Weiss joins as teaching faculty

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering welcomes Damon Weiss back to Carnegie Mellon as a professor of practice, teaching students in the department’s online graduate certificate program AI Engineering: Digital Twins and Analytics.

As an alum of the department’s M.S. in Advanced Infrastructure Systems program, Weiss has specialized expertise in digital modeling, urban systems, and data-informed design. He brings 28 years of applied experience to help students connect emerging technologies with real-world infrastructure challenges.

“By harnessing AI and Digital Twins, we can do more with less: extending bridge lifespans, detecting leaks in water lines, and optimizing roads for safety and efficiency,” said Weiss. “I’m thrilled to join CMU, guiding students toward reimagined, resilient infrastructure of the future.”

In addition to his academic role, Weiss is the co-founder of Ethos Collaborative, a Pittsburgh-based civil and ecological engineering firm specializing in sustainable and community-centered urban design. Through this dual engagement, he integrates thoughtful design with emerging technologies—bridging the tactile, human-scaled aspects of infrastructure with digital twin systems, AI models, and geospatial analytics to elevate decision-making, performance, and public value.

“Damon’s industry insights will help ensure our programs stay grounded in what today’s engineers need to lead in a rapidly evolving field,” said Burcu Akinci, head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “We’re thrilled to have him on board!”