR) technologies into architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) processes.
"For the last decade, I have been looking into how we can ensure robust and consistent mobile robot localization in environments that change and the construction site environment is the most challenging yet"
- Computer Vision and Geometry Group
- D-BAUG
- Design++
Dr Olga Vysotska, the first Design++ postdoctoral fellow, specializes in the localization of robots and augmented reality devices within construction environments. Her work explores the intersection of robotics, augmented reality, and construction, aiming to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of tasks in ever-changing environments.