Ming Tang

Ming Tang is a Full Professor in the University of Cincinnati’s School of Architecture and Interior Design and the Director of UC’s eXtended Reality (XR) Lab. A registered architect and tenured faculty member in UC’s College of DAAP, he brings together architecture, digital technologies, and spatial computing to explore new ways of designing and learning.
Tang has led more than $2.5 million in externally funded projects, authored three books, published over 70 peer-reviewed papers, and received 40+ awards for his teaching, research, and creative work. He serves on the HCII VRMR Program Board, UC’s AI in Research Committee, and the Institute for Research in Sensing (IRiS) leadership committee, and is an editor of Architecture Journal.
His research uses XR to rethink how we design, build, and learn. His projects also span digital twins and artificial intelligence, from metaverse environments and game-based learning to parametric design, digital fabrication, and performance-driven workflows. He is especially interested in digital human and behavior simulation, with a focus on creating immersive and human-centered interactive environments. Specifically, his research areas include:

• XR in higher education, healthcare, public safety, and workforce training.
• Digital twin, reality capture, and Internet of Things (IoT) for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) and industrial manufacturing.
• AI for creative design, automation, and predictive analysis.
• Human-computer interaction in the metaverse and serious games.
• Digital humans and LLMs for immersive and interactive experiences.
• Building Information Modeling (BIM), parametric design, digital fabrication, and generative design.

Extended Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Digital twins, Game-based learning, Metaverse, Computational design, Digital fabrication, Generative and performance-driven design, Digital human, Human behavior analysis and simulation.

Grant: #URS AHHS and IR Advancement Grants AY 2017-2018 Investigators:Tang, Ming 07-01-2017 -12-31-2019 UC Magic School Bus for Computational Cell Role:PI $8,550.00 Completed Type:Grant

Grant: #32391 / FHWA E180658 Investigators:Ma, Jiaqi; Tang, Ming; Wang, Jialiang 08-24-2018 -02-24-2019 Federal Highway Administration Evaluate Opportunities to Provide Training Simulation for ODOT Snow and Ice Drivers Role:Collaborator $39,791.70 Completed

Grant: #K62232 Investigators:Ming Tang 09-01-2019 -12-30-2019 Ihsan Ihsan Community Center Sponsored Studio Role:PI $5,000 Completed Type:Contract

Grant: #32391 Investigators: PI: John Ash. Co-PI: Ming Tang, Julian Wang. 02-2019 -02-2022 Ohio Department of Transportation. Evaluate Opportunities to Provide Training Simulation for ODOT Snow and Ice Drivers”. Phase 2. Role:Co-PI $952,938 Active Type:Grant Level:State

Investigators:PI: Jiaqi Ma, Co-PI: Ming Tang. 06-01-2019 -12-01-2020 UC Paving the way for vehicle highway automation: An integrated simulation-centered testing platform Role:co-PI $70,000 Active Type:Grant Level:University

Investigators:Ed Latessa,J.C. Barnes, Ming Tang, Cory Haberman, Dan Gerard,Tim Sabransky. 10-01-2019 UC Digital Futures Development of a Virtual Reality Augmented Violence Reduction Training System for Active and Mass Shooting incidents. Role:co-PI $10,000 Active Type:Grant Level:University

Grant: #Exhibit A_Project 1 under the Master Agreement Investigators:Tang, Ming 05-15-2020 -05-14-2021 Cincinnati Insurance Company CIC - Geospatial Imagery Analytics Research Project: Phase 1 Role:PI $59,000.00 Completed

Grant: #2017-JG-A02-V6351 Investigators:Barnes, J C; Tang, Ming 04-01-2020 -03-31-2021 Department of Justice Virtual Reality Training for Ohio Law Enforcement Role:Collaborator $50,000.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Grant: #SES-2026594 Investigators:Bhiwapurkar, Pravin; Black, Ann; Fry, Michael; Harfmann, Anton; Linders, Annulla; Nassif, Nabil; Rebola, Claudia; Tang, Ming; Wendell, David 01-01-2021 -12-31-2021 National Science Foundation Future of Work: Understanding the interrelationships between humans and technology to improve the quality of work life in smart buildings. Role:Collaborator $149,720.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Grant: #G402236 Investigators:Ming Tang 10-01-2021 -08-01-2022 Cincinnati Insurance Companies Geospatial Imagery Analytics Research. Phase II. Role:PI $79,980 Active Type:Grant Level:Local

