Ibrahim Odeh, Ph.D.

Founding Director, Global Leaders in Construction Management (GLCM) Program; Chair, Engineering and Construction Management Program, Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Columbia Engineering School

Dr. Ibrahim Odeh is the founding director of the Global Leaders in Construction Management (GLCM) program and the chair of the Engineering and Construction Management program at the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at Columbia Engineering School. He is a unique combination of a strategist, academic, innovator, and entrepreneur. His work seamlessly merges the worlds of industry and academia, spans the global construction market, and provides leading construction firms with unique market insights, growth strategies, and advice on digital transformation and technological trends that are reshaping the construction and engineering industry. Companies that Odeh has collaborated or worked with from an advisory perspective, consulting role, or research collaboration effort include Turner Construction, World Economic Forum, Royal Commission for AlUla, Nesma & Partners, Skanska, Parsons Corporation, The Vertex Companies, ExxonMobil, Dentons, AECOM, AI Engineers, WGI Engineering, Plaza Construction, and many others.

Odeh worked as an advisory committee member at the World Economic Forum on the “Future of Construction” project. In 2017, he served for two years as an advisory board member at Financial Times—Future of Construction Summit on a similar initiative. He sits on several advisory boards and committees, such as Tough Leaf, AI Engineers, EnTech Engineering, Trunk Tools, Infraclear, Taiyo, and GrydSense. In 2021, Odeh was also appointed as an advisory board member at the GI Hub, a G20 initiative that is now part of the World Bank’s Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), focused on connecting the global infrastructure community and sharing insights to facilitate delivery of global economic, social, and environmental outcomes through increased and improved infrastructure.

Odeh was also the first instructor to introduce, in fall 2016, the first massive open online courses (MOOCs) to educate global learners in the area of construction management under the Coursera platform. The number of learners registered for Odeh’s courses to date has reached more than half a million from 190 countries, and he has more than a million global followers. His courses ranked third globally under the business category on Coursera for several years. Odeh also is a regular active speaker, delivering several keynote presentations in different countries globally in the area of digital transformation and the future of the construction industry. Odeh has won several prestigious awards and recognitions, such as the 2023 McGraw Hill Pathfinder Award, which recognizes educators for innovative and inventive methods and for breaking new ground in their approach to education on a global scale, and Columbia University’s prestigious Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching, a top honor presented to only five recipients from nearly 1,000 nominations. He was also named Top 20 Under 40 by Engineering News-Record and Top 40 Under 40 by Consulting-Specifying Engineer. Odeh received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds an MBA degree.

Education

Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

MBA, University of St. Thomas

B.Sc., Jordan University of Science and Technology

Publications

  • Reynoldson, P.; Odeh, I. (2025) “Smart Materiality” from The Routledge Companion to Smart Design Thinking in Architecture & Urbanism for a Sustainable, Living Planet, Routledge – Chapter 3.

  • Sawhney, A.; Odeh, I. (2020) “Digital ecosystems in the construction industry—current state and future trends” from: Construction 4.0, An Innovation Platform for the Built Environment, Routledge – Chapter 3.

  • Rahimian, A.; Sadeghzadeh, K.; Mohandes, S.; Martek, I.; Manu, P.; Antwi-Afari, M.; Mirvalad, S.; Odeh, I. (2025) “Toward developing a predictive model for interpersonal communication quality in construction projects: an ensemble artificial intelligence-based approach” Journal of Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management.

  • Moran, R.; Odeh, I.; Ashuri, B., (2024) “Optimizing Quality Control and Assurance of Design-Build Transportation Projects through Alignment of RFP Selection Criteria with Owners Expectations” ASCE's Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction.

  • Fitch, G.; Odeh, I.; and Ibbs, W. (2023) “Validation of SD Models for the Valuation of Exotic Options in Infrastructure Investment” ASCE Journal of Infrastructure Systems, ISSN 1076-0342.

  • Moran, R.; Odeh, I.; Ashuri, B., (2022) “Key Challenges in Megabridge Design–Build Project Procurement” ASCE's Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction.

  • Rahimian, A.; Hosseini, R.; Martek, I.; Taroun, A.; Alvanchi, A.; Odeh, I. (2022) “Predicting communication quality in construction projects: A fully-connected deep neural network approach” Journal of Automation in Construction.