Investigators:PI: John Ash. Co-PI: Ming Tang, Julian Wang. 02-2020 -02-2022 Ohio Department of Transportation. Assess the effectiveness of Type 2 and Type 3 safety vests for day and night use-Phase. Role:Co-PI $337,366.31 Active Type:Grant

Grant: #2017-JG-A02-V6351 Investigators:Barnes, J C; Tang, Ming 04-01-2020 -03-31-2021 Department of Justice Virtual Reality Training for Ohio Law Enforcement Role:Collaborator $50,000.00 Active Level:Federal

Investigators:Ming Tang 03-2021 -03-2022 UC Urban Health Pathway Seed Grant Assess the effectiveness of using Virtual Reality for caregiver training. Partner. Council of Ageing, LiveWell Collaborative. Role:PI $19,844. Active Type:Grant

Investigators:Tang, Ming 07-01-2021 -06-30-2022 Cincinnati Insurance Company Geospatial Imagery Analytics Research Project: Phase II Role:PI 79905.97 Awarded Level:Industry

Investigators:Tang, Ming 06-01-2022 -05-31-2023 Cincinnati Insurance Company Geospatial Imagery Analytics Research Project: Phase III Role:PI 15709.00 Hold Level:Industry

Investigators:Tang, Ming 01-01-2023 -12-31-2023 Cincinnati Insurance Company CIC - Geospatial Imagery Analytics Research Project: Phase 4 Role:PI 48646.35 Awarded Level:Industry

Investigators:Lorenz, Tamara; Tang, Ming 01-01-2023 -12-31-2023 MME Industry 4.0/5.0 Institute Project 2 VR - Immersive vs. Traditional Training - a comparison of training modalities (backdoor) / Internal Role:Collaborator 40000.00 Hold Level:UC's Internal Funds

Investigators:Morehouse, Nathan; Tang, Ming; White, Ryan 08-01-2023 -05-31-2024 Procter & Gamble Digital Accelerator at UC P&G Digital Accelerator at UC: IRIS Institute for Research in Sensing Role:Collaborator 16000.00 Hold Level:Industry

Investigators:Collins, Christina; Tang, Ming; VanBergen, Noah 04-10-2023 -07-31-2023 Kao Brands, Company KAO-GLOW Creating the Kao Glowverse Role:Collaborator 52122.60 Hold Level:Industry

Investigators:Anand, Sam; Tang, Ming 02-01-2024 -12-31-2024 MME Industry 4.0/5.0 Institute MME I45I: IIOT for legacy and smart factory machines with AR and LLM feedback with a Digital Twin demonstration of real-time IOT for architecture/building applications using Omniverse Role:Collaborator 40000.00 Awarded Level:Industry

Investigators:Tang, Ming 10-30-2023 -12-28-2024 Cincinnati Insurance Company CIC - Geospatial Imagery Analytics Research Project: Phase 5 Role:PI 72350 Active

Investigators:Tang, Ming 03-01-2024 -12-30-2024 Procter & Gamble Digital Accelerator at UC Leveraging Metaverse Platforms for Enhanced Global Professional Networking_Phase 1 Role:PI 32000

Grant: #GRO Tang Investigators:Tang, Ming 08-15-2024 -08-15-2025 GRO Community (God.Restoring.Order) Simulated Youth Firearms; Virtual Reality Training on Youth Firearms Possession Role:PI 20000

Investigators:Tang, Ming 12-01-2024 -05-31-2025 Procter & Gamble Digital Accelerator at UC P&G Digital Accelerator @UC: VISM Virtual Interactive Simulation for Material Customization Phase 1 Role:PI 28350.97 Hold Level:Industry

Investigators:Jiang, Tianyu; Tang, Ming 04-01-2024 -12-31-2024 Siemens Corporation Minimal Data Needs for GenAI Design Role:PI 24906.73 Hold Level:Industry

Investigators:Anand, Sam; Tang, Ming 04-01-2025 -12-31-2025 MME Industry 4.0/5.0 Institute Scalable Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning and Collaborative AI for Digital Twin Platform of Infrastructure and Facility Operations Role:Collaborator 40000.00 Awarded Level:Industry

Investigators:Tang, Ming 09-01-2024 -12-30-2025 Cincinnati Insurance Company Geospatial Imagery Analytics Research Project: Phase 6 Role:PI 125664.98 Active Type:Grant

Investigators:Tang, Ming 07-01-2025 -11-01-2026 Cincinnati Insurance Company CIC-VISTA: Virtual Immersive Systems for Training AI. Phase 1 Role:PI 81413.08 Hold Level:Industry

Peer Reviewed Publications

Tang, Ming  (2009). City generator: GIS driven genetic evolution in urban simulation. Perkins+ Will Research Journal, 3 (2 ) , 42-49

Anderson, Jonathon; Tang, Ming  (2010). Interactive Information Model for Digital Fabricator. Perkins+ Will Research Journal, 3 (2 ) , 42-49

Tang, Ming; Anderson, Jonathon  (2010). Mathematically Driven Forms and Digital Tectonic: A formula for realizing the digital. Perkins+ Will Research Journal, 3 (2 ) , 42-49

Anderson, Jonathon; Ming, Tang  (2011). Form follows parameters: Parametric modeling for fabrication and manufacturing processes. Perkins+ Will Research Journal, 3 (2 ) , 42-49

Tang, Ming; Anderson, Jonathon  (2011). Information Urbanism: Parametric urbanism in junction with GIS data processing & fabrication. ARCC Conference Repository, 0 (0 ) , 15-28

Tang, M.; Aksamija, A.; Hodge, M.; Anderson, J.  (2011). Performance-Driven Design and Prototyping: Design Computation and Fabrication. Perkins+ Will Research Journal, 3 (2 ) , 42-49

Ming, Tang; Aksamija, Ajla; Hodge, Mike; Anderson, Jonathon  (2012). Data Driven Transmutation: an Investigation of Performance Based Design and Adaptive System. AIA Forward Journal, 12 (1 ) , 81-86

Tang, M.; Anderson, J.; Aksamija, A.; Hodge, M.  (2012). Performance-Based Generative Design, An investigation of the Parametric Nature of Architecture. Enquiry: A Journal for Architectural Research, 9 (1 ) , 81-86

Tang, Ming; Anderson, Jonathon; Aksamija, Ajla; Hodge, Michael  (2012). Performative Computation-aided Design Optimization. Enquiry: A Journal for Architectural Research, 9 (1 ) , 81-86

Aksamija, Ajla; Snapp, Todd; Hodge, Mike; Tang, Ming  (2012). Re-Skinning: Performance-Based Design and Fabrication of Building Facade Components: Design Computing, Analytics and Prototyping. Perkins+ Will Research Journal, 4 (1 ) , 15-28

Tang, Ming  (2013). dFORM. digital fabrication of responsive materials. International Journal of Architecture, Engineering and Construction, 4 (4 ) , 81-86

Aksamija, Ajla; Tang, Ming; Hodge, Mike; Anderson, Jonathon  (2013). Performative Computation-Aided Design Optimization. Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) Journal, 9 (1 ) , 81-86

Anderson, Jonathon; Tang, Ming  (2014). Crafting Soft Geometry: Form and Materials Informing Analog and Digital Craft Processes. International Journal of Architecture, Engineering and Construction, 4 (4 ) , 81-86

Tang, Ming; Klimesh, Colin  (2014). Integrated work of MAN and MACHINE: digital craft as design agent. International Journal of Architecture, Engineering and Construction, 4 (4 ) , 81-86

Tang, Ming  (2014). Parametric Building Design Using Autodesk Maya. International Journal of Architecture, Engineering and Construction, 4 (4 ) , 81-86

Marcu, Mara; Tang, Ming  (2015). Data Mapping and Ornament in Digital Craft. International Journal of Architecture, Engineering and Construction, 4 (4 ) , 81-86

Tang, Ming; Marcu, Mara  (2015). Physics Simulation and Form Seeking in Architecture Design Education. International Journal of Architecture, Engineering and Construction, 4 (4 ) , 124-144

Tang, Ming  (2015). Self-organizing City: Experiments Using Multi-agent Model and Space Syntax. International Journal of Architecture, Engineering and Construction, 4 (4 ) , 81-86

Tang, Ming  (2016). Data-driven landscape. Urban Rail Transit, 3 (1 ) , 124-144

Tang, Ming; Hu, Yingdong  (2017). Pedestrian Simulation in Transit Stations Using Agent-Based Analysis. Urban Rail Transit, 3 (1 ) , 54-60

Tang, Ming  (2018). From Agent to Avatar - Integrate Avatar and Agent Simulation in the Virtual Reality for Wayfinding.