  • Fitch, G.; Odeh, I.; Kautz, F; and Ibbs, W. (2017) “System Dynamics Models for the Valuation of Real Options in P3 Concession Project Agreement” ASCE Journal of Infrastructure Systems.

  • Antunes, R.; González, V.; Walsh, K; Rojas, O.; O'Sullivan, M.; Odeh, I. (2017) “Benchmarking Project-Driven Production In Construction Using Productivity Function: Capacity And Cycle Time” ASCE Journal of Construction Engr. & Management, ISSN 0733-9364.

  • Asgari, S., Kandil, A., Odeh, I. (2016) “Optimal Risk Attitude for Construction Contractors in Competitive Bidding Environments” Journal of Automation in Construction.

  • Asgari, S., Kandil, A., Odeh, I. (2016) “Impact of Considering Need for Work and Risk on Performance of Construction Contractors: An Agent-Based Approach” Journal of Automation in Construction.

  • Fitch, G.; Odeh, I.; and Ibbs, W. (2015) “Economic Sustainability of DBO Water Based on Wastewater Projects in the U.S.: Three Case Studies” ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management.

  • Hassan, M., Odeh, I., and El-Rayes, K. (2010) “Glare and Light Characteristics of Conventional and Balloon Lighting Systems” Submitted to the Transportation Research Board 2010 Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., January 10-14, 2010.

  • Odeh, I., El-Rayes, K., and Liu, L. (2009) “Field Experiments to Evaluate and Control Light Tower Glare in Nighttime Work Zones.” the Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, American Society of Civil Engineers.

  • Bozorgnia, P.; Odeh, I.; and Chen, W. (2023) “Managing the Master Schedule for Multi-Prime Contracts” Proceedings for the AACE® International Technical Paper, Chicago IL.

  • Fitch, G.; Odeh, I.; and Kautz, F. (2018) "Multi-method Model for Infrastructure Portfolio Management” Proceedings for the ISEC Structural Engineering and Construction Conference, at the American University in Beirut, Lebanon.

  • Fitch, G.; Odeh, I.; and Kautz, F. (2017) “System Dynamics Model for the Valuation of Real Options in Public-private Partnerships” Proceedings for the CSCE Conference on Leadership in Sustainable Infrastructure in Vancouver, Canada.

  • Fitch, G., Odeh, I., and Kandil, A. (2016) “Employing a System-of-Systems Approach to Water Management in The Shale Gas Value Chain” International Conference on Smart Infrastructure and Construction, Cambridge, England.

  • Moran, R. and Odeh, I. (2016) “Design Build Mega Bridge Projects in New York and Best Practices in Procurement” ASCE Construction Institute, Construction Research Conference.

  • Asgari, S., Kandil, A., Odeh, I. (2016) “Optimal Risk Attitude for Construction Contractors in Competitive Bidding Environments” ASCE Construction Institute, Construction Research Conference.

  • Fitch, G., Odeh, I., and Kandil, A. (2016) “Planning and Cost Control of Air Quality Control Systems for Clean Coal Power Generation” ASCE Construction Institute, Construction Research Conference.

  • Asgari, S., Song, X., Odeh, I. (2013). “Introducing the Concept of Green Performance Bond And Its Application in Managing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions in Construction Projects”, The 4th Construction Specialty Conference, CSCE 2013, Montréal, Canada.

  • Hassan, M., Odeh, I., El-Rayes, K., (2010). “Glare and Light Characteristics of Conventional and Balloon Lighting Systems” Submitted to the Transportation Research Board 2010 Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., January 10-14, 2010.

  • Elghamrawy, T., El-Rayes, K. , Liu, L. , Odeh, I., (2010). “Analysis of Injury and Fatal Crashes in Highway Construction Zones.” Proceedings of the ASCE Construction Research Congress, Banff, Alberta, Canada, May 8-11, 2010.

  • El-Rayes, K. , Liu, L. , Odeh, I., (2007). “Measuring and Quantifying Lighting Glare During Nighttime Highway Construction Projects.” Proceedings of the ASCE Construction Research Congress, Island of Grand Bahamas, May 6-8, 2007.