 (2023). Cory P. Haberman, Ming Tang, JC Barnes, Clay Driscoll, Bradley J. O’Guinn, Calvin Proffit,. The Effect of Checklists on Evidence Collection During Initial Investigations A Randomized Controlled Trial in Virtual Reality. Journal of Experimental Criminology. 11.2023.

 (2022). Tang, M. Adebisib, A. Using Eye-Tracking for Traffic Control Signage Design at Highway Work Zone. Interdisciplinary Journal of Signage and Wayfinding. Vol. 6, No. 2. 2022.

 (2021). Tang.M. Shroyer.N, Cast-in-place Freeform Concrete with Big Area AdditiveManufacturing Formwork. International Journal of Architecture, Engineering and Construction Vol 10, No 2, June 2021, 12021005, 1-9. .

 (2021). Tang. M. Visual Perception: Eye-tracking and Real-timeWalkthroughs in Architectural Design. International Journal of Architecture, Engineering and Construction. Vol 10, No 1, March 2021, 12021001,1-9.

 (2020). Tang. M. Analysis of Signage using Eye-Tracking Technology. Interdisciplinary Journal of Signage and Wayfinding. 02. 2020.

 (2024). Mikhail Nikolaenko, Ming Tang. SpaceXR: Virtual Reality and Data Mining for Astronomical Visualization. 26th Human Computer Interaction International Conference Proceeding Book. Washington DC, USA. 29 June – 4 July 2024. Springer. .

 (2023). Cory P. Haberman, Ming Tang, JC Barnes, Clay Driscoll, Bradley J. O’Guinn, Calvin Proffit,. Using Virtual Reality Simulations to Study Initial Burglary Investigations. American Society of Evidence-Based Policing’s 2023 Conference. 05.2023. Las Vegas. Nevada. .

 (2023). Raman, M., Tang, M. 3D Visualization Development of Urban Environments for Simulated Driving Training and VR Development in Transportation Systems. ASCE ICTD 2023 Conference. Austin. TX. 06. 2023.

Ming Tang, Mikhail Nikolaenko, Evv Boerwinkle, Samuel Obafisoye, Aayush Kumar, Mohsen Rezayat, Sven Lehmann & Tamara Lorenz  (2024). Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Traditional Training vs. Immersive Training. XR Salento 2024More Information

Tang, Ming, Jai’La Nored, Matt Anthony, Judy Eschmann, Jennifer Williams, and Linda Dunseath  (2024). VR-based Empathy Experience for Nonprofessional Caregiver Training. XR Salento 2024

DOI

Daraiseh, N. M., Tang, M., Macaluso, M., Aeschbury, M., Bachtel, A., Nikolaenko, M., … Vaughn, A.  (2025). Virtual Reality Training to De-escalate Patient Aggressive Behavior: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Human–Computer InteractionMore Information

Tang, Ming, Mikhail Nikolaenko, Ahmad Alrefai, and Aayush Kumar.  (2025). Metaverse and Digital Twins in the Age of AI and Extended Reality. Architecture, 5 (2:36) More Information

Anuj Gautam, Manish Raj Aryal, Sourabh Deshpande, Shailesh Padalkar, Mikhail Nikolaenko, Ming Tang, Sam Anand  (2025). IIoT-enabled digital twin for legacy and smart factory machines with LLM integration. Manufacturing Systems, 80, 511

Published Books

Ming Tang (2014). Parametric Building Design with Autodesk Maya. Routledge. (Author)

Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Extended Reality, digital twin, metaverse, game-based learning, Digital Human, AI, visualization, eye-tracking,